Pastor Bernard’s Family is Safe
January 14, 2010 Rev. Thomas Bernard, pastor of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Port-au-Prince, is alive. He was traveling with a Canadian mission team to his church when the earthquake hit. The e-mail states: “The ground and trees shook like a dog shaking off water. We shot for Pastor’s Church and got out. The wall on one side of Thomas’ Church fell into the inside down the whole length.” After assessing the damage to Good Shepherd Lutheran Church and School, Pastor Bernard left to check on his family.
Also, Roro, the principal of Good Shepherd Lutheran School is reported to be alive and well. So is his family. However, his house collapsed and his car was destroyed.
January 15, 2010–Rev. Markey Kessa, President of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Haiti, was able to make a short telephone call early this morning to Rev. S.T. Williams, Pastor of St. Paul Lutheran Church, Los Angeles, CA. Pastor Ahlemeyer spoke to Pastor Williams around 11:30 am this morning and heard the good news that Pastor Bernard’s family is safe, as are all the pastors of the confessional Lutheran pastors of the ELCH and their families. Pastor Bernard also said his home is fine.
Pastor Kessa reported that the situation is tragic:
* Port au Prince and Jacmel are in ruins
* Over 200,000 are feared dead
* 3/4 of the population are sleeping on the streets
* No electricity, water or food yet.
* At this point the Lutheran pastors have no idea how many congregational members or school children are dead
* The Lutheran pastors are busy going from church to church, conducting services and funerals
* Pastors and church members are trying to keep the injured and the suffering alive until medical care arrives
* The needs are overwhelming. Pastor Kessa closed by saying, “Pray and bring assistance immediately. Please.”
PS I talked with Pastor Ahlemeyer, from Trinity Lutheran, Vallonia IN at 4 o’clock this afternoon (Friday). He said that all the confessional Lutheran pastors that form the Ev. Lutheran Church of Haiti and their families are alive, but there are many members of their churches who are dead or missing. The pastors have been up for three days straight helping with the wounded and conducting mass funeral services at their churches. Although there has been relative peace in the neighborhoods for two days, the situation is beginning to unravel, stealing, rioting, people wielding machetes and gun fights are making the situation worse. They are hoping that the military presence comes quickly before things get worse. They do not recommend that anyone goes to Haiti unless they have medical or military experience. Better to wait two to three weeks to let the professionals and soldiers work first, then volunteers, to help clean and rebuild later.
First Lutheran Church is receiving monetary offerings for earthquake relief. This will be happening in several waves. The initial wave of support will be in conjunction with LCMS World Relief and Human Care. They are partnering with Orphan Grain Train and already have containers of food, water, and medical supplies on the way to the affected area. Then as the relief efforts unfold we will be on top of the situation to provide several waves of direct assistance to Pastor Bernard, the members of Good Shepherd & Village of Peace Lutheran Church and School, and the pastors and members of the Evangelical Lutheran Churches of Haiti.
If you would like to support our earthquake relief efforts, make your check payable to “First Lutheran Church”, noting in the memo section that you would like your contribution sent to “Haiti Earthquake Relief”. Checks may be sent to: First Lutheran Church 600 West Sumner Avenue Lake Elsinore, CA 92530 Telephone 951.674.2757
Kyrie eleison. Amen.
+Pastor Kolander
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