From Haiti With Love

As you might know, Lisa and I have a close personal friend, Michael Ritter, who lives in Haiti. Michael graduated high school with Lisa, attended Grove City College, then got his masters from Emory University's School of Public Health in Atlanta at the same time we lived there. Michael is what I call a public health missionary in Haiti. He works through an organization called Deep Springs International, which he co-founded while attending Grove City. DSI provides sustainable clean water solutions to the people of Haiti, and it is Michael's faith in Jesus Christ that calls him to serve in such an amazing and life-affirming way.

Since last week's earthquake, Lisa and I have been in contact with Michael a few times. But, as you might expect, he is busier than ever. Clean water was sorely needed before the quake, and it is needed even more now.

So, Lisa and I have mostly kept abreast of DSI's and Michael's post-quake experiences through two sources: the DSI website, and Michael's blog. (I linked to Michael's blog in my "Anonymous" sermon posted Monday, but he posted again this morning). I encourage you to read his 2 posts from the past week, and to subscribe to DSI's e-mail list for periodic updates.

Now more than ever, we must all educate ourselves and others about the problems in Haiti -- those stemming from the earthquake, and those that have been magnified by the quake. Let's go beyond "giving and forgetting." Let's keep Haiti in our prayers and our hearts for as long as it takes for restoration and wholeness to occur.