MIAMI – In his first ever foray as presidential envoy, Gov. Jeb Bush left Florida on Sunday for tsunami-ravaged South Asia to illustrate American compassion at a time of terrible tragedy.

“This is a time for us to reflect on God’s blessing … and be generous,” Bush said as he departed in the governor’s jet from Miami International Airport to link up with Secretary of State Colin Powell at Andrews Air Force Base just outside Washington, D.C.

President Bush tapped his brother as an expert in disaster relief because Florida was lashed by four hurricanes last year.

He arranged the delegation after the White House was accused of responding slowly to the calamity that has killed tens of thousands of people from India to Indonesia and eastern Africa.

The Bush administration initially offered $15 million in disaster aid. It has since raised the figure to $350 million – part of an overall global pot of $2 billion so far pledged by 40 nations.

In contrast, the governor said that when the final tab is tallied, Florida will have received upwards of $10 billion in federal relief aid for the four hurricanes.

This week’s trip is part fact-finding mission, part photo opportunity. Bush said there would be meetings with political leaders in Bangkok and Jakarta as well as tours of “impacted areas,” to see relief workers and victims at a remote hospital.

Bush said he will be back in Washington on Thursday – in time to make a personal report to his brother and to attend the 60th wedding anniversary party of his parents, George and Barbara Bush, at the White House.

Asked how he was preparing for the trip, the governor replied, “I’m praying. … What happened in Florida pales in comparison to what happened in these countries. This is a compassionate place. Our country really cares.”

He also got vaccine shots on Friday – against hepatitis and typhoid.

Responding to criticism that the United States had been stingy in its initial response, the governor said “the dollar game has probably been a little overstated” because it will take time to assess the need for funds and troops and supplies in South Asia. He also downplayed comparisons between Florida’s hurricane challenges and the tragedy in South Asia.

“I don’t think you can compare Arcadia to northern Sumatra,” he said.

But, he said, in both Florida and the tsunami-struck region, “there was an expectation that after a devastation of this magnitude that you could just flip a switch and have soldiers on the ground and relief workers there. There was an expectation of immediate gratification – and that’s not possible.”

The governor said this is his first formal role leading a presidential delegation, although his father and older brother have served a combined eight years in the White House. He has represented the family at foreign inaugurations, he said, and was asked to lead earlier delegations but declined because of scheduling conflicts. This time he said he embraced the invitation from the president.

“The fact that I’m his brother … symbolically gives people the sense that people care,” he said, explaining he was recruited for the mission “to show the heart of this country during this really tragic time.”

It is not his first trip to South Asia. He said he visited the Indonesian capital, Jakarta, in the late 1980s or early 1990s as a businessman. An aide in Tallahassee could not provide details of Bush’s previous activities there, saying they predated his time in the governor’s office.

The governor’s entourage was small: two bodyguards and aide William Piferrer.

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