At Tampa church, prayers for pastor's loss

TAMPA - A Bay Area pastor found out he lost his father in the earthquake in Haiti. Gerly Germain received the news early Wednesday that his father was killed in a collapse.

"Around five this morning, my mom called me and told me they found my dad in the rubble, so it is not something we can even express in words," said Germain, pastor of Bethanie Seventh Day Adventist Haitian Church in Tampa.

Despite his loss, Germain felt it important to stay strong for his Haitian congregation. The church held a vigil to pray for those lost and missing. For many members, the pictures on television of the devastating aftermath are all there is: communication to Haiti is near impossible.

"You see some people out there, so it gives you some kind of hope, but you don't know for sure. I guess the waiting is what's killing people," church member Pennette Limage said.

Pierre Francois is Germain's cousin and a pastor in George. Francois is awaiting news of several relatives in Haiti.

"We're all just waiting for the phone to ring and for our loved ones to be on the other end confirming that they're okay," he said.

At the vigil, the feeling of not knowing settled silently through the pews, while old hymns sang in times of despair echoed loudly.

"Faith is what keeps us standing, hoping that there will be something to look forward to," said Francois.

The local Haitian community is close knit. During the service, they prayed for their homeland. They reminded each other that God has a plan. They cried for all that is lost.

The congregation is collecting donations to send back home. They hope the rest of the world sees this not as a Haitian crisis, but as a human one.

"Whether were were born in Haiti, it's a humanitarian crisis, so it's tough for every human being," Jermain said.

Bethanie Seventh Day Adventist Haitian Church will start accepting donations at 10 a.m. Thursday.

The church is located at 10401 N. Florida Avenue in Tampa. Pastor Gerly Germain is asking for donations of medical supplies, water, canned food and new clothing.