Video slideshow, photos available from Haiti assessment team
Mon, Jan 25, 2010
The LCMS assessment team coordinated by LCMS World Relief and Human Care and LCMS World Mission returned to the Dominican Republic from Haiti late on Jan. 23. James Neuendorf, a communications specialist missionary with LCMS World Mission in Latin America, provided photos today of Haitian people struggling to cope with the disastrous Jan. 12 earthquake. Go to LCMS World Mission’s YouTube channel to view a video slideshow of images from Haiti, set to the music of a Haitian Lutheran congregation in Jacmel, Haiti, singing “How Great Thou Art,” on Jan. 22, The LCMS assessment team was able to join this community of believers as they, despite the destruction and suffering surrounding them, offered up a spontaneous song of worship to the Lord. View photos from the assessment team at LCMS World Mission’s Picasa album. Detailed updates from the assessment team and other disaster response updates are available from LCMS World Relief and Human Care.
An LCMS assessment team coordinated by LCMS World Relief and Human Care and LCMS World Mission entered Haiti early in the morning on Jan. 22 to meet with leaders from the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Haiti (ELCH) and to deliver emergency supplies for immediate relief work. The assessment team includes: Rev. Glenn Merritt, director of disaster relief for LCMS World Relief and Human Care; Dr. Jorge Groh, regional director of Latin America for LCMS World Mission; Dr. Douglas Rutt, former LCMS World Mission area secretary for Latin America; Dr. John Lautenschlager, a medical and health relief consultant; James Neuendorf, LCMS World Mission communications specialist and missionary for Latin America; and Chaplain Steve Lee, a critical incident stress specialist.
The assessment team’s goal was to encourage the Haitian pastors of the ELCH, the LCMS partner/sister church in Haiti, to evaluate the immediate and ongoing needs of disaster relief in Haiti, and to begin forming a plan for a “comprehensive Lutheran ministry of presence and mercy.” The assessment team saw damage in Port-au-Prince, Haiti’s capital, and also traveled to two smaller communities—Jacmel and Leogane. The team returned to the Dominican Republic late on Jan. 23 and spent Jan. 24-25 debriefing with LCMS missionaries who serve in Latin America, an LCMS pastoral care team, and other partners.
On behalf of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod, LCMS World Relief and Human Care (the mercy arm of the LCMS) is working cooperatively with LCMS World Mission (the mission sending arm of the LCMS), LCMS congregations and districts, and U.S. and international partners to provide immediate and long-term relief for the people of Haiti and the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Haiti.
Tags: haiti
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Thank you Jesus for the work of the missionaries in Latin America and for enabling them to serve you and your beloved sons and daughters in Haiti. Grant them your supernatural strength to serve! Amen!