Responding to the devastation in Haiti, Bethel students and alumni alike are putting one of Bethel’s core values—changing the world—into action. These are just a couple of the stories you'll see in the upcoming Bethel Magazine.

Bethel Seminary student Ramon Pastrano's organization Impact lives is helping feed nearly 30,000 Haitian children each day.

Students

Current seminary D. Min. student Ramon Pastrano is helping feed nearly 30,000 Haitian children each day through the nonprofit organization he started in 2007 called Impact Lives (impactlives.org). Although not a relief organization—Impact Lives provides leadership and cross-cultural training as well as short-term humanitarian efforts—Pastrano says they are packing and sending containers of food to Haiti, as fast as possible.

“People are calling us to get help with logistics, food, and supplies,” he explains. ImpactLives is also raising funds for clean drinking water and medical supplies to replace critical medical equipment destroyed in the earthquake.

Alumni

Fellow Bethel alum Jen Halverson ’00 headed off to volunteer as a pediatrician in Haiti in 2007 before becoming a fellow in pediatric emergency medicine at Children’s Hospital and at the University of Minnesota. Now she’s back in the ravaged country providing medical relief in a makeshift neighborhood clinic. Children’s Hospital is supporting her by sending much-needed supplies.

She’s delivering babies, performing amputations, and addressing unimaginable wounds. With time, the acute emergency care is turning to more long-term care. “Despite all that…” she writes, “It’s good to be here. I’m working with some amazing people and staying with some of my best friends. People back home and all over the world have been amazingly supportive.”

Her work was highlighted by Minnesota Public Radio, and her blog, sleepydoctor.blogspot.com—where she documents and shares her experience—is garnering local attention. Friend and fellow blogger, Twin Cities Pastor Greg Boyd (gregboyd.org/blog) encouraged his readers to follow Halverson’s work at her blog.