Comments on: Don’t Hurt Haiti. Stay Home.

By: Tammy

Tammy — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 13:45:23 +0000

important to remember that Haitians are not helpless, hopeless, or voiceles

The above comment is true but I want to add that they are not ignorant either.As nice as the gesture I saw yesterday on ABC Good Morning America I had to laugh.When teams loose the Super Bowl the printed winning shirts are sent to a third world country where the people have no idea about the game never mind they really don’t know about that they are wearing the losing team shirts.

So it is nice the Colts shirts are being used but I am sure many will know that they are wearing the losing team shirts!I mean there were people from Haiti in the game!

By: Tyler

Tyler — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 17:21:41 +0000

Basically yes. I just know Compassion in the past has done things in the name of awareness that don’t immediately provide help in areas of crisis. Not that it is bad per-say, just that I felt like you were saying it would be.

By: jamie

jamie — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 22:46:10 +0000

My husband and I have been to Haiti (to the island of La Gonave) numerous times in high school and college, and have a tremendous love for the people there. After the earthquake he got in touch with the missionaries we know there to see if he could come down and help, with anything at all that needed to be done. They were so appreciative of his offer, but told him that at this time he would be more of a liability than a help. Our church did just send a team of 3 medical professionals down to partner with a church we’re connected to, though, and they are working practically around the clock. Thanks for writing about this issue, and especially for mentioning that more people with a greater variety of abilities WILL be needed in the future, perhaps when most of the world has again forgotten or moved on.

By: n8

n8 — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 05:46:17 +0000

Hey, Shaun,
It was good to see/hear you at the Phil Keaggy/Randy Stonehill concert last night. Appreciated the worship and what you said after. Especially of Exodus 16:4 — taking only what we need for the day, and giving/sharing what He’s blessed us with, with those in need. And then trusting Him with all we need. Then we can be more of a blessing to others. Thanks for that!
God’s Peace and Joy,
nathan

By: Laura @ Texas in Africa

Laura @ Texas in Africa — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 00:31:11 +0000

There are a lot of needs of that nature. The important thing for health professionals is not to just show up on the ground. They need to be invited and supported by a reputable organization. I know Partners in Health is taking medical volunteers in to the hospitals and clinics they’ve been running in Haiti for 20 years; their info is at pih.org.

By: Haiti arrests US nationals over child ‘abductions’ « The Sacred Fish Project

Sun, 31 Jan 2010 23:08:37 +0000

[...] area. Things have to be official, and people need to know what you are doing there. Please see ShaunGroves.com for further information about why you shouldn’t go to Haiti and [...]

By: PJ

PJ — Sun, 31 Jan 2010 14:53:41 +0000

I also read that Physical Therapists (as well as nurses) are needed.

By: Kristie Wooten

Kristie Wooten — Sun, 31 Jan 2010 03:44:38 +0000

My friend Martha (who IS a nurse, and a home school mom from our little group here in town) just got back from Haiti on Thursday–this is the video of them working (it’s graphic)….but this is the REAL STUFF they’re dealing with. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3LmsEUveT74

As much as I’d love to go down there and help, I realize that this type stuff is all over the place down there, and other than praying (which I can do from right here), I don’t have a clue how to handle these situations! Praise the Lord for people with skills who can and do go. But right now, I can be much more helpful by skipping a few meals out, or even (GASP!) fasting and praying for a few meals this month and sending the money to a relief organization/Compassion instead.

By: Laura @ Texas in Africa

Laura @ Texas in Africa — Sun, 31 Jan 2010 01:04:31 +0000

Amen, amen, amen! Thank-you for posting this, Shaun! Disaster relief experts know for a fact that it is FAR better for most non-professionals to stay home and give money to the pros. Unfortunately, well-meaning church groups are some of the worst offenders in the “show up to ‘help’” category. They end up using up resources and security from where it’s really needed. To take a youth group to Haiti right now (or even just to go ourselves) when we don’t have the specialized skills required in such a situation would honestly be selfish.

I think it’s also important to remember that Haitians are not helpless, hopeless, or voiceless. They were the first responders, digging goodness knows how many thousands of people out of the rubble before outside help could arrive. They are capable of cleaning up – and the UN is paying people to do so, which gives them much-needed income and the dignity of having a job – and of taking care of children, and rebuilding. It would be selfish of us in many cases to insist on going to rebuild ourselves.

Before ANY group goes, now or later, it should ask whether they would be taking away jobs from those who need them, and whether they might use the cost of plane tickets, etc. to fund salaries for Haitians instead. That people are poor does not mean that they need wealthy outsiders to come and “save” them.

Two really good resources on these issues are the Good Intentions are Not Enough blog (http://informationincontext.typepad.com/) and When Helping Hurts by Steve Corbett and Brian Fikkert. The later is specifically aimed at helping Christians to help the poor in a way that is empowering and Biblical.

By: Adam Shields

Adam Shields — Sat, 30 Jan 2010 23:01:11 +0000

Isn’t it just as bad to not distribute food that is available because you are concerned about its misuse?