“The worst effects are emotional… no smiles on the street and a sense of despair.”

Haiti needs hope.  Yes, as Christians we need to help with disaster relief, we need to lead our nation and the world in providing water, food, and medical care but we also need to share Jesus.  Haiti needs hope and that is where organizations like Faith Comes By Hearing are doing some great things.  They are partnering with disaster relief organizations to bring hope to Haiti through the distribution of solar powered audio bibles. 

Not only do I love the idea but I love the technology. The other wonderful thing about their approach is that  literacy doesn’t stand in the way.  With the use of these audio bibles there is no need for batteries and even those that are uneducated can still hear the message of hope that God has for them.  Currently the organization distrubutes audio bibles in two ways.  On is through the Bible Stick which is basically an mp3 player that is compact, easy to use and practically indistructable.  They also distrubute a version of these units to military personnel in the battlefield.

To get an idea of what a bible stick looks like you can preview their bible stick for kids below…

To help on an even greater scale in Haiti Faith Comes By Hearing has designed a solar powered audio bible that has the kind of amplification needed to play audio for up to 300 people to listen to a life changing message. So not only are they distributing audio Bibles to the US military and numerous countries around the world, but they also have over 400 different versions available for download and distribution.

“Faith Comes By Hearing is committed to reaching the nations with the Word of God in Audio, offering the Bible in a format that will connect with the world’s 50% illiterate population.” 

Click here to learn more about their work, how your donation can provide people with hope, and make a difference in Haiti or other parts of the world.

Haiti is in the thoughts and prayers of many at this time.  However for some like my friend Toussaint, it is heartbreak, worry, and intense feelings for his family, country and his people. He just recently received word that his grandmother is ok and you can view his story by clicking on the video link below:

It was just a month ago when Toussaint and I sat down for coffee to discuss is passions for his homeland and how he could partner with CCV and our desires to do something for this nation in need.  Now the need to aid Haiti is greater than ever.  Fortunately we’ve connected with people on the ground there through Lifeline Christian Mission. 

If you’re ready to make a difference now you can donate and be certain that your dollars will be immediately put to action to provide water, food, and medical supplies for those in need.  CLICK HERE TO MAKE A DONATION

That is why I like this new website I found on the web called Regenerate Culture. It’s creator Ryan Zemple says,

How much control do you believe you have over your own happiness?

Two elderly couples are resisting efforts by the township to purchase their
properties for future use as a park.

A grassroots group headed by a local pastor has jumped in to defend the Umsteads and Rawns, homeowners living on Wartman Road and Koons Street, respectively. Brian Jones, pastor of Christ’s Church of the Valley, says that eminent domain has been part of Perkiomen Township’s plans for years.

Additionally, the township took steps to lower assessment values in the area targeted for a 17.5-acre park near Lodal Creek, Jones said.

“The process that led up to the lowball offer was orchestrated by the township,” he said.

Eminent domain happens when the federal, state or local government takes private property in exchange for compensation. Prior to a U.S. Supreme Court decision, property takings needed to be justified for some “public use” — a new bridge, park or highway bypass, for instance.

Township Manager Cecile M. Daniel said eminent domain is not under consideration at this time. Out of the four desirable parcels needed for the park, two owners already agreed to sale terms with the township, including a 1.1-acre parcel for $130,000.

Ok so the township needs 4 pieces of land that are right next to one another. They are paying 130,000 for 1.1 acres but are going to give the Rawns 72,000 for 6.5 acres? CRAZY! I’m glad more people are getting involved. Read more from the Pottstown Mercury here.

Also, Laura Dietrich, the Umsteads daughter, wrote the following letter to the editor of the paper:

Thursday, September 18, 2008
To the Editor:

While today’s article (“Elderly residents resist land purchase for park”) seems to suggest that the Perkiomen Township Board of Supervisors do not intend to condemn the Umstead and Rawn Properties, the Board’s prior actions and correspondence suggest otherwise. As the Umstead’s daughter, I am intimately aware of the details of this travesty of justice.

In correspondence from the Township Solicitor, the property owners were told that they could not retain any portion of their lands but would need to agree to sell everything to the Township by the end of August or face condemnation. That is precisely why the Township convened a “special meeting,” with inadequate public notice, to adopt a resolution condemning the property. Thankfully, enough residents were alerted through e-mail and word-of-mouth, and the meeting room was packed with those objecting to the proposed condemnations. No one spoke in favor of the Township’s plans to create additional unneeded parks through condemnation.

Residents have also learned that in 1998 the Township encouraged FEMA to expand its flood plain district to include parts of these properties, which have never flooded, in an effort to decrease their property values and development potential. Now the Township has engaged a realtor, not an appraiser, to value these properties as though they are single lots, even though they could be subdivided into multiple lots.

These elderly residents have owned and maintained these farms for decades at no cost to the Township. In fact, these property owners continue to pay real estate taxes while providing free open space to the Township. In other instances, the Township has chosen to pay property owners for conservation easements. While the Township suggests that the owners can continue to live on the land as tenants, would any of the Supervisors like to have public trails and facilities on their property?

Please take the time to read more at www.helpoutyourneighbor.com. We promise to keep you informed.