Support my friend Abraham in Brazil's Flood Relief Efforts
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This picture depicts a neighborhood in southern Brazil that is left underwater due to unexpected and continuing rainstorms. Thousands of people have lost everything due to this natural disaster. Entire houses are completely submerged and hundreds of towns are reported to be underwater. My name is Dallin Hawkins and I’m from a small town in southeastern Washington called Walla Walla. After serving a religious mission in Brazil for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints for two years I became really good friends with an individual named Abraham Romero - a Venezuelan immigrant at the age of 22 who lives in southern Brazil now with his family. Abraham was one of the smartest and most influential missionaries that I came in contact with. He proved the loyalty of his friendship as he ministered to people who needed him and demonstrated his trustworthy leadership capabilities as he continually pondered ways that he could make people's lives better in an enduring way. I have the utmost confidence that Abraham will continue to do marvelous and influential things in this world evident by his good character.
Due to this sudden catastrophe, his entire immediate family and many friends have evacuated their homes with nowhere to go but a local church meeting house at a higher elevation. With the kind heart that Abraham has, he helped evacuate 9 families and organize them into very small rooms of this chapel for them to rest while the storm passed. Of these, his grandmother who rides in a wheelchair was evacuated along with his sister carrying her one year old child. Despite the difficulty that he and his friends have gone through, the storm has not stopped and it becomes impossible to predict how long they will have to live like this. In short - they have lost everything in a matter of days.
With the money that I hope to raise from this fundraiser, funds will be sent directly to Abraham for him to use for the relief of himself and his family and friends. Soon winter will strike in southern Brazil and those without shelter will be in great need of supplies to help them get through the cold months. This money will be used directly to help both the young and elderly who have been affected. As Christ ministered to the one - this money will also be used to directly administer to specific individuals involved in the catastrophe - namely Abraham and his close friends.
It's easy to choose to read this and to dismiss the plea for help, justifying your actions with the lack of resources and connection you have with the situation - but I promise that it hits differently when people you know are suffering because suddenly nature took away the place that they called home. It's common to hear about natural disasters affecting the lives of people in far away countries but when it happens to people you know, it becomes real. There are people that I deeply care about who have lost their homes. THIS IS REAL. Good people that I love are suffering. People who are no different than you and me. People with aspirations and dreams. Intelligent and hard working individuals of which bad fortune has left humbled and depleted. Please do not walk away from this chance you have to prove that you can be one of the few who choose to help those who are at the mercy of our kindness. Please do not fall victim to the foolish philosophy that because it doesn’t affect you it doesn’t matter - because it does. This plea goes out to all those who have the courage to call themselves kind hearted, to anyone who claims to believe in the principle of doing good to their fellow man, and to anyone who can find the smallest sliver of empathy in their heart to donate at least a little to providing relief to these individuals. If these are morals that you respect and value, my friend Abraham needs you! The people of Rio Grande do Sul need you! Your contribution, no matter how big or small, will go a long way in providing comfort and relief to those affected by this disaster. Together, we can make a difference and help those affected rebuild their lives.
Organizer
Dallin Hawkins
Organizer
Walla Walla, WA