Dear Friends in Christ,

     Every now and then a tragedy occurs that tugs at all of our heart strings, and we come together as one body to address the aftermath. The devastation caused by wildfires, tornadoes, flash-floods and mudslides, September 11 terrorist attacks—all evoke a response sympathetic to the victims of these occurrences, and help pours in from all directions, and a nation comes together, unified in purpose. The earthquake that struck Haiti, however, involves mass death and destruction unlike any natural disaster we've seen in our lifetimes. The estimates now stand at 200,000 dead, with many more so seriously injured that they may not survive. And our response? It has been immediate and is growing every day.

     Thousands of U.S. troops are on the ground in Haiti now. Some have been given the task of establishing a secure environment so aid can reach desperate people—the hungry, the inured, and others—and some have been given the task of delivering food, water, and medicines throughout the region. Medical personnel are pouring in from many other nations and an appeal for more medical staff and supplies has been made loud and clear. The scope of the devastation is huge,and nations from around the world are responding. The response to such suffering cuts through all the political differences that so often make nations adversaries of each other. The response to such tragedy, you see, is not political. It is a matter of the heart.

     Our Scriptures tell us that we are all created in the image of God and that God loves each of us with a steadfast, grace-filled love. In times of tragedy, our hearts are touched and our spirits moved to do something that will help. Though these are people who are quite different from us in many ways—their culture, the way they live, the way they speak—our hearts are moved by compassion for them, for they are part of our family, the family of humankind, created in God's own image. So from wealthy nations and poor, help is on the way.

     The United Methodist Church already has people on the ground in Haiti, and our United Methodist Committee on Relief lost some people in Haiti due to the earthquake, so the losses are personal for us as well. Assessments are being made, teams are being formed, an appeal for surgeons with "crush injury" experience has gone out across the country; and we will remain in Haiti long after everyone else is gone. That's just what we do. And for that, I must admit I am extremely proud to be a United Methodist. Historically known as "warm-hearted" people, we recognize that healing and recovery takes time, often lots of it, and we stay committed until the job is done. Pray for the victims in this tragic event, and for all the survivors and all those who will be ministering to them. We are confident that God can be found in the midst of this tragedy, perhaps in the form of a piece of bread or a cup of water or a shot of antibiotics—but God is there. You see, it's a matter of the heart for God too.

Yours in the service of Christ and the Church,

Bob

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