Church holds service for members missing in Haiti

RUSH COUNTY, Ind. (WISH) - Many Hoosiers with families in Haiti have not heard from them since the quake hit.

The Milroy United Methodist Church in Rush County held a special service Wednesday night to pray for those caught in the disaster. Several members of the church are in Haiti on a mission trip.

”We just need to lean on one another at times like this,” said Rev. Valerie Wilson with United Methodist Church.

John Paul Fowler, whose wife is a mission team member in Haiti, at one point broke down in tears during the service as words of hope were passed on to his family. He tried to call his wife dozens of times, but had no luck getting through.

“It’s been horrible. It’s just sitting around to wait,” Fowler said.

Tom Mahan’s wife is also on the mission team.

“The last 24 hours, we’ve had a roller coaster. It’s been some tough moments,” said Mahan.

The mission was to help out at an orphanage in Fondwa, a small town about 30 miles away from the epicenter of the earthquake. It’s rural and remote, which is a major worry.

”We’re concerned about water and food supplies and also access,” said Rev. Wilson. “The road leading to them is a dirt road and there are reports it’s been wiped out.”

“At this point, all I want to know is that they’re safe,” said Fowler. “We don’t care if it takes two weeks for them to come home because we know they’re safe. We just want to hear from somebody.”

To help them get through another long night of waiting, more than 150 people came together at the prayer service to support the distressed family members of the mission team.

The husbands, children, mothers and siblings said the outpouring of kindness and compassion made it easier to stay strong during the difficult time.