Mostly, my job down there was to provide assistance to the clergy and response units in the midst of disaster situations. I visited a lot of shelters and listened to people's stories and just tried to be a caring presence for anyone who wanted to talk.

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I wish I could have stayed down there longer because the need is so immense and the devastation so much broader than I had first thought. Everywhere I went, everyone was suffering in some way. Everyone was mourning a loss in their family, a lot of them in their immediate family. It was deeply upsetting and I certainly won't forget it.

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