January 21, 2010
Our friends, Scot and Maurine Proctor, who run Meridian Magazine, are teaming up with Steve Studdert to enlist volunteers willing to go to Haiti.
Studdert is chartering a plane that will take 150 volunteers to Haiti. Men and women with construction and medical skills are needed.
Individuals with French/Creole language skills extremely desired.
The plan is to “report for duty” at the Healing Hands facility (now destroyed – photo below) started by physician Jeff Randle, who served an LDS mission to Haiti. Volunteer link at bottom of post.
To read entire article by Studdert click here.
Studdert served as White House advisor to three US Presidents and has had extensive global disaster experience. He is the author of America in Danger (fascinating read).
The plane will leave from Salt Lake City next Wednesday or Thursday. Volunteers will be gone for 21 days. Meals/T-shirts/Tents will be provided. All costs from Salt Lake to Haiti and back will paid for by donations.
Studdert views this as an emergency aid mission, a call to help our fellow brothers and sisters in Haiti. Apparently, the response from returned LDS missionaries to Haiti has been amazing. But there are still seats that need to be filled. I love Studdert’s urgency:
“Every day we delay is another day of suffering in Haiti.”
Scot and Maurine will document the relief efforts first hand. You can watch for their articles on Meridian during the coming weeks.
Like most of you, having watched all of this from afar, I’ve been wanting to do more. Faces like these make me want to find babysitters for my healthy, safe, well-fed children and board that plane today.
But I found solace in Maurine’s words to me, “Another season – another disaster. You’ll be there.” For now, this is my small way to help. Link Meridian’s article into an email and pass the word.
To sign up for Steve’s mission, go to Utah Hospital Task Force.
And here is more info about Healing Hands.
Years ago Doug memorized Donne’s poem. We find it so poignant right now.
No man is an island, entire of itself
every man is a piece of the continent, a part of the main
if a clod be washed away by the sea,
Europe is the less, as well as if a promontory were…
any man’s death diminishes me, because I am involved in mankind
and therefore, never send to know for whom the bell tolls,
it tolls for thee.
– John Donne
