Real Hope for Haiti Dress Party

My cousin, Jodi, decided to host a dress making party for Real Hope for Haiti. It was a great success. People donated fabric, sewing machines, and time.

You can read about it here. My mom is in one of the pictures. She isn't the sleeping baby. That's my adorable third cousin and Jodi's adorable daughter.

I think Jodi should come to Plano so we can have a dress party here. What do you think?

My dad's in Haiti

My dad flew to Haiti today. I'm so proud of him. He will be there for a week with the Southern Baptists of Texas Convention.

It's one of those things where I'm very happy that he is physically able to go, but I'm sad that there is such a horrible need. Haiti was in terrible condition before the earthquake. I've watched the videos and seen the pictures of the devastation and I know they really just catch a glimpse of the nightmare with which the Haitians are dealing.

In the last few years my parents have been volunteering in disaster relief. My mom spent extremely long hours in Galveston and Tyler making sure people got fed. Dad made a trip to Iowa to help out after the flood there. They've made other trips too, plus had hours and hours of training.

Some people think that what they are doing is crazy, helping people they don't even know. Some people make nasty comments about the people they are reaching out to, because they don't feel the victims deserve help. I say they are being the hands and feet of Christ. They are living out Micah 6:8 and Matthew 25.

My parents and I don't agree on a lot of things. We have different views about many things. There are some subjects that are best to be avoided. But, this is something we do agree on. If you can go and help, then go. If you have the means to go, then go. The small, little world you leave to go minister to someone else will still be there when you get back. It might be a little different when you get back. You will be a whole lot different. But, for the better.

To find out ways you can help in Haiti see any of the below:
RHFH Rescue Center
Compassion International
World Vision
Hands and Feet

These two involve family members. The sewing project is by my cousin, Jodi. Lovely, easy idea. The other one, for Red Cross, has my son in it.

Sewing Day
hitRECord & Red Cross

All star cast of musicians to gather for "Help Haiti Live" on February 27

This whole post came from Shaun Groves' blog. It was easier to copy his than to dig through his long email with all the same information in it, put it into readable form and then pass it out into the world. He always does a better job anyway. I even took his headline. Now...how do I get to LA in a few days?

ALL STAR CAST OF MUSICIANS TO GATHER

FOR ‘HELP HAITI LIVE’ ON FEBRUARY 27^TH

Alison Krauss & Union Station (featuring Jerry Douglas), Amy Grant, Big Kenny and More to Perform Live in Los Angeles and Nashville to Raise Funds for Compassion International’s Continued Relief Efforts

NASHVILLE, TN…2/15/10…One month following the 7.1 earthquake that struck Haiti, an all-star cast of musicians is gathering for “Help Haiti Live,” a two-city ticketed concert event taking place on February 27th, 2010 to benefit Compassion International’s Haiti disaster relief fund. The concerts are sponsored by Gaylord Entertainment Company and will be streamed live at HelpHaitiLive.com.

With extraordinary need still existing in the devastated country, Alison Krauss & Union Station (featuring Jerry Douglas), Amy Grant, Big Kenny, Mat Kearney, Jars of Clay, Rebecca St. James, NEEDTOBREATHE, Brandon Heath, and a to-be-announced special headliner will participate in two concert events, live from Los Angeles at the historic Wiltern Theater and at Nashville’s famed and Gaylord-owned Ryman Auditorium. Produced to inspire live concert and on-line audiences to financially support the relief work of Compassion International in Haiti, all talent and production fees have been donated, along with streaming services (Livestream.com), allowing proceeds to go toward Compassion’s disaster relief fund (more details below).

“This cause has been something our employees have taken very close to heart in recent weeks, and they’re thrilled for Gaylord to be involved in such an inspiring event. We’re also proud to support the generous efforts of all the artists who are donating their time and talent to make this concert a success,” said Colin Reed, Chairman and CEO of Gaylord Entertainment Company.

Tickets for each event will range in price from $25-75 and can be purchased at Ticketmaster.com and all Ticketmaster locations beginning Monday, February 15^th, as well as through The Ryman box office: 800-745-3000 or ryman.com, and through Live Nation for The Wiltern at http://www.livenation.com/venue/the-wiltern-tickets

Nashville/Ryman Auditorium, 7:30pm cst:
Host: Big Kenny (plus performance)
Alison Krauss and Union Station featuring Jerry Douglas
Jars of Clay
Mat Kearney
Dave Barnes
Matt Wertz
Brandon Heath

Los Angeles/Wiltern Theater, 7:30pm pst:
Francis Chan
Special Guest headliner
Amy Grant
Leann Rimes
Rebecca St. James
NEEDTOBREATHE

All net proceeds from HelpHaitiLive.com will go to Compassion International’s Haiti disaster relief fund. All money raised in response to the Haiti earthquake will be used immediately to re-equip Compassion’s local support structure and to provide for the immediate needs of Compassion-assisted children and families.

Compassion has been meeting the physical and spiritual needs of Haitians for more than forty years and will continue to serve them in this time of extreme need. Already Compassion International has supplied more than 15,000 families with clean water, food, blankets, temporary shelter, medical supplies and counseling. Donations will lay bricks, feed, educate, clothe, heal and rebuild Haiti for many months to come.

Compassion International is the world’s largest Christian child development organization that permanently releases children from poverty. Founded in 1952, Compassion successfully tackles global poverty one child at a time, serving more than 1 million children in 26 of the world’s poorest countries. Recognizing that poverty is more than a lack of money, Compassion works holistically through local churches to address the individual physical, economic, educational and spiritual needs of children, enabling them to thrive, not just survive. Charity Navigator, America’s largest charity evaluator, has awarded Compassion its highest rating “four stars” for eight consecutive years.

“Help Haiti Live” is owned by Compassion International and will be produced by Shaun Groves and Synergy Production Group.

Synergy Production Group creates and produces live events that connect audiences with brands or causes. Offering turn-key event solutions, strategic content development, creative design, audio, video and lighting production, talent procurement and complete program management, Synergy Production Group is based in Franklin, TN (www.synergyprg.com).

Gaylord Entertainment Company has taken an active and immediate role in supporting earthquake recovery efforts in Haiti. In addition to its involvement in the Help Haiti Live concert event, Gaylord is providing direct aid to family members of employees who live in Haiti through its STAR Assistance Program. The company also provided financial support to the American Red Cross’s relief efforts and is currently working with Harvest Time International in Florida as well as the Salvation Army to transport thousands of pounds of food, clothing, and household goods donated by its STARS (employees) to the hardest-hit areas of the island nation

ARTIST & VENUE information:

About Alison Krauss and Union Station: Multiple Grammy winning artist Alison Krauss and Union Station are excited to a couple of years, and are currently in the studio working on a new album–their first band album since 2004’s “Lonely Runs Both Ways.” This is one of only a few appearances that the band will make this year. (www.alisonkrauss.com/site.php)

About Amy Grant: Amy Grant’s career spans over 25 years and stretches from her roots in gospel into an iconic pop star, songwriter, television personality, and philanthropist. Grant has sold more than 30 million albums and won six GRAMMY® Awards in multiple categories, beginning with the platinum selling Age to Age in 1982. She also has six #1 hits, including “Baby, Baby,” and “Every Heartbeat” and is one of only two Christian artists to be awarded a star on the legendary Walk of Fame in Hollywood.(www.amygrant.com)

About BIG KENNY: As one half of the super duo Big & Rich, “Big Kenny” Alphin sold in excess of five million albums, opened sold-out stadium tours for Kenny Chesney, hit the amphitheaters with Tim McGraw, graced the covers of Entertainment Weekly, Billboard, Country Weekly and was featured in such magazines as Rolling Stone, People and many others. Also an accomplished songwriter, Big Kenny was named the BMI Songwriter of the Year in 2005, and has written several top 10 hits for artists such as Tim McGraw, Gretchen Wilson, and Jason Aldean. Now, the Culpeper, Virginia, native is celebrating the release of his latest solo effort, The Quiet Times of a Rock and Roll Farm Boy, (November 2009). (www.bigkennytv.com)

About Jars of Clay: Jars of Clay launched its breakout career with the multi-format hit “Flood” in 1995. Since then, it’s amassed more than six million in career sales (5 Gold, 2 Platinum and 1 double Platinum certification), 3 GRAMMY Awards (from 8 nominations), an American Music Award nod, 17 No. 1 radio hits, and numerous film credits and BMI honors for songwriting and performing. Compelled to make a difference with needs to around the world, the band founded Blood:Water Mission in early 2002. Blood:water mission empowers communities to work together against the Water & HIV/AIDS crises in Africa. (www.jarsofclay.com and www.bloodwatermission.com).

About Mat Kearney: After spending five years traveling the country establishing himself as a new artist supporting his first release, Nothing Left To Lose, Mat Kearney dug his roots into his new hometown of Nashville, TN, and cultivated the tracks for City of Black & White, released in May 2009 on Aware/Columbia Records. He opened up the writing process to friends and to the community of musicians in Nashville, and crafted hit songs such as “Closer To Love,” “Here We Go,” and “Lifeline.” Kearney was a VH1 You Oughta Know Artist, headlined the first VH1 You Oughta Know Tour, and his video for the single “Nothing Left To Lose” tied the record for the most weeks in rotation (45) on VH1. His songs have received prominent television licensing on popular shows such as Grey’s Anatomy, Bones, Friday Night Lights, Army Wives and more. (www.matkearney.com)

About Rebecca St. James: Australian born Rebecca St. James is both a Grammy Award winner and multiple Dove Award recipient, who can count her lead acting role in the November ‘09 film release Sarah’s Choice, among her most recent career highlights. She has received RIAA certified gold album awards—for her ground-breaking album God and her Grammy Award winning project Pray, certified gold in 2006 and has had seventeen Top 10 singles–nine of which have reached the #1 spot on the charts to date. In addition to music, Rebecca is a best selling author, with more than a half dozen books to her credit—including Wait For Me (Thomas Nelson) which has sold more than 100,000 units, Pure(Hachette/Faithwords)which reached Top 10 on the CBA Bestseller List in February 2009 and her latest book, Loved (Hachette/Faithwords)(www.rebeccastjames.com).

About Brandon Heath: Emmy-Award winning, GRAMMY and American Music Award nominated, Brandon Heath holds multiple Dove Awards including the Male Vocalist and Song of the Year (2009) categories. Heath released his sophomore album, What If We (8/2008), yielding two No.1 singles, “Wait and See”, and the blockbuster “Give Me Your Eyes” which was selected by NASA this week as the wake-up song for the orbiting Endeavour shuttle crew on Feb. 8. The album’s third single “Love Never Fails” moves into Top 20 at Billboard’s AC Monitored radio chart this week. Heath’s 2006 debut, Don’t Get Comfortable, produced the radio No.1 hit, “I’m Not Who I Was,” which contributed to his New Artist of the Year Dove Award win. Heath has been covered by The New York Times and “CBS Evening News with Katie Couric.” (www.brandonheath.net)

About NEEDTOBREATHE: Formed in 1999, South Carolina based rock band NEEDTOBREATHE made a name for themselves with constant touring. Upon signing to Atlantic, the band released its debut album, “DAYLIGHT” and toured harder than ever following the album’s 2006 release. The band returned the following year with “THE HEAT,” which reached #2 on Billboard’s “Top Heatseekers” chart thanks in part to their top 10 Triple A hit single “More Time” and its inclusion in the movie “P.S. I Love You.” NEEDTOBREATHE recently announced their “Won’t Turn Back Tour” beginning Mar. 3 which celebrates their third album, “THE OUTSIDERS,” released last summer to universal critical acclaim and a top 20 debut on the Billboard Top 200. The “Won’t Turn Back Tour” follows last year’s successful headline tour which included sold-out shows in virtually every market visited. NEEDTOBREATHE has also been invited to play Bonnaroo 2010 this coming summer. (www.needtobreathe.net)

About Dave Barnes: Mississippi-bred, Nashville Based Dave Barnes is not only known for his soulful pop tunes, but also for his comedic story-telling abilities, as can be seen in numerous, frequently-viewed posts on YouTube. Armed with an acoustic guitar, clean-cut good looks and a knack for catchy hooks, Dave Barnes can do it all. (www.davebarnes.com

About Matt Wertz: Over the past 9 years, Nashville resident Matt Wertz has built an incredible story as an independent musician. With four records to his credit and sales of over 75,000, Matt has seen his career grow tremendously through constant touring, commercial radio airplay and having his songs featured in numerous television shows and films. In addition to music, Matt is also passionate about community needs around the world. In 2005, Matt helped launch an organization called the Mocha Club, who’s vision is to provide funding for releif and development projects in Africa. Mocha Club’s five main project areas are: Clean water, Education, Child Mothers, Orphan Care, Healthcare. (www.mattwertz.com)

About the Ryman Auditorium: A National Historic Landmark, the Ryman Auditorium was built as a church in 1892, served as the home of the Grand Ole Opry from 1943-74, and was completely renovated in 1994. The Ryman is open as a museum during the day and at night continues its more-than-100-year music tradition by offering the best in live entertainment. The Ryman Auditorium is owned by Gaylord Entertainment (NYSE: GET), a Nashville-based hospitality and entertainment company that owns and operates Gaylord Hotels and the Grand Ole Opry. (www.ryman.com)

About the Wiltern Theater: The Wiltern Theatre first opened its doors to the action picture crowds on October 7th, 1931. Recognized by the City of Los Angeles as a Historic Cultural Monument, this Art Deco Landmark was refurbished and restored to its creative brilliance in 1985, under the bearing of Bill Graham Presents. Following a famous history of performances and actions, a $1.5 million facelift led to the Grand Re-Opening on October 15, 2002.

Amos Ivey makes it to his forever home

Seems like we've been praying for this homecoming forever. It finally happened. You can learn the complete story at Aaron's blog and Jamie's blog.

Find The Sun

I'm pretty fond of one of the guys in this video.

All I Can Pray for Over and Over is Wisdom

I can't sleep, which is a little weird because I take medicine to sleep. Haiti is very heavy on my mind. It's funny how you can feel numb and burdened at the same time. The last few years Haiti has been on my radar. Somehow I found blogs of people either ministering there or involved with organizations on the ground and have been following the progress of whatever they're working on. Sometimes I feel like I actually know them and I've been blessed to actually meet some of them. I was part of a music festival last summer that raised funds for a Haiti project.

So, back to being numb and burdened. I haven't let all my walls down and completely grieved. That probably would have happened if the word had not come that the people I "know" are okay, for now. Then I got an email from Shaun for the Compassion Bloggers. It was a bit overwhelming.

• Sadly, we anticipate there will be many deaths.
• We anticipate thousands of children and families will have lost everything.
• We anticipate many of our church-based child development centers will have been destroyed.

But, I guess when you're feeling numb things can push you to the edge easier. That email did push me. Then, he put it in his blog and did a very good job. So, I would highly encourage you to go there to read it.

I've been reading and watching about how the airport is tied up, fuel is running out, and the seaport is demolished. And all I can pray, over and over, is "God give them wisdom. Give everyone involved wisdom. Wisdom of creativity to move debris quickly without much machinery. Wisdom in medicine to move correctly and precisely. Wisdom in engineering to get supplies where they need to be in an efficient manner. Wisdom of organization for all efforts to run smoothly. Wisdom to act in a way that is helpful both physically and spiritually."

If you want to learn more about the people I have followed for a few years click below.
Aaron Ivey
Compassion
Dreaming Big Dreams
The Livesay Haiti Weblog
Real Hope For Haiti Rescue Center
Hands and Feet Project

I think I can go to sleep now. God, give them wisdom.

Pray for this family...

Please pray for this family as they mourn the loss of their daughter in Haiti.

Sponsors Needed

Real Hope For Haiti Rescue Center needs people to sponsor pallets for a shipment to Haiti.

"We still need 23 sponsors to help get the container here to Haiti. We have lots of medicine, food, peanut butter, clothes, shoes, baby formula, etc that are ready to come." Licia

Learn more here.

Maybe your office, softball team, golf buddies, Bible study group, etc...could sponsor a pallet or two.

An email from Hands and Feet Project

This is the scene looking at several of our children's houses in Haiti after our area was hit by 3 hurricanes in a row. The red area you see in the foreground is a full size pick up truck that is buried in about 6 feet of rock that was pushed in by the floods. Thankfully all of our children and staff are safe. Many regions in Haiti were not that fortunate.

Please consider helping us as we re-build our property and build a large retaining wall for our property, the school next to us (providing a great education for 850 children), and surrounding neighbors. We have taken this project on because if we don't, our entire community could be destroyed by a future storm. Unfortunately, we can't just call the army corps of engineers to come build us a dam and some storm drains!

Please go to our website at www.handsandfeetproject.org to see more pictures, a video of the storm, and to donate.

Thanks for reading...please pray for Haiti and help however you can.

Hands and Feet Project | PO Box 682105 | Franklin, TN 37068
www.handsandfeetproject.org

Where Do You Start?

The following is from the Livesay's Haiti blog.

Please consider adding the entire Zachary Family to your daily prayer list. Licia reports that Lori and her husband Charles will return to Haiti next week. They have lost all of their belongings and will need to help their neighbors face loss too. THANK YOU to those of you who contacted Jamie and/or donated. At this very moment it is honestly so overwhelming for Licia that they are trying to determine WHICH needs to tackle first. The water was a big one and they have filters now so they can filter the dirty water and make it safe to drink. The water was so powerful it destroyed roads, moved vehicles and bridges and entire homes.

Hands and Feet in Haiti

As hurricanes Ike and Josephina threaten Haiti yet again, Mark Stuart also urges people to help: “Pray for Haiti, it’s a country that is often overlooked by the news channels when hurricanes happen because there are really no tourist areas. No reason to really pay attention, but it’s a place that really could use our help.”

This angers me. Not Mark and the work of his family, but the attitude of the media on what is important to broadcast.

To read more about the large damage Hands and Feet suffered go here or here to see a video. If you watch the video, and I suggest you do, watch for the red truck.

Haiti Hit Hard

and will any media here even cover it? Please read Aaron's posts about the devastation Hurricane Ike has done to Haiti. Being one of the poorest places in the world already, this leaves Haiti in beyond dire straights.

Aaron has provided link information for paypal accounts if you want to help out the Real Hope For Haiti Rescue Center. There are also pictures of a small part of the damage.

Today a bunch of people were demolishing the student ministry room in preparation of a 30 years in the making makeover. The chaos was much and the mess was much. I found it overwhelming...I cannot begin to wrap my mind around what it would be like to have to crawl out of what the RHFH staff is dealing with. There aren't any government agencies they can call. There isn't any hotel the government will put them and the rescued children in. There is no FEMA to even pretend to help them.

If you can...please help.

Hurricanes and Haiti

This is from Aaron Ivey's blog. You can read the entire thing here. This is the part that jumped out at me.

so many have been kind to call/email/text us about how our kids are doing with all the storms and flooding. (it is a humbling thing to know that people around the country are thinking and praying for our kids in Haiti). They are both fine and safe. We communicated with Licia and Lori today. we definitley got the scope of how rough things are there right now. the MAJOR problem right now is lack of drinking water. the flooding has washed out all of the water pipes which brings in fresh water to the village and mission. there are no supplies to fix these pipes, so when their reserve supplies of fresh water run out, they are in trouble. they can’t drink the water from the overflowing rivers because it is filled with “dirty” water (contaminated). Licia is doing everything she can to conserve, collect rain water, and limit washing clothes and diapers. she says her food supply will be ok, but major concern is water.

How is your water supply today?

...it seems like those closest to understanding the Kingdom of God are those that go unnoticed, unappreciated, and unapplauded

Aaron Ivey has posted a great blog today. And his photos are so crisp and clear. I find them captivating.

Restaveks

Some things make me really angry and very sad all at the same time. This is one of those things. 27 million slaves still exist in this world. Many are children. Over 17,000 are brought into the United States EVERY YEAR. It is often called different things, glossed over, excuses made. It is still slavery. I saw it first hand on a trip to Morocco. Little girls brought from villages and supposedly paid by the middle class that can't afford traditional housekeepers. No schooling, just fetching and cleaning until they are in their teens and attracting the attention of the father or teen-age boy of the family. Then the girl is put out on the streets to fend for herself. There are groups that take in these girls, train them in employable skills, love them, and give them new leases on life. There are also organizations that are calling for the practice to cease. I'm sure that this happens in many countries where life is not valued. It is happening here. We might not see it everyday, but stories like this prove that it is true. Look at organizations such as Free The Slaves and Love 146 and International Justice Mission. Will we, in this nation that is suppose to be "The Land of the Free", put up with this kind of crap?

Brother, I'm Dying

Picked up the latest copy of Paste and found a review (by Desa Philadelphia) of Edwidge Danticat's new book, Brother, I'm Dying. It is the story of her uncle, a pastor, who was driven into hiding in Haiti because of police and gang battles and then died alone in a U.S. detention center. And it is the story of her father. Both men lovingly impacted her life.

I think I want to check it out. What about you?

So you've had a bad day...

going through the blogs I like to read everyday I came across this one. can you imagine dealing with these situations and people every day? i thought my stress level was stressed when I was teaching school. that was a walk in a big, beautiful national park compared to this. read her blog. and if you can, think of a way to help one or more of these children.