Sign outside the Full Gospel Apostolic Church of God pleads for help
for quake-ravaged Haiti. (John Guenther)

As Rev. Jean-Renaud Guillaume tries to comfort his Haitian congregation at the Full Gospel Apostolic Church of God, he himself silently copes with the loss of his own family members and friends.

The earthquake that rocked Haiti a week ago continues to emotionally devastate Rev. Guillaume and his 50-member church on Adams Blvd in Los Angeles.

"It hit me when I saw 10,000 dead bodies on CNN ... and the people sleeping on the streets with the cadavers," sighed Guillaume. He took deep breaths as he tried to regain his composure, sat in silence for a few moments and reached out his hand for comfort. Guillaume, who left Haiti for the United States 20 years ago, says he has not eaten since the earthquake struck his home country.

Inside the store-front church he started in 2001 -- a church nestled among a beauty salon, an auto shop and a massage parlor -- Guillaume briefly touched upon his personal story. With an estimated 200,000 killed in the quake and no open lines of communication, he anxiously wonders who of his family lies among the dead. He fears some perished under collapsed homes and seems torn by not knowing.

However, Guillaume quickly refocused on the needs of his congregation and few members seem untouched by the crisis. The church's youth minister learned her entire family died when the quake destroyed their home.

"They're all dead," Guillaume continued repeating. "They're all dead."

The youth minister has not spoken a word since she heard news of her family's tragedy a week ago.

Other church members, in the midst of grief and fear, continue trying to contact their loved ones and hope to save enough funds to go find them in Haiti. Members also want to fundraise to send food, supplies and especially water.

"Every payment that they have they're trying to saving it for Haiti," said Guillaume. "And I understand. I understand."

The reverend plans to make similar sacrifices for his congregants, and may temporarily close the church site to use the money he pays in rent toward fund raising. 

In the meantime Rev. Guillaume said his church will provide prayer, spiritual guidance and some help from social workers. He plans to ask for more counseling services for his members from USC and UCLA.

"We comfort them. We give them the word of God. We're trying just to help them cope with the situation," said the reverend. 

He believes it could take Haiti 50 years to recuperate from the earthquake disaster but manages to remain hopeful about the country's future. The way Americans rushed to aide Haitians through the crisis leaves him especially encouraged.

"The American people, for me, I never thought you were so great, so generous. I cried to see what you do over here and there. When I saw some people pick up the children, the kids. Americans went there to help us. That's why I cried. I was in tears."