Nurse Jan Tanner fanned herself in the humid heat as she tried to take in the scene before her: Hundreds of people waiting in long lines, waiting to be seen in the medical clinic prepared on the steamy Haitian shore.

A group of orphans with nervous and weary expressions were brought in. Tanner recalled a 15-year-old girl who looked particularly scared as she eyed the nurses preparing a large dose of anesthetics for her wisdom tooth removal.

Tanner said she sensed the girl's fear and held her hand, letting her know without words that she cared, that someone was there. As the doctor pulled the tooth out, the young orphan never moved, never whimpered, yet tears streamed down her cheeks.

The young girl sat up at the end and embraced Tanner. She didn't let go for half an hour. Finally, the young girl let go. "I love you," she said to Tanner before being lead out of the clinic.

"It was a tender moment for (Tanner)," said Ron Taylor, manager of communications for LDS Philanthropies.

This is one of the countless emotional stories of the volunteers of the USNS Comfort, a Navy medical ship making a humanitarian tour called Operation Continuing Promise through Central and South America and the Caribbean.

From April 1 through July 31 of this year, the Comfort is delivering crucial humanitarian supplies and providing more than 90,000 free medical procedures in Haiti, the Dominican Republic, Antigua, Columbia, Panama, Nicaragua and El Salvador.

The U.S. Southern Command Web site tracks the number of procedures performed to date.

The U.S. Navy and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints are partners in this humanitarian effort.

"The Navy requested our assistance, with supplies for the mission and then medical volunteers," said Lynn Samsel, director of emergency response for the LDS Church. "This is the first time we have ever been approached by the Navy."

The request for volunteers came with short notice. Susan Puls, primary mission organizer for the LDS volunteers, said she doubted she'd be able to find people in the timeframe requested. "I said 'There's no way we can find anybody in the professional medical field that will be able to take four months off of work," Puls said. "I was proven wrong over and over."

More than 100 people responded to fill the 40 vacant volunteer spots, each sacrificing up to four months of 24/7 service.

"People called me or showed up asking to volunteer," Puls said. "By 10 o'clock in the evening that the names were needed, all the holes were filled."

Procedures

The relief effort starts with ministry of health representatives in each country determining beforehand which people will get treatment by the Comfort's services. Then, when the ship arrives, medical professionals determine the schedule of procedures: surgeries for cleft pallet, hernia repair and cataract removal. Minor medical and dental procedures are performed at clinics.

Performing upwards of 2,000 medical procedures a day, the volunteers and staff of the Comfort witness many touching experiences among a people in need.

"I was blessed to witness the joy that come of strong faith and small miracles," nurse Ali Bowden said. "All of the patients I have had the opportunity to care for here aboard the Comfort have a story, but there are definitely some that will remain with me forever."

Mary Christopher, for example, is an elderly woman who was freed from the debilitating effects of a cataract in her left eye.

"I helped Mary Christopher to settle into her steel bunk bed, but quickly became busy with other patients who needed more immediate attention," Bowden said. "As I worked, however, I began to hear someone softly singing. I looked over and saw Mary, lying on her side, a huge blue patch over her operative eye, singing quietly to herself. I immediately stopped what I was doing and went to sit with her; and this is when Mary told me her story."

Sight severely impaired, Mary had waited in line for two days, hoping to get one of the precious armbands that would gain her entrance into the ophthalmology clinic of the Comfort.

The next day was Sunday, and, while Mary desperately wanted to try her luck at the clinic again, she decided that it was more important that she go to church — "to worship her Lord and to celebrate Mother's Day with her family."

On Monday morning, Mary woke at 2 a.m. to be sure that she was in line at the clinic by 3 a.m. Thanks to the kindness of a policeman, who saw her struggling to keep her place in the chaotic crowd, Mary received the coveted wristband and was lead into the clinic to have her appointment with the ophthalmologist. Two days later, her cataract successfully removed, Mary began singing the following song of praise:

"Why should I feel discouraged?
Why should the shadows come?
Why should my heart be lonely?
and long for heaven and home.

When Jesus is my portion,
My constant friend is he.
His eye is on the sparrow,
And I know He watches me.

I sing because I am happy.
I sing because I am free.

For His eye is on the sparrow,
And I know He watches me."

Bowden recalled the words of this elderly woman, that "when me think he no hear, He hear. When me think me prayers no go, he answer."

For Bowden, it was a "blessing to be a part of her joy."

Missionary work

While under direction to not actively proselyte on the trip, the 14 nurses and 14 LDS servicemen on the Comfort find ways to share the gospel during their service.

"I took pictures of my family and put them up in my bunker and on my locker, which brought up several discussions about eternal families," nurse Joyce Stewart said.

An LDS veterinarian always greeted other members on ship as "Brother" and "Sister."

"People always asked us why he was calling us that," Stewart said. "Because of that, he was able to share his testimony with a lot of people that we are all brothers and sisters in the gospel."

For several LDS servicemen, the operation is their chance to serve as missionaries.

"There are lots of people here who are in the service that were not able to serve missions," said Maj. David Turner, an LDS protocol officer for the Comfort. "With this operation, they feel like there are on a service mission. It's worth the sacrifice to leave family and friends to make the world a better place."

Humanitarian funds

In each country, the LDS Church donates large pallets of hygiene kits, education kits, food and other needed items.

Volunteer Jenna Rix said she loved seeing "The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints" printed on blue tags on hundreds of boxes of much-needed supplies lined up and ready to go do some good somewhere.

"A pilot friend of mine joked that as they airlift the pallets off in each country, the pallets from our church never seem to end," Rix said. "I say keep them coming!"

For many volunteers, this operation offers an opportunity to see how the LDS humanitarian fund is used.

"I am one of those people who knew the church did good things with my donations, but it wasn't something I could put a face to," Rix said. "Now I can. I've met the people and have received letters and pictures expressing sincere gratitude for things I take for granted every day."

After nurse Stewart's experiences on the Comfort, she said is more aware of the good her donations and her services do.

"I think of the sisters back in my stake and my ward who put those kits together — I wish they could see the end result," Stewart said. "Something that was very touching was to have someone grab your hand and say, thank you, thank you.' It's helped me be more mindful of what I do, of the money that I give, where it goes and how important it is.


E-mail: cwarren@desnews.com