SNOW AND HAITI RELIEF

Sabbath, February 6 was scheduled to be the great Haiti Relief Sabbath, as Adventists across North America would take a special offering designed to help our brothers and sisters in that island nation to begin to rebuild their lives. Instead, February 6 will be remembered as the day of record snowfall in the Mid-Atlantic region, paralyzing transportation, thrilling kids and shutting down church services across the area. The special appeal and offering did not take place at WSDA!

Many have already given to ADRA (Adventist Development and Relief Agency.) This organization provides emergency relief and has been very active since shortly after the quake, working with other similar organizations to import and distribute food and water. ADRA was able to locate diesel fuel for the generators of the Adventist Hospital which was going to have to shut down critical functions. ADRA cannot, by its charter, limit its relief effort to Adventists. North American Division President, Don Schneider wrote to Elder Leito, President of the Inter-American Division, “Our first response was with ADRA for general relief, but now we want to do more for our church brethren.” The picture shows a tent city on the campus of Haitian Adventist University with approximately 30,000 refugees.

The NAD has set a goal of $1 million to provide Adventist church and church member assistance. Much of this has already been raised by pledges by individuals and organizations. It was my privilege to talk to Elder Leito a few days ago on the phone on an unrelated matter. I asked him what the current death toll is for our membership. “It is approaching 600,” he told me. Almost an equal number have sustained amputations and other serious injuries. Thousands survived, but have lost everything of value. I told Elder Leito that WSDA was focusing on doing what we could to help with the February 6 offering. His response was, “Thank you Del, and I am going to tell the people of Haiti of your encouragement and your church’s gifts!”

In order to make your Haiti Relief gift through the Westminster SDA Church, you must clearly delineate which gift you are making. If you want your gift to go to ADRA, for general relief, make sure you write “Haiti ADRA.” If you want your gift to go to the February 6 offering to specifically assist our brothers and sisters in Haiti, please mark your envelope, “Haiti Disaster Relief (SDA).”

A new law allows you to make 2010 Haiti donation deductions in your 2009 taxes if you wish to do so.  WSDA Treasurer Harold Greene suggests that if you want to take a 2009 tax deduction for this 2010 gift, you should make the gift directly to either ADRA  or the NAD site. WSDA is not set up to provide a separate receipt for a Haiti Disaster Relief donation.

You can donate directly to ADRA for general disaster relief by visiting www.ADRA.org, calling ADRA at 1-800-424-2372, or mailing a check made out to ADRA and marking it:

“Haiti Disaster Relief” to
ADRA International
12501 Old Columbia Pike
Silver Spring, MD 20904

You can donate directly to the special SDA Disaster Relief by visiting www.nadadventist.org and finding the “Donate Now” link for Haiti Relief.

Elder Lieto described one Adventist Pastor who got his family out of their little home just before it collapsed, destroying all of their personal possessions. But his daughter was visiting her grandmother in another town. Both the daughter and the grandmother were killed when the house came down in the quake. The pastor is now in a refugee camp, serving his members and countrymen however they can. A Fox News report entitled “Haitians Helping Haitians” described the large Adventist Church and School campus and the escape of the children from the school. The kids apparently ran out into the open area at the sound of their church collapsing, and then turned at the sound of their school coming down. That few moments of delay saved their lives.

Don Schneider writes: "Our heartfelt prayers and concerns are with the people of Haiti still suffering the effects of this devastating earthquake. Because we know Jesus loves us, we must let them know that His love compels us to help."    

Article written by: Del Johnson