Thursday, September 01, 2005

Relief for Katrina Refugees

I've been trying to figure out what I should do to help with hurricane relief in some way. Should I go the the coast? Should I send money?

As I began to hear that a large number of refugees would be right here in the Dallas metroplex, I knew I had to get out and do something. With the tsunami, I didn't have serious thoughts about actually going. With this disaster I can't not do something. It's too close to home. If I just comfortably go about living a surburban, Plano lifestyle right through this tragedy I have no business calling myself a Christian. I either need to give sacrificial amounts of cash or I need to give sacrificial amounts of time or both. In this case, I don't want to just give cash. I want to encourage some refugees face-to-face. I want to learn close up what they are experiencing and provide for their needs. I think this relates to what Bill Hybels has said... Don't medicate your holy discontent... feed it and grow it until you do something about it. A relief effort on this scale can change us if we'll let it.

So... I'm trying to get involved. Tomorrow I'm going to a day of training with the Red Cross to learn how I can help as they provide shelters in the Dallas area.

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

Thanks for getting involved Allen. I promise you're in for an experience you'll never forget. And super opportunities to touch lives to. Rooting for you, Steve