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By John W. Coleman and Kathy L. Gilbert
United Methodist News Service

Throughout the Baltimore-Washington Conference, United Methodists have been opening their hearts to the victims of Haiti's Jan. 12 earthquake and responding with resources and prayers.

Shortly following the quake, on Jan. 15, victims were remembered at a prayer service at Foundry UMC in Washington, D.C.

Tom Hazelwood, regional head of disaster response for the United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR), led 70 worshippers in prayer for three of his United Methodist colleagues who were trapped for more than 55 hours in the rubble of the Hotel Montana in Haiti.

Later, it was learned that two of the men, the Rev. Sam Dixon, head of UMCOR, and the Rev. Clinton Rabb, a Mission Volunteers Unit executive, died as a result of injuries.

Bishop John Schol of the Baltimore-Washington Conference, encouraged United Methodists to overcome their sadness, fears and doubts from the tragedy by relying on God's steadfast mercy and by connecting with one another and with the people of Haiti through prayers and active support for relief efforts.

"When the earth shakes, it's not unusual for us to be sad and afraid. You can just imagine the fear of people there and of friends and families here who worry for their loved ones," said Schol. "But it is by acting on behalf of others that we can overcome our sadness and fear."

In Haiti, since the earthquake hit, more than 500 families have found a new home on the grounds of College Methodiste de Freres, in the country's capital of Port-au-Prince.

For most, home is nothing more than a thin blanket spread on the concrete basketball court or on the hard ground under trees.

But these are the fortunate ones. Thousands of others sleep in the open under much more dangerous conditions.

"They feel safer here than on the streets or in public parks," said Rosny Desroches, former vice president of the Methodist Church of Haiti. "Methodists don't only care for Methodists; the church assists all people in need."

Pastors and lay leaders from the Methodist Church of Haiti met Jan. 21 with a team from the United Methodist Committee on Relief and United Methodist Communications to talk about the immediate needs of people in Haiti.

"We lost quite a few churches and schools that are important to the Methodist Church," said the Rev. Gesner Paul, president of the Methodist Church of Haiti.

"One of the best-known schools in the country we lost in one minute," he said, referring to a 50-year-old Methodist school in Port-au-Prince.

The most urgent needs are for food, water, shelter and medicine, Paul said. The church also needs to give emotional support to hurting people who have lost entire families, he said.

"Imagine losing your children and your wife or husband and you are the only one left," he said. "Also there are a lot of children who lost their parents. How can you stand that?"

The quake killed as many as 200,000 people and left some 1.5 million homeless, according to news reports. The Haitian government has announced that it will move about 400,000 displaced residents to new villages outside Port-au-Prince.

Some needs, such as getting food, water and medicine, can be addressed quickly, said Melissa Crutchfield, UMCOR executive and team leader. She stressed that The United Methodist Church's response will be a long-term one.

"UMCOR is committed to staying for the duration," she said. "We are going to build a solid foundation for the long term."

"Thank you for being here and learning of our plight," Paul said. "Every Haitian person has lost a loved one or friend."

The families living on the church grounds weigh heavily on Desroches' mind.

"So far, they have been lucky; no rain has come since Jan. 12. But the rain will come."

For more in-depth and on-going coverage of United Methodists in Haiti visit www.umc.org.