"As Brothers we will stand, and we'll hold your hand"

Today I woke up next to my partner, safe in our house. I knew that my family and friends did the same.



I had a hot shower, ate fresh food and drank water without having to boil it, or thinking twice about how much I could drink.



Many people in Christchurch did not. How could this happen again to an already broken city? How could another earthquake strike with so much more destruction. It just is not fair.



I feel guilty. I feel guilty for feeling safe and comfortable when I know that so many are not. I feel guilty for knowing where and how my loved ones are. I cannot imagine the horror of waiting at the door for a loved one who has yet to return home. Waiting for a loved one that may never return home.



I can't imagine the panic people must feel in Christchurch. As I watched the television yesterday as the news broke I saw raw footage of people running for their lives. I heard parents say to the media "I can't talk I have to get to my children". I can't imagine how that must feel. I get a lump in my throat and a churning in my stomach to even begin to attempt to understand how it feels to be apart from your children in such a disaster.



Today as the people of Christchurch fight for their city, their homes and their people, we watch and wonder what we can do to help.



We can support them. We can stand by them. We can pray. We can donate.



We can make sure that the people who are trained to offer the best help have all the resources they need. This may be food and water, medical supplies and blood or trauma and grief counselling. We can make sure that the people of Christchurch are not alone in this.



I hope with all that I have that the rescuers have the strength to bring people home to their families.

May God be with those who have lost someone. 

I pray that peace be with those on their journey to heaven.   





How you can help



You can donate to victims of the earthquake at:

Online at www.salvationarmy.org.nz

Online at www.redcross.org.nz/donations

Any ANZ Bank: Account number 01-1839-0188939-00.


Any National Bank: Account number 06-0869-0548507-00.