heavy heart

I have been reading articles all day long about Benjamin Larson. Ben was a seminarian at Wartburg seminary, finishing up his senior year. He and his wife, Renee, were in Haiti for J-term as Renee gathered information for her thesis and Ben led workshops for lay leaders of a new church. Ben's cousin was also there, teaching the future leaders of this church.

When the earthquake hit, Ben's cousin and his wife Renee were able to get out of the building they were staying in. But Ben was on the third floor, the building collapsed and he hasn't been seen since the quake.

Renee and I worked at Flathead Lutheran Bible Camp together and just this past year we reconnected when she and Ben were in Lincoln for their seminary internships. We were so excited when we bumped into each other because we were each the first person we "knew" in Nebraska. We commented on how odd it is to move somewhere so new and never bump into to anyone, because you don't know anyone to bump into.

Renee and Ben are salt of the earth people. Just as good as it gets. My heart is so sad for Renee. How on earth do you live through this horrific nightmare? How do you deal with the horrors you saw, terror you felt, unbearable sorrow you now live with? I have been watching footage of the earthquake all week, but hearing this news this morning pretty much knocked the wind out of me. A hundred thousand lives are a hundred thousand human souls, all loved and mourned by someone. It's just too much.

Please pray for comfort and love to surround Renee and all of Ben's family.

You can read more about Ben in the following article:
http://edition.cnn.com/2010/US/01/14/haiti.seminarian.killed/

This link is from the church Ben's mom is a pastor at: http://www.flcduluth.org/