Haiti Earthquake Update - January 18, 2010

The following is an on the scene report from Lieutenant Commander Glenda Harrison, an AME Chaplain now serving in Port-au-Prince Haiti:

…I was told at 1130 Friday night that I was to report for a briefing and was on a team to enter Haiti @ 0500 on Saturday morning. We got to Haiti at approximately 0700 in the morning where Joint Operations is based at the Toussaint L'Overture Airport.

I have a lot of information for you with specifics and I'm preparing a formal report for you both. I was up until 0245 Sunday morning preparing

reports for my Command Chaplain, however your report is coming.

I am pleased to report that with the locals help I was able to contact and speak personally with both Presiding Elders and they are doing well.

There is a considerable amount of damage to a few churches in my report I will give you as much detail as possible. The Presiding Elders while they do speak English their accent is very heavy and difficult to understand some of what was being said with the airport noise, as well the fact that I was using one of the local’s cell phones.

Unfortunately, my French is extremely limited, I have more of a background in Spanish. Be that as it may, it was a long day...I embarked back on the ship at around 1700 (5:00 p.m.) and was then called into a Mass Casualty.

We have at least 5-7 Haitians on our hospital ward aboard the ship and a brand new baby who was born, with a couple of my Haitian sailors they served as Creole interpreters for me while I provided ministry. At least 3 had to have amputations done and my medical staff has been pushed beyond the limits.

I thank God for the chaplains aboard the ship who are assisting, however I'm being called in because of my specialty in Cross-Cultural counseling and Ethics. God has moved on-board this ship in a powerful way and I see a lot of good that will come from this experience. The team is pulling together as this experience has assisted in helping our White brothers and sisters better understand and become more comfortable with people of other backgrounds.

I shall get back ASAP at this moment I need to prepare for the evening Gospel Praise and Worship service, which is held @ 1900 (7:00 p.m.) in the Ship's Foc'sle (the largest space available on the ship). We normally have an attendance of 150 and it's standing room only...it will be interesting to see the numbers for tonight.

In the midst of preparation, I still must provide pastoral counseling, which one stands in the wings as I finish this e-mail and then drop by the medical ward to check on the patients.

May the AME church continue to pray my strength in the Lord and I recognize that it's not by "might, nor by power, but by My Spirit says the Lord" (Zechariah 4:6).

Blessings and thanks so much for both of your support during this devastating tragedy.

Respectfully submitted,

LCDR Glenda Jennings Harrison Chaplain Corps, USN Second District, AME Church Washington Conference Bishop Richardson, Presiding Prelate

Please keep Chaplain Harrison in your prayers as we continue to pray for our Haitian brothers and sisters. As we receive new information we will continue to post it here. If you would like to contribute to the relief effort, you can mail your contributions to: 16th Episcopal District AMEC – Haiti Earthquake Fund P. O. Box 821308 Houston, TX. 77282-1308

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