Speeches

Prayer Service for Victims of Hurricane Katrina

Remarks by Ambassador John Darrell Rood

September 22, 2005
Mount Tabor Full Gospel Baptist Church
Nassau, Bahamas

On behalf of the people of the United States and the victims of Hurricane Katrina, I wish to express my deepest appreciation for your thoughts, prayers and generous assistance.  There are too many people, too many good corporate citizens, to thank each one individually.  So, let me say Thank You. 

I would also like to recognize our organizers - Franklyn Wilson, Bishop Ellis, Wendell Jones, Alfred Jarrett and Veronica Duncanson - thank you for your compassionate vision. 

As we pray tonight for the victims of Hurricane Katrina, we have been humbled by the awesome power of nature and by our own human frailty.  We have seen the suffering of loved ones separated, felt the pain of people whose possessions were swept away, and heard the cries of children taken from the only lives they knew.  We pray that the many who have lost so much will find comfort.  We pray for the reunion of separated families.  And we pray tonight for those in the path of Hurricane Rita and ask that God's grace be with them.  

Yet even in this time of sorrow -- especially in this time of sorrow -- we are thankful for the blessings we have received.  We have seen courage and kindness overflowing.  Families and firefighters, neighbors and nations, all have blessed us with their generous hearts - from tireless doctors working through the night to neighbors heeding the call of the trapped, to compassionate nations offering money and supplies, to private groups like "Bahamas for America."  The world saw the hungry and gave them something to eat; saw the thirsty and gave them something to drink; saw strangers and invited them in. 

We give thanks especially to you, our brothers and sisters in The Bahamas.  You have seen the suffering of storms so personally.  You understand the need more than others could.  We remember only a year ago your suffering from Frances and Jeanne.  We are joined by our common experience, working together to face our common challenges and acting in loving support for one another. 

So now we go forward, confident in the good heart of the world and our brothers and sisters in The Bahamas, trusting that even among the ruins, the love of God remains at work.  May God’s love touch all those in need and may God bless our two countries.