Natural Disasters
28 Feb 2010
...But we pray that the greatest disaster would NOT be our lack of response to those in need.
We can travel to these places, we can be absorbed by the beauty and diversity of culture and then we can leave. It's easy to be distracted by the next big catastrophe that has seemed to have greeted us each morning. But for the people in the nations affected; the dead were their family, the destroyed were their homes and the changed was their future.
We don't want to be a hotspot of bad news - but rather, a community of awareness and then action. For the most of us, we aren't in these nations, but there is still something that we can ALL do to help.
Below you'll be able to LEARN about the nations that have been affected lately by disaster. You can join with us and PRAY for the people; the rescuers and restoration efforts. And you can GIVE - While the media may have rolled on, there are still many organizations remaining on the ground, helping people back to their feet.
Click on the images below and DO SOMETHING NOW.
April 2010 // 224 people killed, 50,000 homeless
March 2010 // 3 villages burried, 92 bodies recovered, hundereds missing thousands displaced
February 2010 // 795 killed, 1.5 million homes destroyed
February 2010 // 222,570 killed, 1.3 million remain homeless
February 2010 // 42 killed, 600 homeless
October 2009 // 384 killed, 2.5 million homeless
October 2009 // 465 killed and 230,000 homes damaged or destroyed, 4 million affected
September 2009 // 1% of the total population killed and 1 in 6 seriously affected
September 2009 // 1000+ killed, 3000 homes destroyed, all in the wake of 2004 Tsunami rebuilding efforts
September 2009 // 20 killed, 1700+ homes destroyed & 223 villages, 14,744 families, 100,000 people affected
September 2009 // 24 killed, 9602 families homeless, 117,000 affected
September 2009 // 66 killed, 20,000 homes collapsed
Comments
Re: Natural Disasters
Thanks for raising awareness in a time that so many people insist on being self-centered. Unfortunately, it is easy for these people to see one disaster after the other as if they were just another current front-page news and therefore become unable to give any kind of response to the catastrophes which are taking place around the world. I believe the Church's role towards everything that is happening should involve compassion; compassion to pray as if the matter were personal, compassion to help, and be the Church we are supposed to be. Right now, many people may question and ask themselves about God's control and power regarding these catastrophes. But there's a passage from a book that i really love which somehow answers my very deep questions every time I'm faced with the disasters that happen in my backyard, next doors or overseas: "Where's God when we are suffering?, I've been frequently making this question. However, the answer to this question is another question: Where's the Church when someone is suffering?" - "The Jesus I Never Knew" by Philip Yancey.
1 Mar 2010 by Flávia Matias Silva // Brazil
Re: Natural Disasters
Flavia, we are so glad that you're a part of our community. Karla x
1 Mar 2010 by karla keatinge
Re: Natural Disasters
Hey Flavia...You´ve just gave words to my thoughts talking about suffering and all these disasters...specially the fact that you´ve mentioned one of my favorites books and it´s remarkable part. So cool to share thoughts sista.x
2 Mar 2010 by Greice Moura
Re: Natural Disasters
It's my pleasure to be part of this community too, and share thoughts and ideas with so many kind people who believe the Gospel mainly exists to be practiced.
Keep it up, I-heart people!
Flávia x.
2 Mar 2010 by Flávia Matias Silva // Brazil
Re: Natural Disasters
My prayer for us all is that we don't become numb to the pain of others or deaf to the growns of the earth. If prayer is all that is in our hands to do, then let us do it well and with excellence. If there is more that we can do, then lets not be tempted to do the bare minimum because "thats easier and more convenient for me".
We may never know the impact of our prayers this side of eternity. I love that our reward is not on earth but is in heaven. I guess what I'm trying to say is do what you can (pray, donate, whatever) because you are blessed and fortunate enough to be able to do it.
3 Mar 2010 by Claudia Joshua
Re: Natural Disasters
I'm overwhelmed when I hear about all the disater and what happened in the last few months in this world. There is so much bad stuff going on in our world and we forget so quickly what happened yesterday but the people who are affected by the disaster will remember it for a life time. My prayer is that in every nation people will come together in the middle of the disaster, that they will find peace with each other and they'll stand up to support each other.
4 Mar 2010 by Stefanie Schiess // Australia
Re: Natural Disasters
Sometimes I think "Why God does this". But one actual thing is that I don't know, but he knows what is the best. It's out of my power. I can't control anything happens in nature. However, I can work before/after it happens. And I think working before something happens is more important. We can educate people how to survive and evacuate. For example, lots of natural disaster breaks out in Japan. But there are not 'huge' damage, because they're all educated. We should start working.
6 Mar 2010 by Stellar Sejin Park // Korea, Republic of
