Hundreds of former LDS missionaries to Haiti hoping to help after quake

PROVO — The response from former missionaries wanting to serve again in Haiti is unlike anything Stephen Studdert has ever seen.

And for a former White House Advisor, that's saying a lot.

"I've been around in my life," Studdert, of Alpine said. "I headed a presidential inaugural. I've been on diplomatic assignments to over one hundred countries. I've headed presidential summits. But I've never seen anything like this astounding response. I can't run fast enough."

Studdert, also a former LDS mission president and stake president, is galvanizing a rescue mission to Haiti, and on Wednesday began asking for help from former LDS missionaries, or anyone with construction, medical or language skills.

Within a day, he was inundated with responses. So many, the best number he could give was hundreds.

"It says something about how good-hearted people are," he said.

Interested participants have also been e-mailing the Deseret News, and their responses were forwarded to Studdert.

Freud Noelizaire, a father of three girls, from Madison Heights, Va., wrote that he wanted to join the team to help his brothers and sisters in his homeland.

"I am now working, but for this cause I can request weeks off using my time in order to be there to translate and help any other way I can," he wrote.

Tom Christensen of Midway wrote that he would love to use his 11-year construction background to again serve the people in Haiti.

"I am able to leave at anytime," he wrote, "work on the reconstruction of buildings, and help with translating Creole. I would appreciate the opportunity to serve."

The soon-to-be-selected group will leave Wednesday or Thursday and immediately get to work rebuilding Healing Hands for Haiti, a medical clinic started by Utahn Dr. Jeff Randle, and which was flattened by the initial quake.

Studdert and his volunteer organization crew are currently sifting through applicants and sorting them by critical skills. Again, it's all about medical, construction or language abilities. Former LDS missionaries are the perfect group because they already know the language, a big selling point for the US government, which is sanctioning the trip, Studdert said.

The other detail left to be arranged is bringing 150 or so orphans back on the plane.

Studdert has been talking with ForEveryChild.org, a Utah-based adoption agency, which has three orphanages in Haiti, Studdert said.

There are still "all kinds of government complexities" to be ironed out by next week, Studdert said, but for now, he is still in awe of the outpouring of love.

"(These volunteers) are so extraordinary in their desire to leave the comforts of home, step away from their work and go for three weeks to render aid to a deeply troubled place," he said. "It's incredible."

For more information on the project or to donate to the cause, visit utahhospitaltaskforce.blogspot.com/.

sisraelsen@desnews.com