My Epic Journey

 In an effort to help the earthquake victims in Haiti, EPIC is partnering with Lifeline Christian Mission out of Westerville, OH.  The following items are needed.  If you could bring them to the church THIS Sunday, January 24th, we will get them to Lifeline.

The items needed are as follows:

First Aid Supplies:

· Band Aids (all sizes and shapes)

· Gauze (rolls and pads)

· Sterile Dressings, Neosporin

· Adult Tylenol

· Children’s Tylenol

· Ace Bandages

· Medical Gloves

· Alcohol Wipes

· Medical Tape

Other Medical supplies:

· Suture materials

· Alcohol & peroxide

· Over the counter medicines (those that do not require a prescription)

· Antacids, Tums, Cough Meds, Prenatal vitamins, etc

Food:

· Peanut butter

· Meats (canned or foil package)

Baby items:

· Baby cereal

· Infant formula (must be powdered due to no refrigeration in homes)

Clothing:

· Clothing for children (new or used in good condition)

· Shoes for children (new or used in good condition)

Linens:

· sheets; twin bed sized sheets needed most

· towels (new or used in good condition)

Items not needed:

· Medicines that have expired

· Shoes that are used and badly worn

· Used adult clothing

· Winter clothing

· Used underwear

· Books or games requiring English to understand/play

· Secular music or videos

Due to the recent earthquake in Haiti, we changed some things up in EPIC.  Here is our outline for the night (thanks to Brian over at Rethinking Youth Ministy for the idea and structure):

1. Students divided up into groups with a leader(s) over each group.

2. I will facilitate the overall meeting but would like you, the leader, to facilitate the

discussion time.

3. Discussion time—Anna Jamieson helped me put a video together about the tragedy along with Pat Roberston’s remarks:

• Where do you think God is in this disaster?
• How would you respond to televangelist Pat Robertson’s comments that the earthquake happened because the Haitian people are cursed for making a pact with the Devil? Is this disaster the result of sin or the shifting of a fault line?
• Read Psalm 60, a psalm of lament. What do you make of this passage? Does it truly reflect God’s character or does it reflect the feelings of the psalmist? Or both?
• Read Psalm 143, a cry for help. When we ask God for help, how do you think the prayer is answered? In what ways do you think prayers for help are being answered in Haiti right now?

4. I would then like for each group to spend some time praying for Haiti, its people, and the rescue/relief workers.

5. I would like to then pull everyone together to come up with a plan as to how we, EPIC, can help the Haitian people.

Two things:

1. We are going to partner with Lifeline to get supplies over to the Haitian people.
2. Keep praying for the people of Haiti and the relief workers who are there assisting.

ORANGE.  Where Faith and Family intersect.

Activity:  Haiti Relief

Perhaps you are tired of all the news coverage about the earthquake in Haiti but the truth is there are people whose lives have been turned upside down.  Take some time to sit down as a family and discuss the situation and ultimately how you, as a family, can help.

Here are some suggestions for discussion:

• Where do you think God is in this disaster?
• Read Psalm 60, a psalm of lament. What do you make of this passage? Does it truly  reflect God’s character or does it reflect the feelings of the psalmist? Or both?
• Read Psalm 143, a cry for help. When we ask God for help, how do you think the prayer is answered? In what ways do you think prayers for help are being answered in Haiti right now?

After you are finished discussing, pray for the people of Haiti and the rescue/relief workers.

Finish up by jumping on the computer and looking for agencies that have a presence in Haiti that have ways you can help.  One suggested organization is Lifeline out of Westerville, OH.  Check them out here:  www.lifeline.org.