On January 13th, 2010 I went to work like I always do. It was a Wednesday and I was already counting the hours ’til the weekend. The previous night had been spent watching Fox News. I sat there, glued to my big honkin’ television in my nice warm house, eating my tasty food and editing pictures on my laptop. I sat there watching millions of lives in ruin. I would take a bite of pasta and then switch over to watch a few minutes of American Idol. When my ears could no longer take it, I turned back to Fox News. Like the rest of the world, my attention was on the little island country of Haiti. I paid a little more attention than probably most did as I have many friends living in neighboring Dominican Republic. I don’t know why I am admitting this before the world but other than those friends (they were all ok), I had no sense of urgency for the people on the island of Hispaniola. This was evidenced by the fact that dinner and American Idol went on without interruption. However, as the night went on and the body count began to rise, God began to plant inside of me an urge to do something…anything.

So back to Wednesday morning. Because I couldn’t do anything to help the people of Haiti the night before, I went to sleep and, as pathetic as it seems, I totally forgot about it. Then while sitting in my office at Marshall University at approximately 10:00am I received all of the reminder that God would need to give me. I received the following message from my friend Trey that works with SCORE International in Chattanooga, Tennessee:

“We will fly in the DR then take truckloads of food, water, and medicine to Haiti…”

In under a minute of discussion about the details of the trip, I was over my head. Luckily, God is a lot taller than I am.

So, I’m off to Haiti. I’ll be leaving Saturday, January 30, 2010 at 6:00am from Charleston, West Virginia. From there I will meet other members of my team in Atlanta, Georgia. From there, we will go to Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. The first day or so upon arriving will be spent loading up supplies (food, water, medicine, etc…) and getting ready to drive approximately 8 hours across the island to Port Au Prince, Haiti. Once there, we will set up camp and begin working to set up an emergency feeding center at an orphanage near the airport in P.A.P. Once we are set up we will spend the next few days distributing water, food and supplies to people that are very much in need.

I’ve been out of the United States on several occasions. I’ve been in some pretty poor places in countries like the Dominican Republic and Grenada. However, I really believe that God is going to use what I see in Haiti to change my life and challenge my faith like it has never been challenged before. I ask that each of you that take the time to read this, please pray for me and for the rest of the team. We will be the first of many groups that will travel this road over the coming months. I know that I am just one person. I can only hand out so much water or food. I’m probably not going to save anybody from the rubble. There is NOTHING about me that will make national headlines while I’m there. I’m aware of all that. However, I’m going because maybe me being there will be a blessing to somebody. I’m going because as a Christian, it is my job to do something. I’m going because Matthew 25:35-40 is still in the Bible.

“For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: 36 Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me. Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink? When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee? Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee? And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.”
- Matthew 25:35-40

Most of all, I’m going because through me, GOD CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

How can you help, you ask? (I hope you’re asking by this point.)

Well there are two ways you can help.

1. Please pray for the trip. Pray that we can be a help and that lives will be changed through our work.
2. Make a contribution. Helping is not cheap sometimes. My trip alone is going to cost $1,200. However, it’s my goal to raise $2,000. The extra $800 will go toward buying additional supplies.

Contributions can be made by either by check or through PayPal. With PayPal, anybody with a credit card can help.

If you would like to write a check, please make it out to TJ Lawhon and mail it to:
2 Martha Court
Barboursville, WV 25504

For Pay Pal Click the link below.

Depending on my phone service while in the Dominican Republic and Haiti, I will be updating my Facebook & Twitter accounts and posting pictures.

I look forward to reporting back to you all when I return home.

God bless and as always I’m…

Amazed by Grace,

T.J.