From Florida-
On Saturday, the Episcopal Deanery of St. Petersburg held a special prayer service to remember those who have died, and those who are suffering, due to the recent earthquake in Haiti.
The service was held at St. Matthew's Episcopal Church, located at 738 Pinellas Point Drive South in St. Petersburg.
The tragedy is personal for many of the church members as well as St. Petersburg City Council member Jamie Bennett. He's a member of St. Matthew's Episcopal Church, which not only built
a school in the village community of Loiseau in Haiti, but they also helped build a church. The earthquake destroyed them both.
Jamie Bennett says, "Oh, it's awful. It's absolutely awful. We had concrete, rebar, wood roofs... galvanized very standard buildings but with things to protect it from hurricanes but not from a 7.0 earthquake."
Community members outside the church also attended the prayer service to not only pray, but to raise money to rebuild the school and church in Haiti. Bennett says, "We're going to have to figure out how to temporarily house and maybe we can put a tarp over the school so that we can clear it out, so that we can begin classes. We could be one of the first schools back up and running if we can do that."
Bennett and two pastors from the Bay area are planning to head to Loiseau next Saturday, January 30th. Bennett says, "We've allotted a week to clear the rubble and bring aid. We're working very closely with Senator Bill Nelson's office on bringing food, medicine, tents, water - whatever we can get there to Port Au Prince - and take it to the mountain."
Pastor Joseph Myrtle of Redeemer Baptist Church, which is made up of mostly Haitian members, says the people of Loiseau are desperate for help. "Right now, they are sleeping in the woods waiting for our help."
The current missionary trip is scheduled to leave on January 30th. They will take food and supplies. The mission group will also assess damage, begin the clean-up, secure the compound and possibly set up a temporary school, so that students can resume their studies as soon as possible.
If you would like to make a donation, you can drop off or mail a check to St. Matthew's Episcopal Church located at 738 Pinellas Point Drive South in St. Petersburg.
http://www.wtsp.com/news/local/story.aspx?storyid=123408&catid=8
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