A Story of Giving

Our campus is no different than many groups of people all over this country, being moved by the scenes coming out of Haiti because of the earthquake. I know this is going to sound like I'm bragging, and I'm not, I'm just sayin'.

Because of this tragedy, we began to look at ways that our students could appropriately respond to the tremendous need represented now in Haiti. Last semester a student organization had already raised funds for the Haiti Water Project, a venture to build fresh water wells in Haiti. For every $4500 raised, a fresh water well could be placed in strategic locations to serve the community. They raised $2200 last semester. 100% of the proceeds go directly to this project.

They were pretty excited about that, so we decided to pick that up this semester to help address the present need. Our students were already familiar with the project, and it goes directly to where it is needed most. With the situation as it is on ground in Haiti, and no groups being allowed in for at least 6 months, we wanted to do something. This will be on our radar screen for the entire semester, and we already have an MIA trip planned there for March 2011. Serendipitous, we all know. That's just the way God works, isn't it? Anyhow, this week in chapel, we began to put the need, coupled with the project, in front of our students again. We didn't set a goal, we just decided to allow God to speak, and students to give as they felt led.

As of this morning, our campus has raised, in just three days, $9100, added to the $2200 raised from last semester, and we're just getting started. We did make the ask for each student to consider giving $10 throughout the semester, which would allow us to dig five freshwater wells, and as you can see, there is a reason we don't put caps or limits on what God can do in and through the lives of students. We have a running total, not a thermometer, because we are never done giving, are we?

We are an incredibly blessed country, university, and we've seen giving flow out of this blessing this week. So, in the midst of pretty lame statements being made by some, I believe in their hearts, well-meaning people, we continue to give, as the need continues to grow. We give out of our abundance, not a reaching down, but a reaching across to brothers and sisters who are no more deserving of this tragedy than we are, and no less deserving of basic needs than us either.

May God help us to never forget the less fortunate, marginalized, poor, disenfranchised, abused, neglected, and forgotten; who are recipients of the same gracious move of God their way as we are ours.