FAST FACTS:
(Germantown, TN 1/13/09) A Germantown church group on a humanitarian mission that missed the devastation in Haiti by hours now feels helpless.
The trip was in the works for months when the massive quake abruptly cancelled plans. Six people from Germantown Presbyterian Church had their bags packed, and were ready to do good. Now, they're grateful their flight was scheduled for Wednesday -- one day after the quake.
Associate Pastor Chris Ham and a small group from his church spent time in Haiti just after Hurricane Ike. "We talk about Southern hospitality, but they take it to a whole new level," he says. "The people are so gracious and so kind and full of love and joy and energy, it's amazing."
They went to the poor island country on a humanitarian mission and planned to go back. In fact, they would be on their way but the airline cancelled the flight. They're realizing just one day made all the difference.
"Realizing the magnitude of what happened was just frightening and really we're concerned about our friends and our partners down there," says Ham. "We're grateful we had not left yet."
Like many, the church has not been able to speak with any of their friends and colleagues in Haiti. The group planned to build water purification systems for Haitians without clean drinking water. They packed crates full of pumps, tools to teach basic health care, and Bibles. For the moment, none of it will get to the people who need it now more than ever.
"Our first thought was we still want to go, we still need to go tomorrow," says church member Evelyn Mosley who know what the group was also bringing was hope to the impoverished nation. This should have been her first trip to make a difference there.
"We just hope and pray that those we were going to meet that were going to meet us, that they're okay," she says. "We know it's going to get worse before it gets better."
"We're just concerned," says Ham. "We're offering a lot of prayers up for our friends."
For now, authorities have rushed in the most immediate needs, but this group says they'll go as soon as they're needed.
- Germantown Presbyterian Church members planned humanitarian mission in Haiti
- Flight to Haiti cancelled after earthquake
- Group still wants to go help when they're needed
(Germantown, TN 1/13/09) A Germantown church group on a humanitarian mission that missed the devastation in Haiti by hours now feels helpless.
The trip was in the works for months when the massive quake abruptly cancelled plans. Six people from Germantown Presbyterian Church had their bags packed, and were ready to do good. Now, they're grateful their flight was scheduled for Wednesday -- one day after the quake.
Associate Pastor Chris Ham and a small group from his church spent time in Haiti just after Hurricane Ike. "We talk about Southern hospitality, but they take it to a whole new level," he says. "The people are so gracious and so kind and full of love and joy and energy, it's amazing."
They went to the poor island country on a humanitarian mission and planned to go back. In fact, they would be on their way but the airline cancelled the flight. They're realizing just one day made all the difference.
"Realizing the magnitude of what happened was just frightening and really we're concerned about our friends and our partners down there," says Ham. "We're grateful we had not left yet."
Like many, the church has not been able to speak with any of their friends and colleagues in Haiti. The group planned to build water purification systems for Haitians without clean drinking water. They packed crates full of pumps, tools to teach basic health care, and Bibles. For the moment, none of it will get to the people who need it now more than ever.
"Our first thought was we still want to go, we still need to go tomorrow," says church member Evelyn Mosley who know what the group was also bringing was hope to the impoverished nation. This should have been her first trip to make a difference there.
"We just hope and pray that those we were going to meet that were going to meet us, that they're okay," she says. "We know it's going to get worse before it gets better."
"We're just concerned," says Ham. "We're offering a lot of prayers up for our friends."
For now, authorities have rushed in the most immediate needs, but this group says they'll go as soon as they're needed.
