Last Sunday I attended a worship service in Montreal which was conducted by Montreal City Mission, a ministry supported by the United Church of Canada. I consider our being "in the right place at the right time' as providential. I have been trying to track down someone who can help us with plans for sponsorship of an individual or family from Haiti, in keeping with encouragement from the national church to get involved in alleviating the suffering of earthquake survivors.
The same bequest which is allowing us to set up the community dinner called The Gathering Place will provide funds to do this as well. MCM works with refugees from many countries, but Haitians gravitate to Quebec and Montreal because of the French language. It makes much more sense for us to support work there rather than sponsor someone to come to Anglophone Bowmanville. You may have noticed we don't have a large Haitian population.
As I have been speaking with folk from MCM this past week we are hearing that deadly cholera is besetting hundreds and perhaps thousands in Haiti and has already killed at least 250. Christians responded with considerable generosity at the time of the earthquake, but the need is far from over.
Are you aware of this cholera outbreak? Does it make sense to you that we find a way to respond with our financial support?
3 comments:
Another wonderful way to use the bequest given to St. Paul's; and yes, it makes sense to keep giving. It's difficult. There are so many worthy causes and so many people that need support and assistance. I wonder whether sometimes congregations need to just follow their hearts and find a focus. Support others but develop a full understanding of their focus and be able to support and assist more meaningfully.
I agree with Deb that finding a focus and being able to assist more meaningfully would be a good thing. I think people and congregations can get spread to thin. I also would like to see more focus on our native communities, they need clean water, better housing,better health care, schools etc.,etc.
If only the person who made these initiatives possible was aware of the outcome of her generosity. Of course, if she is part of the "cloud of witnesses" she may know.
I'm hoping that the congregation will embrace these possibilities as well Deb.
The three ideas I proposed to the donor's family were the community meal, Haitian sponsorship, and some form of water project, possibly in a Native community. So we're on the same page Laurie.
Post a Comment