April 28, 2006

"Oh my goodness!  Someone's 1995 tax records are here!"  I couldn't believe my eyes as I walked down the road of a Ocean Springs suburban development.  We had visited this same development in January and were astounded at the violent aftermath of Katrina on this once quiet coastal cove.  The debris field is still there, clothing and bed linens, carpeting and holiday decorations, still hanging as ghostly reminders of that happier time before August 29, 2005.  And as I walked through the piles of debris I stooped down to look at the pile of papers in the mud and recognized the W-2 forms that all taxpayers are required to attach to their returns.  These returns were for a person named Charles Neel from Louisiana.  The returns were filed in April 1995 and all of his personal financial information was there for anyone to see.  His income, his deductions, his social security number.  Another pending violation of this persons life and property -  just waiting for the wrong person to pick up his papers. 

There is such a strange feeling of the surreal - bathtubs in the back yard, stairways going nowhere, a pup tent serving as a child's bedroom outside of a FEMA trailer, a life sized Christmas Santa stashed in the ruins his arm sticking out looking like a corpse - stark and surreal - so very hard to comprehend.

I found it hard to believe this development was in virtually the same condition it was in four months ago.  It was a deja vu experience, all over again.

Deja Vu has been on my mind lately.  I've been in a Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young mood lately.  You probably picked up on that when you read yesterday's journal entry, Tin Soldiers and Nixon's Coming.  Graham Nash, Stephen Stills, and Neil Young are the composers of some of my favorite songs from the 1970's and Deja Vu is probably one of my favorite albums (CDs!) along with Carole King's Tapestry album. The lyrics from the Deja Vu album encapsulate some of the powerful feelings I've been experiencing since coming to Mississippi, "Helpless,"  "Carry On,"  "Our House," "Deja Vu,"  and "Everybody I Love You." 

Helpless is how I feel sometimes when confronted with the enormity of this event.  We watched a DVD this evening, "Eight Days In Biloxi" compiled by a volunteer from Dublin, Ohio.  He spent a week at Bethel Lutheran Church in Biloxi, MS last October and recorded his experience.  His photos showed how things looked early on, before so many volunteers came to the Gulf.  The destruction was apalling and the visual impact of his video was gut wrenching.  He said that Katrina impact was felt on an area the size of all of Great Britain, a new way to put this into perspective. 

I feel helpless when confronted by the size of this thing.  I feel helpless when I work one-on-one with someone and see their situation and hear the pain in their voice and witness the challenges they face on a daily basis.  Then I do the math....  helpless.... 

Carry On -  that's what the people on the coast are doing. There is re-building going on.  The number of blue tarps of the roofs of homes is beginning to lessen.  The lines at lumber yards and home improvement stores like Lowe's and Home Depot is testimony to the resilience and determination of these folks.  These people still go to work (if their jobs are still available to them), they still pay their mortgages, children still go to school, and people still attend church.  They carry on....

The sky is clearing and the night

Has gone out

The sun, he come, the world

Is all full of light

Rejoice, rejoice, we have no choice but

To carry on

The fortunes of fables are able

To sing the song

Now witness the quickness with which

We get along

To sing the blues you've got to live the tunes and

Carry on

Carry on

Love is coming

Love is coming to us all!

And with the help of hundreds of church groups coming here to help re-build, love is coming to us all! 

Our House

Our house is a very, very fine house
With two cats in the yard
Life used to be so hard
Now everything is easy
'Cause of you...

I think (and I feel certain that all of our volunteers think) of Sonny and Rainey's house as our house.  We've invested so much of ourselves in re-building that place, working alongside of Sonny day in and day out.  Our house is a very, very, very fine house!  However, there are no cats in the yard, but quite a few dogs!  And yes, life used to be so hard, now everything is easy, 'cause of you... That's you, the person who put those extra dollars in the offering plate to send a work crew to Mississippi... That's you, the person who took personal time off from work to spend your valuable and limited vacation time in Pascagoula re-building a flooded out home....  That's you, who bought extra food, water, bleach, paper towels and toilet paper and sent on a truck to Christus Victor...  That's you, who has prayed every day for the safety and well-being of the people here and the long term recovery of these coastal states...

This week our crews also helped a woman named Rose in Biloxi by re-wiring her house, a woman named Galleen in Moss Point by finishing the installation of her siding, a woman name Loan in East Biloxi by painting her walls and ceilings.  All of these homes we consider our house...

Everybody I Love You....

Though your heart is an answer

I need your love to get me through

When I tell you I love you

You can believe that it's true

Everybody I love you

Everybody I do!

The bonds of caring and love that have grown between the volunteers, the people of Mississippi, the people at Christus Victor has been an added bonus for those involved in this effort.  There is a palpable feeling of the love of Christ in the midst of what we are doing and it is translated in every interaction between volunteer and homeowner, crew member to crew member, and on and on. 

Ron Bardman and I went to Lowe's this afternoon.  Ron purchased more molding to finish the trim work around Sonny's windows.  I purchased switchplate and outlet covers and two smoke detectors.  The man checking out ahead of us said, "That's a good sign!"  I looked up at him and said, "What's a good sign?"  He replied, "You're getting to the end putting up your switchplate covers and that's a good sign."   "Yes, you're right!  That is a good sign."   I had been feeling frustrated all week about Sonny's house.  We didn't get the kitchen cabinets installed, we didn't get the third coat of joint compound on the bathroom drywall.  I wasn't looking at the big picture though.  We have gotten Sonny to the place where all of this is manageable for him.  He has hope now, very real hope of seeing this thing through and getting back into his home before hurricane season begins.  It's going to be okay!

Sonny made a point of taking us to his sister's house this afternoon before we said goodbye.  Sis's  home is about four houses away from Sonny's, just up a bit from the bayou.  She lives in the home where she and Sonny crew up.  They've been in this neighborhood since 1939.  A Presbyterian church crew from Oregon just left this afternoon after spending a week fixing up Sonny's sister's home.  Sis told us how five different church crews have helped her do the repairs.  "It's better now than it was before!"  she beamed proudly.  The home is a beautiful old southern style home with beautiful high ceilings and lovely architectural features.  It really did look quite nice!  Once again we heard those words repeated, "If it wasn't for the churches, I don't know what I would have done!"   A renewal is happening here and it's not just in the bayou.  Church people are starting to get a sense of what the church is about - they are living the gospel imperative that Jesus Christ himself commanded his disciples.  Church people are getting out of the pews and getting out into the streets, into the neighborhoods and to those who are hurting... It's deja vu, all over again!

God's Peace,

Lois Kadel

PS:  Our crews all leave tomorrow.  It's been a wonderful experience with this group of people.  Please keep Pastor Bob Doll, Mike Oxenford, Peter Doris, Jan and Ralph Barndt as they all fly out tomorrow.  The weather forcasts aren't too promising for air travel!  Also keep our drivers in your prayers too as Lee Smeltz, Clyde Beck, Walt and Joanne West, Ron and Marlene Bardman, Debbie High, Deb Freece, and myself travel home by van and motor homes.  We are all looking forward to seeing our loved ones again!  We've missed you all!

April 27, 2006

Tin soldiers and Nixon's coming

We're finally on our own

This summer I hear the drumming

Four dead in Ohio.

“Four dead in Ohio,  four dead in Ohio, four dead in Ohio....”  I've heard the lyrics to Neil Young's powerful dirge written in 1970 following the deaths of four college students on the campus of Kent State University in Ohio. I can well remember the impact of those shootings and as we approach the 36th anniversary of that event in May 2006 I grieve for the senseless loss of those young lives.

Four dead in Ohio... I learned this week that 1,604 persons died in Katrina's wake and that just recently the number of lost from the storm has finally dipped under the 1,000 mark.  Bodies are still being found, another two were just uncovered in New Orleans earlier this month.   In our de-briefing session the other night, Ralph Barndt told us of noticing an article on the bulletin board in the hallway of Christus Victor Lutheran Church. 

Dateline - Baton Rouge, LA (AP)  Fewer than 1,000 of the 11,600 people reported missing after Hurricane Katrina remain on the list, the state health department said Wednesday.  Over the past three weeks, the number was cut from about 1,900 as of March 13 to 987 Tuesday evening.   The Family Assistance Center, formerly the Find Family National Call Center, got 11,626 missing persons reports after Hurricane Katrina.  It told the Department of Health and Hospitals on Wednesday that 9,804 were found alive and 835 were confirmed deceased.   "That is a significant achievement, especially considering that we have had more than 11,000 missing person reports to follow up on," said Dr. Louis Cataldie, state medical examiner and incident commander for the Family Assistance Center.  "Fortunately, most of them were found alive and simply had not made contact with their loved ones.  Unfortunately, we know that there are some people reported missing who may never be found."

The article lists a website where one can find the list of the missing, www.katrinamissing.dhh.louisiana.gov.  I went to the site and felt the same sense of grief I had felt those 36 summers ago as I wept over the four dead in Ohio. We are bombarded by the media with an ever increasing numbers of tragedies.  We all see the suicide bombers, terrorists using planes as bombs, tsunami and hurricane victims - on and on and on.  We see people dying and we watch the replays - and I wonder, are we becoming so numb to the loss of all of these people?  We watch the 11 o'clock news, we see the video, we comment, "Isn't that awful!"  and then roll over and go to sleep.  The next day dawns and we begin our daily routine.  Does it even matter?

I went to the Katrina Missing website and was going to pick a few names to share with you, just to make it a little more real.   But then I started to look over the list and felt I had to share it in its entirety. 

[view it here: http://www.dhh.louisiana.gov/offices/miscdocs/docs-192/Still_Missing/StillMissing_04242006.htm]

White trailers and FEMA vouchers

We're feeling we're all alone

This summer I hear the drumming,

Sixteen hundred four gone on the coast.

Gotta get down to it

people are missing down here

should have been found long ago

What if you knew her

And found her dead on the ground

How can you run when you know?

White trailers and FEMA vouchers

We're feeling we're all alone

This summer I hear the drumming,

Sixteen hundred four gone on the coast.

Gotta get down to it

people are frightened down here

houses are gone and the storms

Will be returning and killing again

How can you run when you know?

White trailers and FEMA vouchers

We're feeling we're all alone

This summer I hear the drumming,

Sixteen hundred four gone on the coast.

Gotta get down to it

rebuilding and stoking the hope

Life will be normal again.

What if this happened to

your Momma, your Pop or your child?

How can you run when you know?

White trailers and FEMA vouchers

We're feeling we're all alone

This summer I hear the drumming,

Sixteen hundred four gone on the coast.

God's Peace,

Lois Kadel

There will be an informational session for anyone interested in joining Hurricane Work Crews this Sunday night, 7:30 pm at Christ Lutheran Church, Kulpsville.  Please call the church at 215-256-8738 for information.

April 26, 2006

Last this afternoon our crews returned from their various assignments to have dinner at Christus Victor’s dining room.  The volunteers who work in the kitchen do amazing things with the donations that are sent here to feed volunteers and members of the community.  We had ham with pineapple sauce, spiced apples, cheddar mash potatoes, carrots, and a wonderful homemade chocolate cake with whipped cream icing.  I’ve complained with each trip that I’ve gained five pounds every time I come here.  The cooks in the kitchen out do themselves every time!

After dinner we have devotions in the sanctuary.  Tonight Pastor Deborah Dawson lead the devotions and she spoke of resurrection.  She asked the volunteers, “Where did you see resurrection today?”  One woman spoke of clearing out a yard full of debris.  Everything was ruined, destroyed by the storm surge. Yet, amid the destruction a sunflower was blooming, it’s bright yellow petals sending a message of hope amidst the devastation.  One of our volunteers, Jan Barndt of Little Zion, Telford, spoke of touring around Ocean Springs and going to the now famous Ocean Springs/Biloxi Bridge that used to span across the Gulf of Mexico.  The fury of Katrina pancaked that bridge into oblivion.  Each and every volunteer who comes to Christus Victor is encouraged to go to the bridge to get a sense of the scope of the damage caused by last summer’s premier hurricane.  Slab after slab of concrete was lifted up and slammed down leaving pilings where roadway once stood.  Amidst the rubble Jan found wild daisies growing in the concrete.  A sign of new life and hope. 

Following our evening worship service our group of fourteen met in the chapel to de-brief.  Every night we meet together and each person shares a transforming experience or epiphany moment that they had experienced during the day.  I usually go through my days here making mental notes of those things that make an impression on me, those things that I’d like to share in my journal or those things that I’ll talk about in our evening de-briefings.  Today I just couldn't think of a thing that I felt was interesting or insightful enough to share.  Our group started to share their thoughts, feelings of wishing they had begun to get involved sooner.  One of our volunteers, Peter Doris of Calvary West Chester shared his feelings of guilt for not responding sooner.  Peter is a first time volunteer to the coast.  He’s been seeing for himself, first-hand, the devastation and witnessed the personal toll this event has taken on the people of the Gulf Coast.  With emotion gripping his voice he expressed his sorrow for not coming sooner.  Peter and his wife are parents to four young children and yet, he is here.  We have another volunteer, Mike Oxenford, who is father to six, and yet he is here.  The volunteers who come to help are all ages.  Retirees, college students, young parents, empty nesters - all taking time to come and help.

And I think that's what I’d like to share with you tonight, the volunteers.  I’ve been privileged to be here with three different groups now and with each group a wonderful camaraderie develops and we become fast friends.  I still think about the group of 25 who came to Mississippi in January and the fun we had together.  Then the group of five we dubbed Charlie’s Angels, four women and one man on a mission together.  Now this group of fourteen have grown in Christ’s love together, working on a common mission, working with a servant’s heart to heal the pain of Katrina.  We’ve come to appreciate and love each other for the gifts we bring to this ministry and we celebrate each other’s abilities and we laugh together at the quirks that make us unique.  Tonight we joined together at a local Mexican style eatery for nachos and re-fried beans, salsa, and a cold drink.  I ordered a mango margarita looking forward to the icy cold drink and the salt rimmed glass.  When all of our beverages and munchies were served we all raised our glasses and said, “Cheers!” as we clinked our drinks together.  We laughed together, told stories, and even cried together as we shared our personal journeys together.  We have become more than volunteers from Southeastern PA synod, we’ve become friends.  More than workers in the kingdom of God, we’ve become brothers and sisters - the children of God.  It occurred to me as we laughed together and enjoyed each other’s company, that God does, indeed, work in mysterious ways!  Look at this group of people who, just a few short weeks ago didn’t know each other, and now, after a few days working together, were friends.  An added bonus to this thing called mission! 

In a few minutes, I’ll be crawling into my sleeping bag on my cot in the fellowship hall.  I’ll be saying my prayers and falling quickly to sleep, I hope!  As I pray, I will be saying a prayer of thanksgiving for these people who have answered God’s call to respond to his children in despair on the coast.  Everywhere we go, people say thank you to us for coming.  They tell us how important it has been for the thousands of church volunteers to come to the Gulf to help.  It happened again tonight as a patron just got up and came over to our table to thank us for coming.  She spoke of the many in her neighborhood who suffered utter destruction and then said, “I don't know where we’d be without the church volunteers...” 

The reality is the church is needed here and will be for a long time.  Today, at breakfast, a representative from LDR spoke briefly at the morning devotions.  He spoke of the long-term need for volunteers, supplies, and assistance.  He said the reality is our volunteer base follows CNN.   Our volunteer base will diminish with the next disaster.  This disaster is going to impact this region for the next eight years, at least! 

Volunteers are needed at home collecting and sending supplies, spreading awareness of the widespread damage of Katrina, and sending crews to help.  We would ask you, as volunteers serving on the frontline today, to consider how you can serve tomorrow. 

God’s Peace,

Lois Kadel

April 25, 2006

Some times I feel discouraged,
And think my work’s in vain,
But then the Holy Spirit
Revives my soul again.

There is a balm in Gilead
To make the wounded whole;
There is a balm in Gilead
To heal the sin sick soul.

Sleepless in Mississippi - that's what I was thinking of focusing my journal on today - sleeplessness.  We are sleeping in a large room with about sixty people all together.  We lie on cots which have a thin, plaid covered foam mattress.  I've not had any trouble sleeping here in the past, but I did have trouble sleeping last night.  I couldn't get comfortable and every time I would move to adjust my position, the cot would squeak and the foam mattress would make a very annoying scrunching sound.  I'd immediately stop and lie still in whatever position I was in - fearful that my tossing and turning would awaken those around me.  But then I’d be in an even more uncomfortable position and have to move again!   The room was also very warm last night and I began to think maybe I should go and get a cool, wet rag to help lower my body temperature.  As gently as possible I rolled out of my cot and put my flip flops on.  Walking as quietly as one can walk in flip flops I walked past four rows of sleeping people to get to the cooler bathroom and the cold water.  Nothing I tried worked!  Not even taking a Tylenol PM worked!  I spent the night in a nether land halfway between sleep and frustration.  Not a great way to start the day!

The temperatures this morning was racing to get to the high of 82 degrees with 80% humidity.  We walked outside to go to the tool shed and entered a sauna called The South.  Sweat began to pour out of my pores instantaneously and I hadn't even begun to work yet.  It was going to be a long day....

Our crews were once again divided.  Crews went to Biloxi, the distribution center, and to Pascagoula to Sonny's house.  Deb Freece, Debbie High, Jan and Ralph Barndt, Peter Doris, and myself were assigned the job of painting three bedrooms in Sonny and Rainey's home.  Walls and ceilings - finally!  The paint colors had been chosen, a rosey pink for Rainey’s room, a cool light green for Sonny’s room, and a light sky blue for Paul, Sonny and Rainey’s grandson.    But you’d think I’d be excited about this, wouldn't you?  But I couldn't shake a sense of frustration and maybe even a little bit of anger.  I must confess I had hoped and prayed that we’d be putting the finishing touches on this house this week, and maybe even help Sonny move back in.  But that eventuality is still months away.  I learned yesterday that no other work crews had been to Sonny's since Charlie’s Angels departed in early March.  Sonny and his sons have been trying to put the house back together themselves.  I also learned that both sons had also sustained significant storm damage to their homes and had to work on them as well.  June 1st still looms precariously in the future as the threat of more hurricanes with the new hurricane season becomes an even more threatening reality.  70,000 homes - 70,000 families - still at risk.

Bad Dog Sign - Dr. John, legendary New Orleans jazz singer and composer croons a song about a bad dog, it goes something like this:

I got the baddest dog. He'll bite anybody.
He bit my little brother,
Took a chunk out of my old sweet little mother
He bit the mailman, he sees him EVERY day.
He takes one look at you, he wanna jump up and play.

Now I ain't got a clue as to what you puttin' down, but
How come my dog don't bark when YOU come around?

My dog is dangerous. Try to set people straight.
I even bought a "bad dog" sign & hung it on the gate.
Now here you come trippin' about a quarter to nine,
Full of that Night Train wine, Trying to slide past the sign.
My dog's layin', noddin' off, ain't payin' you NO mind.

That's MY DOG & when I come home he don't sleep that sound.
How come my dog don't bark when YOU come around?

We ran into a bonified (no pun intended!) junk yard dog today.  We knew this dog had a bad attitude, we even warned the new members of our team.  Watch out for that black dog, he's got a bad attitude.  But there was an old black corvette sitting on the property next to Sonny's house and sometimes, boys will be boys, they've just got to sneak a peak at those mean looking set of wheels.  Well, right behind the mean looking Corvette was an even meaner dog who took a bite out of Ralph!  A bad dog sign would have been useful today!  (Ralph wasn't bitten badly - he runs pretty fast for his demographic!)

In my first journal entry for this trip I wrote, “I don't do thunderstorms!”  Well, yes, I do.  We had a doozey of a storm this afternoon!  While riding back to Christus Victor a pretty strong cold front came through spawning loud thunder, vivid lightening strikes and heavy rain.  Debbie and I sat in the back seat of the car, Ralph stayed in the front seat, while the others dodged the rain and challenged fate running to the building.  We learned that Ralph had once been struck my lightening, affirming for me my intention not to get out of the car until the storm was well past. 

I am tired.  I've only been here for a few days, and I'm tired.  I'm frustrated too.  I want these people back in their homes, we all do.  We’ve all come here to make a difference and it’s hard to tell if that is happening.  Only 80 volunteers are here this week and there are 100 homes on the waiting list for help at Christus Victor and more people coming daily asking for assistance.  The percentages of people experiencing depression, anger, experiencing domestic violence, thoughts of suicide, road rage and other destructive behaviors are increasing.  The people on the coast are tired, frustrated, and worried too.  They will still be here when we leave on Saturday morning.  It is too much....

I came back from dinner tonight and laid down on my cot hoping to feel a little better.  I feel soundly asleep.  Deb Freece came over and nudged me gently, “Do you want to go to evening devotions?”  A voice inside me said, “No, sleep!”  I heard my voice say, “Yes, I'll be right with you.”  I went to the sanctuary, but kept thinking about my cot.  Pastor Robert Doll from Grace Lutheran Church in Hatfield, PA, who finally arrived yesterday after several flight delays, was leading our worship this evening.  “I like to sing,” he announced.  “Let's sing the first verse to ‘There is a Balm in Giliad.’”   Acapella voices rose and sang the words, “Sometimes I feel discouraged and think my works in vain, but then the Holy Spirit revives my soul again.”  I felt as if Pastor Doll was reading my mind,  I am discouraged, and I do think this work is in vain....  A gentleman sitting in front of me leaned forward a little, straining to hear Pastor’s words.  His tee shirt had these words printed on the back, “Ponder ANEW what the Almighty can do!”  You know, it's not the work I am doing, it is not the work our crew is doing or all the volunteers are doing on the coast, but what the Almighty is doing.  It’s so interesting the many ways the Holy Spirit conveys that reminder to me, to us.  Tonight it was through a tee shirt.  As I lay down to sleep tonight, I will say my prayers, and will ponder ANEW what the Almighty can do.  I think I'm going to sleep well tonight.

God's Peace,

Lois Kadel

April 24, 2006

Monday mornings in Mississippi can absolutely test the patience of a saint!  The beginning of a new work week with new crews, and on this trip new work assignment coordinators, makes the first of the work week crew assignments more than a little bit confusing!  But we prevailed and after a few mis-steps we found ourselves on our way to our different assignments.  Walt West, Lee Smeltz, and Clyde Beck are re-wiring a home in Biloxi. Ralph Barndt is assigned to the distribution center to help do electrical wiring there and his wife, Jan Barndt is working there to distribute food.  Deb Freece, Debbie High, Peter Doris, myself and a crew from the Palisades Lutheran Cluster went to a home in East Biloxi to paint the entire house. At the end of our first workday we met in the dining hall to de-brief our day.

De-briefing is always a wonderful time to share the moments that touched us, agitated us, moved us, or concerned us about the day.  I was asked to begin by our team leader,  Deb Freece, and I knew immediately which story, out of the many I could have told from the day, I would choose to share.  I wanted to tell everyone about “Little Boss.”  Little Boss, or Loan Nygun, is a 31 year old Vietnamese woman who is the homeowner of the property we painted in East Biloxi.  She came to the United States as a refugee when she was 18 years old along with her mother, father, and five younger siblings.  As the oldest child, Loan has felt tremendous responsibility for taking care of her family.  After she graduated from high school she immediately went to work for the Biloxi Housing Authority (and she also works a second job in a nail salon).  She worked hard enough to be able to purchase a lovely home for her parents seven years ago.  It is that home which was flooded to the roof and had to be completely gutted.  It is now in the final stages of re-building and Loan's mother is hopeful to be able to return to her home before hurricane season begins.  Loan told us of how she has helped two of her siblings go to college.  The first sibling to graduate has gone on to graduate school to pursue his Ph.D.  The second is a pharmaceutical student, and a third has been accepted at Texas A&M University.  There are two younger siblings who Loan intends to put through school.  I asked her if she was going to go to college.  “Oh, no,”  she replied, “My reading is not that good!” 

Loan continued to tell of the problems she has encountered with red tape following the hurricane.  Inspections, permits, dealing with insurance issues, purchasing supplies - Loan has handled it all!  I neglected to mention, Loan is married and has two children, ages 2 and 4!  We all commented on how much she has accomplished and how well she has navigated the complicated maze of disaster recovery.  She smiled a beautiful smile at us and said, “They call me Little Boss because I get lots done!”

As we went around the circle, each volunteer told of similar stories.  Joanne who stayed behind at Christus Victor today to input data for the case workers shared stories of conversations she had with people from the community who come to Christus Victor for lunch.  The phone call from someone who told her she needed help burying her son.  The heartache sometimes is too much to bear.

Pastor Deborah Dawson, a volunteer from the Palisades Cluster shared in evening devotions tonight, an experience she had at the distribution center.  A woman pulled up to the center, needing food and supplies.  She mentioned to Pastor Dawson who was working the line that she needed to be at the hospital for a CAT Scan in forty five minutes.  “Yes, we’ll be able to get you through in time,” Pastor Dawson assured the woman.  “What kind of CAT Scan are you having?” she inquired.  “A renal CAT Scan,” was the reply.  Pastor Dawson’s eyes began to brim with tears, her face turning crimson as she continued the story, “What's wrong with your kidney?” she asked.  “How do you know it’s my kidney?”  the woman asked with a surprised look on her face.  “Because I had renal cell carcinoma and I’m still here!” 

Isn’t it funny how God places us in just the right place at the right time?  Just what are the odds?  The woman is going to meet with Pastor Dawson on Wednesday after the doctors stage her cancer.  She will meet with someone who can offer her hope and assurance.  Yes, you can live with one kidney!  God is here and God is active - and this sort of thing happens over and over again!

There are only 80 volunteers at Christus Victor this week.  This is the lowest number I’ve seen in the times I’ve been here and it concerns me.  The white board in the assignment center is full of names of homeowners who still need help.  The distribution center is busy everyday with carloads of people who need food.  (The truckload of food and supplies that Christ Lutheran, Kulpsville, sent to Christus Victor three weeks ago lasted only four days!)  The need here is beyond great - it is critical.  Volunteers, supplies, and monetary donations are desperately needed.  Towels, linens, paper towels, toilet paper, water, bleach, and food are presently needed at the distribution center.  Gift cards for Lowe’s are needed to purchase supplies for the re-build.  Volunteers are needed to come to the coast and work.  Please help as God leads you and please pray for all on the coast.  June 1st brings another set of worries as Hurricane Season 2006 commences. 

During our orientation on Saturday night, Amy Beerson, the volunteer coordinator here told the story of the starfish.  A little boy was walking along the beach when he encountered hundreds of starfish somehow stranded on the sand.  He picked one up and tossed it back into the ocean.  He scooped up another and did the same, then another, and another.  A man walking down the beach saw what the youngster was up to and he came over and said, “You are never going to get all of these starfish back into the ocean.  Throwing those few back isn’t going to make a difference. I don’t know why you bother.”  The little boy looked up at the man, then bent back down and picked up another starfish and threw him back into the surf.  “It made a difference for him!” 

What our little groups are doing here on the coast is like what that little boy did for that one starfish.  We are making a difference for that one family we help.  There are 70,000 families on the coast who’ve lost their homes.  We’ve got a lot more starfish to throw back in the ocean!

God's Peace,

Lois Kadel

April 23, 2006

"Hail, the victim undefiled, Al-le-lu-ia!

God and sinners reconciled, Al-le-lu-ia!

When contending death and life, Al-le-lu-ia!

Met in strange and awesome strife, Al-le-lu-ia!"

What a strange and curious day we've had, but oh, what a glorious morning!  We worshipped today in the recently restored sanctuary of Christus Victor Lutheran Church.  On this first Sunday after Easter the wondrous words, "Christ is risen, alleluia!" echoed up to the rafters.  Just a few months ago, on Martin Luther King's birthday weekend, we also worshipped in this holy place.  In January the flood soaked carpet had been removed, some drywall had started to be hung by volunteer groups, and none of the usual amenities associated with a worship service were available.  Today, however, the lilies of Easter morning graced the altar and the rise behind the altar where the large cross was once again suspended from the ceiling.  In August that cross swung precariously back and forth as Katrina called forth her fury on Ocean Springs and beyond.

Following our worship service our group decided to go see Sonny and Rainey Naquin over in Pascagoula.  We learned today that no one has been back to work at their home since "Charlie's Angels" left in March.  We will be able to return to help them this week, as well as work at the distribution center in Ocean Springs which is being converted into dormitories for future volunteer groups.  Sonny and Rainey need to chose the paint colors for their walls, so we stopped at the local Loew's to get color samples for them.  Sonny and Rainey were so pleased to see us!  Rainey looked and sounded as if she was feeling much better.  She got up and walked to the door to answer our knock.  It was the first time I've seen her walk since I met her in January.  Sonny was working at his house along with a son we hadn't met yet.  He planted a big kiss on my cheek when he saw me, and gave a big hug and squeeze to Debbie Freece who had also been with the mucking crew in January.  He was so pleased to welcome yet another SEPA crew to his home!  There was much laughter, smiling, and warm feelings as Sonny showed the new crew the work that has already been done and the work left to do.  We departed from Sonny's home with a promise to return in the morning and get back to work.  He asked, "Y'all goin to come in the morning?  What time do y'all call morning?" directing his question right at me.  "Noon?"  he grinned impishly.  My reputation of not being a morning person has now reached the Gulf Coast and gained legendary proportions!

We left Sonny's and headed west.  Our destination - New Orleans.  Both of the previous work crews tried to get to New Orleans but could never pull themselves away from the work at hand.  This time we decided to go first before getting involved in our work and what a strange experience it was traveling through the still standing debris and devastation of Katrina at eight months and counting post her arrival.  We drove down coastal route 90 toward Biloxi and Gulf Port.  It was 82 degrees and sunny today, and also quite humid.  As we drove the coastal highway, on the left we saw the beautiful Gulf of Mexico, her sparkling blue waters shimmering, with hints of white caps lapping at the shoreline.  We could also see debris poking out of the waters. Trees, cars, refrigerators, furniture and unseen, deep beneath the waters, the remains of some of the missing who were washed out to sea on that fateful day in August.   

The strange dichotomy of experiences continued as we watched children flying kites on the left of Highway 90 and cars smashed beyond recognition abandoned along the highway on the right side of the road.  Sunbathers spread out on brightly colored beach towels soaked up the noon day sun while homeowners continued to try to sort through their possessions in piles on their lawns.  Beach volleyball on the left, demolition on the right.  Life and a taste of what had been on the left, death and the end of what had been on the right.  Strange and awesome strife -  very, very strange....

We drove across a five mile long bridge over the now infamous Lake Pontchartrain.  The right side rails on the bridge were no where to be seen, blown into the lake by Katrina.  In its place two foot tall concrete barriers stood sentinel, the only thing between a long line of tractor trailers, busses and cars, and the deep waters of Pontchartrain.  New Orleans was inundated by the 30 foot plus storm surge of Katrina, flooding homes not only up to the second floor but over the rooftops.  Then the levys burst and Lake Pontchartrain ravaged the neighborhoods of New Orleans, rupturing oil storage tanks and filling the waters with toxin waste.   In so many of the homes we drove past this afternoon people died... I mean died, they actually died.  Dead.  Those marks on the doorways, spray-painted by rescue workers searching for survivors, told the sad story.  An X with a circle around it and then information written in each open quadrant of the X - the date rescuers finally arrived at the home, the number of people found alive, the number of people found dead, and the identifying information for that particular rescue crew.  You can see the water marks on the rooftops and know that the people that sought refuge in the attics of their homes most likely were a statistic listed in a spraypainted X on their doorway a few weeks later. 

We drove through parts of the 9th Ward, St. Bernard's Parish.  A SEPA work crew from St. Michael's in Sellersville spent a week there in February.  Do you realize that the electricity has still not been restored to large portions of the 9th Ward?  We drove off of the interstate onto the side streets of the ward.  For a few blocks we had the safety net of traffic lights.  But as we proceeded futher into the ward we noticed the traffic lights no longer worked and small stop signs were placed in the roadway to signal to drivers.  No electricity, no phone service, no place for thousands to live, empty shells of homes standing just as they stood on August 29th.  We passed a church whose sign listed services on Sunday, August 28th, the day before life changed forever on the coast.  Some of the letters still remained, enough to piece together the message but even more powerful because of the letters that were missing.  A hellish wind and driving rain attacked this neighborhood, this county, this community, this state, these states, this entire region.  And life goes on....but not here.  Under every overpass piles of flooded and hurricane damaged cars have been rescued from their watery graves and piled in heaps waiting to be removed, someday.  Boats are also intermingled with the cars, and so are mattresses, furniture, toys - and despair.  Strange and awesome strife....

We drove to the French Quarter.  I have never been to Louisiana or New Orleans before, although our daughter Liz was in New Orleans for the ELCA youth convention in the 1990's.  Talk about strange!  Within three blocks of some of the saddest and heartwrenching scenes I have ever witnessed in my life are scenes of merriment, entertainment, and crowds of people seemingly oblivious to what is going on a few streets over.  As we drove through the Quarter, our van windows painted with the message, "Katrina Relief Crew, Lutheran Disaster Response, Pennsylvania," we saw people taking pictures of our van!  Ummm, pretty strange too.  A van full of church people in the French Quarter.  Well, maybe not so strange.  We are called to demonstrate that Jesus loves us - yes, Jesus loves us!  And Jesus'  love is grace and action combined.  We are called to demonstrate that love, and I hope, and believe, that our van with its message of hope and recovery was indeed, a  meeting of the strange and awesome in New Orleans.  Aleluia, indeed!

Tomorrow our work begins... Please keep us in your prayers.  Please pray also for Pastor Bob Doll and Grace, Hatfield member, Mike Oxenfield who are being put up in a Houston, Texas hotel, waiting for their connecting flight to Biloxi.  We expected them this evening, but because of several delays, they won't arrive until late Monday afternoon.  Pray also for Pastor Paul Beck, who was supposed to be with our group until unexpected emergency surgery forced him to postpone his trip.  And two other members of our crew, Ron and Marlene Bardman,  will be arriving tomorrow as they drive their motorhome into Ocean Springs.  And pray for the people on the coast.  We were reminded in orientation that we get to go home after a week.  These people have been living with this disruption and devastion for months on end and there is no end in sight for them.  And the hurricane season looms....

God's Peace,

Lois Kadel

Sunday, April 22, 2006

It is Saturday evening, April 22nd, 10:45 pm.  It is forty five minutes into lights out and the sounds of sleep are already permeating the "blue" room at Christus Victor Lutheran Church in Ocean Springs.  We are bunking in the large blue gymnasium with about sixty other volunteers.  You can imagine what I mean by the sounds of sleep!  Half of our crew arrived this afternoon around 6 pm.  The rest of our crew will be arriving by plane on Sunday afternoon and by camper on Monday.  We are all so excited to be here on the Gulf Coast.  For some of us, this is a return trip, and for others in our group this is the first time here.  The excitement and anticipation is palpable for all of us.  There is a keen sense of calling for each person here and an eagerness to get down to business!  The Southeastern Pennsylvania Synod is strongly represented with churches from the Palisades Cluster and the Indian Valley Cluster here for a week of re-building.  Our group has four congregations represented, Little Zion, Franconia, Grace, Hatfield, Calvary, West Chester, and Christ, Kulpsville.

Seven of our group left Pennsylvania on Friday morning and traveled to Lebanon, Tennessee, where we spent the night at Faith Lutheran Church.  We traveled for sixteen hours on Friday and nine hours today.  We are very tired physically, but emotionally and spiritually we are awake and ready to serve. 

This is the third group I've had the privilege to share this experience with and each group has been different and delightful - and I continue to be amazed at how each group gels together so quickly and the camaraderie and laughter begins almost immediately. 

Five of our group traveled in high style in the beautiful conversion van owned by Walt and Joanne West of Christ, Kulpsville.  This van is equipped with features we've not had on our other trips.  We enjoyed videos and DVDs as we rode yesterday and today and we were guaranteed clear directions by a truly wonderful technological advancement - a global positioning system.  Using satellite guidance, the GPS calibrated our departure point with our destination and then advised us as to where to turn and when.  It announced a change in route five miles ahead of the turn, then again in two miles and again when the turn was .4 of a mile away.  When the actual turn is to be made, a pleasant bell rings to announce the turn.  The GPS monitors our position at all times.  When we departed from the prescribed route to stop for food or gas, the always alert GPS warned us to make a legal u-turn as quickly as possible and resume following the route as advised!

When we arrived in Tennessee last evening we sat around a table in the fellowship hall with several of the members of the congregation.  They had expected us around 9 pm, however, heavy rains in the hills around Nashville had slowed us down considerably and we didn't get to the church until close to 11 pm.  I was driving that final leg of the trip and the curves in the road, the hilly wet terrain, the racing tractors trailing plumes of water on our windshield, coupled with the bright bursts of lightening and thunder, all worked together to slow our progress and cause my blood pressure to elevate considerably!  “You know God, I don't do thunderstorms!”  I muttered under my breath. 

Our hosts had waited patiently for our arrival and had even blown up air mattresses for us to make sleeping on the floor a little more comfortable.  We sat around talking and sharing stories for quite a while.  Just a week ago, transplanted Pennsylvanian Dave Daniels, one of our hosts at Faith Lutheran, nephew of Pastor Richard Stephens and son of Pastor Jim Daniels was himself a part of another natural disaster.  His place of employment was hit by one of the five tornadoes that ripped into Tennessee, killing twelve people.  He had photographs of the car dealership where he worked with pictures of the over 200 automobiles which were destroyed by the immense funnel cloud.  Debbie High, a member of Little Zion, and I exchanged nervous glances.  As we got to know each other yesterday we began to notice we had a lot of things in common.  Neither one of us are morning people, we both love ice cream, and we both have a deep dread of storms and tornados.  Our eyes grew wider and wider as we listened to David tell his story of watching the tornado come over the ridge sending cars rolling down the hill as the tornado headed straight for the car dealership.  “You know, we’re in tornado alley here,” Dave's wife, Liz, exclaimed.  “Why no!, I didn't know that!”  I replied, trying to sound brave but the expression on my face all the while betraying me.  Debbie and I looked at each other with a panicky look.  I once again felt the need to talk to God about another one of my fears, “You know God, I don't do tornadoes!”

Well, God has a wonderful way of speaking to us.  And today he did it through a DVD given to Joanne West by her daughter, another SEPA synod pastor, Amy Bender.  Amy had attended a Women of Faith Conference and had purchased a DVD to share with friends and family.  She thought our group might enjoy watching the conference as we traveled.  As we drove along this afternoon we listened to a wonderfully quirky speaker, Patsy Clairmont, as she told of her faith and how she had been transformed from utter hopelessness to glorious hope.  You see, Patsy had a terrible fear of leaving her home and had become reclusive and fearful of interacting in the world.  But God had other plans and through a pastor’s wife and other servants of God, he rescued Pasty from her dark cocoon.  She told of how this particular pastor’s wife called her one day and said, “Patsy, are you alright?  I had this feeling that God wanted me to call you!  I want to ask you a question, but I don't want you to answer it until you've talked to God, and then talked to your husband!  I want you to go to a conference with me.”  Now, you see, Patsy didn't go outside very much and avoided such events.  She had one excuse after another.  “I don't do crowds, I am claustrophobic, I don't like strangers...”   When she finally screwed up her courage and decided to go she got into a car with several other women (two of them were strangers to her) and drove through a thunderstorm to the conference.  “God, you know I don't do storms!”  she exclaimed.  Ummmm.....

Patsy went on to become a vibrant speaker sharing stories of her challenges in life and her faith.  In her message at the Women of Faith Conference she spoke of Elijah and his despair.  “I can't do this anymore!”  he protested to God.  “Just take my life!”  And God send an angel who touched him and said, “Arise and eat.  The journey is too great for you.  It is not too great for me.  I will give you what you need so you might go on.   

I will give you what you need....”  There are people here on the coast who are where Elijah was and where many of us have been - filled with utter despair and desperation.  So many of us feel we can't help out here.  The job is too overwhelming - we are not equipped to handle this.   We have fears, we have other commitments, we have our doubts about our abilities and our effectiveness.  “I will give you what you need...”  Suicide rates, depression, domestic violence, and stealing are increasing on the coast.  The after effects of Hurricane Katrina continue to impact the region.  Over 7,000 homes were destroyed and many thousands remain in the same condition they were on August 29th, 2005.    “I will give you what you need....”   God speaks these words to those who wait for help and those who want to serve.  “I will give you what you need...”  The word of God, enacted by service, changes lives!  Those fears, those phobias, those excuses that seek to thwart the will of God for our lives are just that, excuses.  And we, like the angel that touched Elijah, can change lives - for God gives us all what we need.   And because of that promise, irrepressible hope is possible, irrepressible hope is certain, for God, indeed, gives us what we need.

It is 12:05 am, Sunday morning, April 23rd...  I’m heading back to the blue room to sleep with about sixty other tired travelers.  I hope to wake up rested and refreshed and ready to meet some more challenges - and maybe God can use this group of volunteers to sow seeds of irrepressible hope tomorrow!  I know he'll give us what we need!

-- Lois Kadel

Trip Day 6; Work Day 4...

A sign here reads, “Katrina was an act of nature; What we do here is an act of GOD!” and I’ll add... OH, YEAH!

Those words now adorn one of our van windows.  The back window says, “Oh Yeah!.” The other side window reads “Christ Lutheran Church, Kulpsville, PA” and “Lutheran Disaster Response.”  It is amazing the response that we have gotten as we travel around with our new signage!

Our daily morning routine remained unchanged - breakfast, devotions, work assignments, tool trailer and off to Sonny's.

Spackling continued, but then... Sonny brought us lunch... “Jimmy’s Hot Dogs!!!”  For those not familiar with Jimmy’s, you would recognize them as Chile Dogs with the Works!

And then, after lunch we invited Sonny to join us on a tour of the area. He has not been any further than Ocean Springs since the storm hit. We planned to take him along the Route 90 shoreline - Biloxi, Gulfport, Long Beach and Pass Christian - so that he, too, could get a better picture of how the storm impacted others in the area.

Before leaving for our excursion, we completed the second bedroom, and several layers of spackling in the living room, kitchen and hall. We also began to do some work in the third bedroom.

The wall board was installed between the bathroom and kitchen and the initial coat of spackling was completed on that wall.  And, yes, additional progress was made on the bathroom. The tub now has faucets and a shower head.  Plumbing still needs to be done under the home and some additional wallboard is needed. I expect that the sink, counter tops, and toilet installation will be left for another work crew to complete.

Yes, it was another successful work day.

A few of us stopped by to visit with Sonny’s wife today. She shared some pictures of their home with us that were taken when it was under water. The water level was just below the roof line. The small wooden bridge that is over the bayou in front of their home was floating away and was later pulled back by a boat.

I can’t even imagine what goes through her mind of all that she has lost. You see, she was moved from her home before the storm hit and has not been in her home since. We talked about trying to get her down to the home tomorrow (Friday), but decided it may be best for her to see it when it is finished rather than in its current state.

We left Sonny's home around 3:00, went back to our headquarters for a quick change and we were off. I don't even know how to begin to describe what we saw, but I'll try... building after building, devastation and destruction...

We saw significant damage to several churches and numerous homes... and not just small homes, but large brick homes as well.  We saw homes that were literally moved off their foundations and landed well behind them.  We saw the remains of a casino barge that used to be in the water, now resting on land on the opposite side of Route 90!  We saw homes that were either totally demolished by the storm or have since been condemned and demolished - the foundation was there, as were the front steps, but there was literally nothing else.  In some cases, the foundation edge was lined with selected items from the home - dishes, Christmas ornaments, a doll – all signs that a family once lived there and were proud to call it home... and now there is nothing.  We saw a home loaded on a trailer as it was being prepared to be moved to another location.  We saw an Amish work crew outside a home in Pass Christian - a sign to us of all of the volunteers that have come into the area to assist their neighbors.

In an earlier email, I spoke about the loss of the tax base in many areas. Pass Christian is one of those places. It’s been reported that LESS THAN 10% of Pass Christian's 4500 postal addresses REMAIN!

While we did not get to Waveland, others in our group that did get there in January told us that it is even worse there. They told us that there are no homes left. There are no children playing, no dogs barking, or birds singing. All is quiet there. The community and town are simply gone.

When we got back from our little excursion, we spoke with a woman that is working in the distribution center here this week. She told us that they have already provided food and supplies to over 650 families this week - Monday thru Thursday. That’s over 150 families each day!

It is clear that the need for support to this region continues. If you have the opportunity, find a way that you too can help. I assure you that you will not regret it!

One work day remains for Charlie's Angels.  It has been a week that has impacted each and every one of us in so many ways.  It has been a time for sharing God's love with his children in their time of need... a time of service to our friend, Sonny, and his wife... a time for building a bond and friendships.

You see, Charlie's Angels gathered together as a team for the first time on Monday, March 13. In some cases, it was the first time some of us even met. Yet now, we have truly become a team. A bond has developed between us... a bond and memories that will remain with us forever... Oh, Yeah!

God's Peace,

Laurie Hart

March 23

This afternoon our crew decided to knock off a few hours early so we could drive on Route 90, the coastal highway in Southern Mississippi, to show Laurie and Charlie some of the brutal effects of Katrina.  While talking to Sonny about the hurricane we learned that he had not seen anything outside of the damage to his immediate community so we invited him to join us.  We weren’t sure he’d want to see more destruction, but he smiled that weathered smile and said, “Why not?”  We all climbed into the minivan around 3:15 and headed back to Christus Victor to clean ourselves up quickly so we could get out while we still had daylight.

While driving out of Ocean Springs towards Biloxi the mood in the car continued to be very jovial.  There has been a lot of laughing amongst the crew and Sonny and the happy banter continued for awhile as we approached Biloxi.  But that all stopped as we drove along Route 10.  Charlie, Laurie, and Sonny began to witness for themselves the things we’ve all been seeing on news reports, newspapers, and from previous trips to the Gulf.  Jan, Marge, and I saw again the massive scorched earth devastation that has so completely reconfigured the coastal regions of Mississippi, Louisiana, Alabama, and Florida.

The conversation in the van became hushed.  Our digital cameras were held at the ready, poised to try and document what we knew we weren’t going to be able to convey to our families and friends back in Pennsylvania.  We watched a small group of Amish teens walking on the beach near a re-building project in Pass Christian.  We resisted the urge to photograph them out of respect for their religious beliefs.  We witnessed families waiting in line for their dinner at God’s Katrina Kitchen, a feeding ministry for the displaced and homeless in one of the most beautiful and formerly upscale beach front areas in Mississippi.  Those cluster of tents serving the homeless stood mere blocks away from the multi-million dollar shells of destroyed beach front homes.

Charlie stopped taking pictures.  He knew that the snap shots he captured on his camera were inadequate to the task of conveying what has happened here.  He said, “The pictures I need are stored in my memory.”  We asked Sonny about how he felt after seeing how widespread the destruction was.  “I think I’m going to take the next hurricane a little more seriously and not try to be a hero,” was the understated response of our 80 year old friend.

As the sun set and sent a golden shimmer over the Gulf we stood on an overlook surveying the beauty of the sun, the water, and the stark and ugly contrast of the landscape, battered and scarred...

When daylight waned we headed for a little establishment called The Shed.  A barbeque place with a flair for the quirky and casual.  A large bon fire roared outside and lines of people waited inside to place their order for pulled pork barbeque or baby back ribs.  The walls of this off the road bistro were made of corrugated metal and used wood salvaged from piles of old building material left out for trash day.  Guests are invited to write on the walls, leaving messages, their names, and date of their visit to The Shed.  On a glass window directly behind our table were words painted on the glass about eight feet up declaring, “Katrina Water Line.”  Everywhere in the room are words of Shed Philosophy written on little signs and posted on every conceivable un-used spot.  Some of these pithy words of wisdom include, “Don't take life too seriously - none of us get out of it alive.”  “Take control!  Make your ship come in before your dock rots!”  “Experience is a wonderful thing.  It enables you to recognize a mistake when you make it again.”  “A day without sunshine is like - ahh, night!”  “Birthdays are like glazed doughnuts.” Sometimes it’s better not to remember how may you've had!”

Our van, parked outside in a very crowded parking lot, had a little bit of philosophy painted on its windows, too.  We had seen all the church vans, buses, and pick up trucks with names of churches from all over the country written on them.  Some had encouraging messages scrawled on posters or written with chalk paint on the windows.  We wanted to share our thoughts of encouragement, too, and let others know we were on the coast, by the grace of God!  So we wrote “Lutheran Disaster Response” on one window, “Christ Lutheran Church, Kulpsville, PA” on another, “What Katrina did was an act of nature, what's happening here is an act of God” on a third, and finally, “Oh yeah!” with a smiley face on the rear window.  People were reading our, shall we call it, van philosophy, all day long.  They saw it as we left the parking lot at Christus Victor, on the road as we traveled to Sonny's house, as we toured Route 90 and Route 10 amidst the rubble and ruin, and in the crowded parking lot at The Shed.  As Cajun music played and a throaty blues singer sang, “Sometimes you’ve got to let a little light shine, God knows, sometimes you've go to let a little light shine,” we did....we did.

Tomorrow is our last work day here.  We plan to get up early and go right to our work site to try and put in one good long final day.  We’d like to see Sonny and Rainey get back in their home by Easter.  It's a long shot, but we have a philosophy.  We're going to let God be in charge of recover y and it’ll all turn out just right.  Oh, yeah!

Lois Kadel

Next Thursday night we’re having an informational meeting for those interested in the next trip to Ocean Springs.  If you are interested in learning more come to Christ Lutheran Church at 7:30 pm.

Trip Day 5; Work Day 3

A typical morning... Breakfast, Devotions, Work Assignments, Tool Shed, and on the road to Sonny’s.

My day was spent spackling... 2nd or 3rd coat on nails... I even received some training on taping. I can't say that anyone would hire me any time soon, but I think (or maybe just want to think) that I am improving... by the end of the week, I might be good enough to be labeled a novice!

We were so engrossed in our effort this morning, we missed our morning break! So we had an early lunch and then back to work again. We had a mid afternoon break and then back to work. And THEN Sonny came by and asked if we would like some sodas! We didn't want to disappoint him, of course, so we took another break with him! 

Each time Sonny stops by you can see him walking a little taller as he sees his home one step closer to being restored. We have adjusted our goals for the week a bit. We are now hoping to finish spackling two bedrooms and the living room. I am also hoping we can get some of the hall and/or kitchen done, as well. Time will tell.  The bathroom now has the tub installed and cleaned up a bit. A large linen closet is being built and is well on its way. We hope to finish that up and to install some wall board on the outside of the bathroom between the kitchen and bathroom. Again, only time will tell.

We received some info on the needs here that you all may be interested in... No matter what you have read or seen to the contrary, there remains a need for supplies... and lots of them.

Some items on the list include:

• 12”x12”x12” boxes for the distribution of food to the community Bleach for cleaning homes Food and Water Feminine Hygiene Products
• There is also the need for volunteers... lots of volunteers... They can come in all shapes and sizes. Volunteers are not only needed to support the community work crews for mucking and rebuilding houses. They are needed to work in the distribution facility (checking in and handing out supplies to the community), the kitchen (to feed all of the very hungry volunteers), and medical clinic. They are needed to help clean the volunteer headquarters; to do data entry, casework / client intake, and general office work.
• Volunteers can be short term... a week like I am doing. Or long term, multiple weeks and/or months! It depends on your interest and availability.
• They are currently looking for retired contractors who would be willing to work long term... 1 or more months... 60 hour weeks.

And so it goes... I have truly been blessed by this opportunity to serve the people in the Gulf and look forward to a wide variety of ways that I can support this effort going forward.

The motto here is Semper Gumby (Always Flexible)...

And then there is our tag line, "Oh, Yeah!"

God’s Peace,

Laurie

March 22

Each morning at 8:00 am (some of you are laughing now knowing just how much of a morning person I am!) following breakfast at 7:00 am (I really don't get to eat much as most of the food is all gone by the time I show up!) two rather energetic people with guitar and tambourine stand in front of all the assembled volunteers and start to lead us in a round, singing at the top of their lungs!

I'm going to sing, sing, sing!

I'm going to shout, shout, shout!

I'm going to sing, I'm going to shout, "Praise the Lord!"

I don't care what people say, I'm going to sing it anyway

I'm going to sing, I'm going to shout, "Praise the Lord!"

Swing low, sweet chariot, comin’ for to carry me home,

Swing low, sweet chariot, comin’ for to carry me home.

Oh when the saints go marching in,

Oh when the saints go marching in,

Oh how I want to be in that number

When the saints go marching in.

By the time we have sung these three songs through about three times, both of our song leaders, faces now a bright, bright crimson color shout, “Oh, yeah!”  And the crowd shouts right back even louder, “Oh, yeah”

This little “Oh, yeah!” ritual is new to Christus Victor.  Back in January we didn't have people who woke up bright and early bursting into song.  Nor did we have a rather large contingent of volunteers from Wisconsin who have an inordinate amount of energy and a penchant for saying, “Oh, yeah!” all the time.  Not only do they say it all the time, they've infected the staff of Christus Victor with this strange affectation.  They've even made up little cue card signs with the words, “Oh, yeah!” written on them in large letters, to be held up whenever special emphasis is needed.

Well, as you can imagine, we've all taken to saying this little catch phrase all the time too.  In January, the catch phrase here was “Semper Gumby!” a creative twist on the Marine Corp motto, “Semper Fi” meaning “Always Faithful.”  Crews were encouraged that no matter what the circumstance one should be always flexible as the Claymation character Gumby.  Now crews are fired up by this passionate expression from Wisconsin, “Oh, yeah!”

Our morning devotions today were lead by a young man, Joe, a long term volunteer who is responsible for coordinating the hundreds of volunteers who have come to Christus Victor to serve.  Joe and I sat down late yesterday afternoon and together we went over dates and availability for future work crews.  We spoke together of the overwhelming need on the Gulf Coast and the pure joy of being a part of this faith-filled response to God's people.  There is a sign in the hallway leading to Joe's office that clearly sums up this whole experience very succinctly, “Katrina was an act of nature, what is happening here is an act of God.”  Oh, yeah! 

As we talked together, our little meeting which should have taken less than ten minutes turned into a forty-five minute exchange of experiences and observations.  We both observed how Katrina was an “equal opportunity” disaster.  Absolutely no one was spared.  From the richest to the poorest, the apartment dweller to the beach front property owner, from the suburbs to the inner city, the bayou to the bay, the well heeled to the shoeless, this storm showed mercy to no one.  No one, not one, escaped her devastating impact.

We talked together about the misconceptions that can so easily be perceived as one looks at a family driving up to the distribution center in a Cadillac Escalade.  Some wonder about the nerve of people taking food and supplies from those who truly need help.  Well, following Katrina, everyone needs help.  There is a category now described as the “new poor.”  These are people who pay mortgages on concrete slabs, drive an expensive vehicle (the one they drove when they evacuated the coast), and they live in FEMA trailers.  Their insurance is not going to pay for the costs of repairing or rebuilding, yet they must still pay their mortgage and figure out how to finance the rebuilding of their home and possessions.

Joe told me of his first “mucking out” experience at a home which appeared to house a rather well-off family.  He remembered feeling concern that his energies were being spent helping this family who appeared to have it all when there were others who needed help more.  Joe decided to not act on those feelings and instead threw himself into the work before him.  He soon discovered that the homeowner was an older woman who had, just the week before the storm, invited her adult son, his wife, and their two children to come stay with her.  The son's family was experiencing serious financial stresses.  Their five year old autistic son was having medical challenges and their income fell far below their expenses.  Mom opened her home to her son's family and within days of moving in they were faced with this monster storm heading straight for the Mississippi Gulf Coast.  

The storm hit, followed shortly by the ferocious storm surge and soon this family of five, plus their two dogs and two cats were scampering upstairs to the second floor to escape the swirling tidal surge.  Soon the reality of water rising a foot a minute had them frantically trying to get everyone up into the unfinished attic.  With only rafters to sit on, the family tried to get everyone including the animals to safety.  The grandmother, mom, father, eleven year old daughter and five year old autistic son managed to get into the attic and perch on a beam for safety.  Sadly the animals were too frightened to go into the attic and the family had to watch them drown.  The youngest child rocked frantically back and forth as the winds and rain pummeled the roof.  Even the attic did not serve as a safe refuge for long.  Soon the skylight had to be kicked out and everyone had to climb to the roof to await rescue.  This is one story of one family...it is re-told in thousands of permutations across four states... Volunteers quickly learn not to make snap judgments.

Volunteers are the life blood of the recovery effort here on the coast.  I've spent a considerable amount of time writing in my journal about the volunteer efforts of those who are cleaning out houses and helping to re-build them.  That is just one aspect of the recovery on the coast.  Many have said, “Oh, I don't think I can physically handle that kind of work.”  That's okay.  There are many opportunities for volunteers that don't require physical labor.  Besides roofers, drywall finishers, plumbers, electricians, and other tradespersons, Christus Victor needs cooks and kitchen helpers, distribution center workers, doctors and nurses, case managers, equipment managers, housing coordinators, an internet publicist, a work crew manager, and a volunteer coordinator.  Some of these opportunities are longer term stints with volunteers committing to a month or two or even six months to a year.  Many of the opportunities are for as little as a week.  There is a wealth of information on the Christus Victor website at www.christusvictordisasterresponse.org.  Please look there to see the many ways you can help.

Today our crew returned to Sonny’s house.  The drywall work continued.  But today we had a new complication - bugs.  Mississippi has some pretty interesting critters!  Did you know they grow mosquitoes here to just about the size of a fifty cent piece?  They also have the normal size mosquitoes, the gnats, the chiggers, the fire ants, and many other assorted swarming, flying, biting annoyances.  I was back in the closet again this afternoon, along with about one hundred of my new personal insect friends.  Did you know they like the smell of Deep Woods Off?  

The “hawk” tool used to hold the spackle is held in the non-dominant hand.  The spackler holds the hawk all day long.  It becomes very heavy and hurts the wrist and elbow after a while.  Charlie and I were using the hawks today, Laurie and Jan were using spackle trays, and Marge was up on the ladder for the third day in a row with her drill screwing in the dry wall boards and backing out screws that had been sunk in too deeply.  Kenny was still working in the bathroom framing out the tub.  This afternoon all of us were tired, sore, and bug bitten.  Sonny drove to the local convenience store and purchased two two-liter bottles of cold soda, a big bag of ice, and plastic cups.  He brought them up to the house and invited us to take a soda break.  We sat in his freshly spackled living room on donated furniture.  We chatted together, telling more stories, and laughing together about this or that.  Kenny was talking about his house on Cape Cod.  Sonny asked, “Where's Cape Cod?”  Jan answered, “Kenny's from Massachusetts, can’t you tell by his accent?”  "Ah guess that's why I cain’t understand him!” Sonny replied with that twinkle in his eye.  We filled that room with beals of laughter and even some knee slapping!  Oh, yeah!

“If you offer your food to the hungry and satisfy the needs of the afflicted, then your light shall rise in the darkness and your gloom be like the noonday.” (Isaiah 58:10)

There is a place for you in this effort... Be a light!  Oh, yeah!

Lois Kadel

Sunday, March 19

OK. It is very late, or very early... but I wanted to get something off to you and I could not log in earlier and now can't sleep.

Friday was an exciting day. I received emails from several of you,  as well as phone calls from family members and friends from my congregation. Each and every one with words of support and encouragement. Thank you... they meant a lot...

My sister-in-law, Cindy, called to tell me that she was glad to hear we were going to Ocean Springs, MS as that is the town that their community has adopted for Katrina relief support. They have sent lots of supplies and have conducted fund raising events with more scheduled. Support is coming from the schools, the community in general, and even, CURVES!

My daily reading for the day was also interesting... above the reading there was the typical travel kind of sign with arrows pointing in different directions... with the words, "TURNING POINTS... Turning Toward Service." Interesting...

Anyway, Saturday morning finally arrived and around 7:30 AM, five very excited folks filled the van on a very cold morning with all of their stuff - sleeping bags, pillows, workboots, jackets, snacks, water and so much more - departed Harleysville.

It was a very long day that ended 800 miles later around 9:30 PM (Phila time) in Lebanon, TN. We spent the night in a church with our retired Pastor's sister and her husband as our hosts. They will be our hosts again next Saturday night when we are heading home! Just a small part of their way of assisting with the Katrina effort.

The day itself had several interesting events...

First, we were awed by the number of vehicles and groups that appeared to be enroute to the Gulf to provide / deliver supplies and support. Primarily, they were faith based organizations. We saw names like Lehigh Presbytery Helping Hands (Lehigh Valley, PA); Emmanuel Baptist Church (Johnstown); GH Fisher, Contractor (Green Lane, PA); Heritage Baptist Church (Clarks Summit, PA). Lots of people out to support others in need.

Second, we made a stop in Harrisonburg, VA for lunch. To many, this was just another exit on Route 80. For me, it was much more as I have been there before! It is the home of James Madison University -where my niece graduated last year and my nephew Andrew is a Senior!

I, of course, could not resist calling Andrew, but was disappointed when I got his voice mail. He did not let me down, however, for not long after I called I saw a familiar car pull into the restaurant - Andrew and Danielle! It was great to see them. Danielle goes to a school nearby. They both recently returned from Spring Break. Andrew went to Florida with his Dad for some golf and Phillies games, while Danielle did her part in support of the Katrina Relief effort in New Orleans!

And so goes Day 1...

Day 2, of course, started in Lebanon, TN. We had breakfast with our hosts at Faith Lutheran Church and were on the road by 7:45 AM. Some 550 miles later, we arrived in Ocean Springs, MS... around 4 PM.

We were again impacted by the number of groups that we passed heading for the Gulf. Names we saw today, included First Baptist Church, VA; Old Bethel United Methodist Church, Indianapolis; USS Disaster Reponse Assistance - Ohio Conference.

We are housed in Christus Victor Lutheran Church here. There are roughly 200 volunteers here coming from a wide range of locations and groups around the country. States represented include: PA, FL, SC, TN, Michigan, Mass...

This church has housed over 2000 volunteers since Katrina hit.

At tonight's orientation, they told us of all that they have been through as this church and its leaders were not spared from their  own share of damage. They are still working to refinish the sanctuary.  Carpeting and tiles need to be replaced and so much more. The average homeowner has had problems getting contractors to return calls, let alone come out and do work. There is so much yet to be done.

They say that the Red Cross, government, and FEMA have been overwhelmed by the needs of this community and the region. They add, however, that THEY are overwhelmed by the support they have received and continue to receive from faith based organizations and communities. All these volunteers have done so much to help them begin to get their community back. Yet there is so much more to be done!

They do not expect to be able to complete this effort in months, but rather years. So much has been done, yet there is so much more... and, of course, each year there is the threat of additional storms.

So goes another day... I guess I really need to get some sleep.. 6 AM comes mighty early... and then the real work begins.

Not sure exactly what we will do tomorrow, but we expect to be assigned to work with Sonny, an older gentleman, and his son. Our team that was down in January spent a good part of their week "mucking" out his home. We expect to help him do some painting and/or rebuilding.

God's Peace...

Laurie

Monday, March 20

We successfully completed our first full work day... and I even had a pretty good nite's sleep! I guess I was exhausted!

Day 3. Monday morning began with breakfast, devotions, and work assignments. Then we were off to the tool shed to gather necessary tools and the short ride to Pascagoula. We were assigned to work in the home of Sonny Naquin!

That is exciting to many of the members of Christ Lutheran Church since the team of 20+ that was down in January was responsible for mucking out Sonny's home! Mucking basically involves gutting the home! Removing all furnishings, paneling, flooring, insulation, cabinets... yes, everything!

Our trip was a bit more pleasant and Sonny was so excited to see a familiar face in the group as our Pastor's wife, who is with us this week, was also on the January team! He beamed when he saw her.

He is a sweet little old man that has lost basically everything in that home. He was by our side virtually all day long. He brought us sodas when he felt we needed a break and picked / sliced oranges and tangerines for us to sample from his trees. Now that is what I call fresh!

So, what did we do? Well, the last group there had started putting up wallboard. Our job begins with checking nails and screws to be sure that they are ready for spackling... many needed to be replaced and others needed to be given an extra ounce or too of effort so that they would not be a lump under the spackling.

Then, of course, the spackling of nails and taping / spackling of corners and seams began. We have one bedroom just about finished, except for the closet, with a first layer of spackle. We have also "worked" the nails / screws in another bedroom and the hallway.

We returned to our "headquarters" Christus Victor Lutheran Church around 5:30 PM... very dusty, exhausted, but feeling good about our day.

We cleaned up a bit and then watched a news video of the before, during and after the storm from a South Mississippi perspective. The devastation that we saw is mind-boggling. Many areas looked like a bombed out war zone. Huge barges that were lifted by the water that ended up on land when the water receded. Homes that were not just destroyed, but gone!

In the past, they say that all storms were compared to Camille. Not any more. The new comparison is to Katrina.

And now, 6 months later, while there are significant signs of improvement, the signs are still there. Driving to Sonny's yesterday, we saw debris in trees and brush along the roadway that you know was left there by the storm. Numerous homes still covered with blue tarps. It is just unbelievable.

And so goes day 3...

I should tell you just a bit about our team. Our team name is "Charlie's Angels". I already mentioned the pastor's wife. She has done alot of work coordinating trips for CLC, but is also working within the SouthEast PA Synod helping other congregations, as well. We also have a retired, former banker / project manager - yes, that's me. A third career female seminary student who is working with Christ Lutheran as part of her field education. A female real estate agent who is a friend of the congregation and our seminary student... Yes, that's four females... and then there's Charlie! Charlie is a long time member of Christ Lutheran Church. He has his own construction business and is teaching us lots about wallboard and spackling! We are probably driving him nuts, but amidst it all I think he is having a good time. Today, we expect to have another male join us at the site to assist with the more detailed work that Charlie is not sure we are ready for!?!?!

We are having fun and learning lots, but I am not sure Charlie is ready to hire any of us crew members for his business just yet...

The sun is rising and folks are beginning to get themselves moving. I guess I had better get myself moving if I want to get cleaned up a bit before breakfast...

Have a great day! Hope to be talking with you all again soon!

God's Peace...

Laurie

Tuesday, March 21

Each work day begins with breakfast, devotions, work assignments, tool shed pickup and then off to the work site.

We were with Sonny again today and will be there the rest of the week. We picked up another construction kind of guy to help us at the site which is allowing us to see much more progress in the home and as you can imagine, Sonny is thrilled.

I should add that Sonny and his wife are currently living with their son just up the road from Sonny's.

Today the CLC team finished all but the final coat of spackle on the tape in the first bedroom. We expect to have it ready for sanding by Thursday AM. The second bedroom should be ready for sanding by the end of the week and if we are really lucky, the living room may be in the same state.

The room that really has seen some significant visible change is the bathroom. The gentleman that joined us today spent his day there. When we arrived yesterday, it was just a gutted room. If you looked closely you could see some pipes that gave you the idea that there was to be some plumbing in the room, but there were no fixtures and the flooring was rotted literally right thru in one location. So, you can see why any work would make a significant difference.

Anyway, when we left today, new floorboards were in place; a closet was built to house the water heater; and the tub and shower walls were reinstalled. Ahh yes, progress is being made... and with each change, the sparkle in Sonny's eyes becomes a bit brighter.

Oh, yes, there is lots of witnessing going on here... but who is receiving the most from it remains to be seen. Certainly, Sonny and his wife will receive the benefits of our labor, but clearly we are learning and receiving as much as he is receiving from us.

Someone told me before I left that I would be changed by this trip. It has not taken long to understand what they meant by that. I can already say to you that I will consider coming back to support the effort in the Gulf at some point in the future. Arrangements are already being made for several trips over the next couple of months and then again in the Fall. If my schedule does not allow me to participate in those, I will find ways to provide assistance thru efforts that are being conducted in the community on behalf of the Katrina victims.

If you are interested in learning more about the efforts in the Gulf, there are several websites you can check into:

http://www.gulfcoastnews.com/KATRINA/GCN_Local_NEWS_Update.htm

http://www.christusvictordisasterresponse.org

The latter of these is specifically tied to the group that we are working through, but there are plenty of other groups out there... and so many ways to support the effort. One does not need to travel to Mississippi to provide support. Many organizations are gathering, packing and shipping supplies to the Gulf. These and other organizations are also gathering financial contributions to help feed the people impacted by the storm, as well as those that have volunteered their time and talents in helping with the cleanup effort.

They report here that 25-30 people are coming in each day needing help of some kind.  25% of the people in Ocean Springs, 41% in Biloxi, and 50% in Pascalouga (Sonny's town) have lost their homes, cars, food and clothing...

We have heard stories about how the people prepared for the storm, but also that when the water actually hit their homes that it began to rise at the rate of 1 foot per minute! For those that had not evacuated or were still on the fence about what to do, it did not  give them a lot of time to change their mind.

Anyway, that's the latest from here...

God's Peace,

Laurie

March 21

Today's 8:00 AM devotion started out with Pastor Sig proclaiming, "If at first you don't succeed, don't try sky diving!"  Good advice I'd say!  Well, today has been a day filled with lots of laughter, camaraderie, and good hard work.  We are making progress on Sonny's house and I've had a lot of experience at not succeeding with first, second, and even third attempts at taping drywall.  However, with the patient counsel of our resident contractor, Charlie Hoffman, I am learning to do my best and be satisfied with that.  Type A behavior is not particularly useful when doing this kind of work! 

Charlie has a real neat way of teaching us what to do and an even better way of letting us know when we've messed up.  After I had finally gotten the hang of spackling nail holes and cracks (FYI: 1. Take your spackling knife, load it with spackling compound, on the first swipe fill the crack leaving some excess above the surface; 2. On the second swipe angle your blade more vertically and remove all the excess leaving only the crack filled with spackle; 3. Walk away!) Charlie thought I was ready to learn how to tape seams and joints.  He told me how when he first started learning the construction trades from his father, he was always given the closet to work in.  That's where all beginners go - because if you really mess up, no one is really going to notice it there!  And that's where Charlie sent me, into the closet.  Each time I  stood on the ladder compulsing over a horizontal joint, Charlie would poke his head into the room and say, “Walk away, Lois, walk away!”

I'd like to tell you about Kenny and Anne.  Kenny and Anne are from Cape Cod, MA.  They are here for a week.  They are not a part of any group, they came to Christus Victor at the urging of a friend, Mary, who had been involved in recovery efforts here in January.  The dire situation facing so many people in Southern Mississippi weighed heavily on Mary.  When she returned to Massachusetts she talked and talked and talked about her experiences to everyone and anyone who would listen.  She rearranged her life so she could return for a month and she encouraged her friends to do the same.  Mary could just not walk away.

Kenny, a general contractor, and Anne, a nurse, put their life on hold for a bit to try and do their part.  Kenny joined our crew today and he worked on Sonny’s bathroom laying new sub-flooring, framing new closets, moving the fiberglass bathtub we had removed in January off of the porch and back into the bathroom.  Tomorrow he will hook up the plumbing, install the toilet and do some electrical wiring.  Having Kenny on our crew has helped us get much farther in our efforts to restoring Sonny and Rainey's home.  

Kenny, who speaks with a very heavy New England accent, is a great storyteller.  He kept us in stitches today with his many tales.  He told of being a part of a motorcycle gang, the Fifth Chapter, an affiliate of the Hell's Angel Motorcycle Gang.  As he spun his yarn about this gang he proclaimed, “This gang was cleaning silver!”  I looked out of the closet at Laurie and mouthed “cleaning silver?”  Kenny repeated with great emphasis, “This gang was cleaning silver.”  He proceeded to tell how a member of the gang had died and the group gathered together on their motorcycles to go to the cemetery.  The local police in Falmouth stopped them and asked them what they were doing in their town.  “We're going to a funeral in Barnstable.”  To which the officers replied, "We'll be very happy to escort you out of our town!”  Kenny, blue eyes twinkling, continued on, “We arrived at the cemetery and gathered around the gravesite.  The final words were spoken and the bikers stood awkwardly around the gasket.  Being part of a 12 step program, they decided it would be good to say their final goodbyes the way they ended their 12 step meetings.  They all bowed their heads and recited the Lord's Prayer!”  Kenny laughed recalling the irony of the moment.  I laughed too, but was still confused as to why these bikers would be cleaning silver.  “Kenny,” I asked, “Did you say you and your friends cleaned silver?” Kenny looked at me, his head tilted to the right just a bit, and then replied, “Clean and sober! We were clean and sober!”  I felt reassured when Laurie and Jan told me they were confused by the same thing!  We laughed for a good long while over that one!

Later in the day we heard passionate voices rising from the bathroom.  Laurie and I stopped and listened for a moment.  “Are they arguing in there?” I asked.  Laurie nodded, “That's what it sounds like.”  “I'd prefer to think of it as lively conversation,” I replied.  But the laughter of earlier had stopped and there was an argument going on between Kenny and Sonny about the proper way to install the toilet.  Charlie stepped into the discussion, hoping to mediate things, when the conversation heated up quite a bit.  Soon we heard Kenny say, “Who's doing this job?  If you want it done that way, then I quit!”  The heat of the day, the restless nights sleeping on cots, and all of the other inconveniences tumbled together and tempers erupted.  Being close to 5:00 pm the ladies on our crew tried to subtlely diffuse the situation by suggesting it was time to clean up.  But the charged up discussion continued unabated.  The ride back to Christus Victor was going to be pretty unpleasant if things didn't get worked out.  Marge, Jan, Laurie and I quietly hustled about, cleaning spackle off of our spackle knives, sweeping up the dust, and packing up our gear hoping to get out of there and get “our boys” back home for a steamy shower, a hot meal, and some down time.  Peeking back into the bathroom we saw Charlie, Sonny, and Kenny calmly talking again.  In spite of everything, no one was quitting, this was one challenge that no one on the crew was willing to walk away from.

Anne, Kenny's friend is a nurse.  She is working in a medical clinic run by Christus Victor Lutheran Church.  This is a free clinic which has been set up in an abandoned grocery store.  The front of the store where the grocery carts would normally be stacked is the area where the clinic operates.  Three bright blue FEMA tarps hung from the ceiling form the enclosures for three examination rooms.  Volunteer doctors and nurses spend their day providing free medical care to anyone who comes in asking for help.  Kenny, who had driven to the clinic to pick up sheets to take back to the church to wash in the evening, told of the horrors he saw during his brief visit.  “It looked like a third world country.  The people that I saw there are obviously homeless and haven't had a place to shower for months.  They are living in their cars and are covered with awful scabs and terrible staph infections.  They are filthy, they are hungry, and they are lost.  There were mothers holding wide eyed crying babies, children with dirt encrusted feet and matted hair.  It's a horror.”

Anne, returned exhausted, physically and emotionally from the clinic yesterday.  The small staff of volunteer doctors and nurses had tended to 80 patients.  Tonight, Anne joined Kenny, Laurie and myself in the dining hall.  Once again she looked exhausted, and she was the last person to come into the hall for dinner.  She sunk into her chair.  Kenny and Anne exchanged looks.  “How was it today?” he asked.  “Even worse today,” was her reply.  “We saw 90 patients. We had a surgeon today and just before we were going to close up a man who couldn't speak a word of English rushed in needing immediate emergency help.  He had been clearing debris and lost control of his chain saw and had severely lacerated his forearm.  He was lucky we had a surgeon.  We were able to stitch him up.  The surgeon did really good work.  Where else can you get free medical care from a top notch surgeon, three doctors assisting, no wait, and no paper work?”

Yes...where else?  Volunteer doctors, nurses, caseworkers and social workers have been coming to the coast to attend to the physical and emotional needs of the people here.  I've written about and talked so much about the displaced homeowners and the damage they’ve sustained to their homes and property.  But there were problems before Katrina and there are people here who already had serious issues to deal with.  Homelessness, addictions, mental illness, unemployment - the list that everyone in this nation understands as a normal part of the socio-economic make-up of any community.  These situations have been exacerbated by Katrina's aftermath and those who had been barely coping before have not just slipped through the cracks, they have crashed and burned. 

Kenny and Anne went to Wal-Mart tonight, twice.  They both needed to get supplies and Kenny needed to get laundry detergent.  He’s going to stay up tonight past midnight to wash the sheets from the clinic, again.

He’s going to stay up late tonight so Anne can try to get some rest.  Tomorrow the clinic will be filled again and these people need nurses and doctors - Anne and Kenny are getting prepared for tomorrow, they just can't walk away.

I heard the following hymn, The Summons, for the first time at the January worship service our first workcrew attended here at Christus Victor.  I invite you to read these words and pray about the summons that is being issued from this coast and on behalf of everyone here, the residents, the displaced, the rescuers, the volunteers, and from our God - please do not walk away.

Will you come and follow me if I but call your name?
Will you go where you don't know and never be the same?
Will you let my love be shown? Will you let my name be known,
will you let my life be grown in you and you in me?

Will you leave yourself behind if I but call your name?
Will you care for cruel and kind and never be the same?
Will you risk the hostile stare should your life attract or scare?
Will you let me answer prayer in you and you in me?

Will you love the “you” you hide if I but call your name?
Will you quell the fear inside and never be the same?
Will you use the faith you've found to reshape the world around,
through my sight and touch and sound in you and you in me?

God’s Peace,

Lois Kadel

Needs Update:

There is a critical need for food, water, cleaning supplies, bleach (completely gone!), feminine hygiene products, and card board boxes to be used at the distribution for food packs that are distributed daily.

Christus Victor is looking for a retired contractor to come and work for pay (you will be paid for a 40 hour week, but will work a 60 hour week, you will be paid much less than you'd make in the commercial market, but your satisfaction will be much higher!)

Long term volunteers are needed. Can you come here for three weeks, a month, two months or more?  Long term volunteers are what make this place run so well.  Do you have the time to donate to help out?