Dave and I spent the evening at the disaster relief center until about midnight. We were amazed at so many things. The workers are tireless for the most part, which is such a blessing to see. There is so much to do, but so little direction. These evacuees are confused, alone, and most with no prospects for their future. The children are scared and needy. I wonder what kind of process gets these people out and on their way. What way? Where is it?
I took a little girl, Jasmine, to the pediatric medical center that had been set up in the building. She had an ear infection and a high fever, wanted her Mom, but her Mom had dropped her off to us. She is 2. I sat with her while we waited to see the volunteer doctor (an orthopedist) to get her meds. She cried a lot, clung to me, asked where was her Mom and could she go home. Every time a doctor or nurse would get near Jasmine, she would scream and beg us not to hurt her. I assured her that we loved her and that we wanted to make her better. She just kept crying for her Mom, while her Mom roamed the halls... There was a mother of 5 who had contracted the flu since the evacuation. Other than her 5 children (the oldest being 11) she came with no family or friends. At the Superdome she befriended a lady who helped her out a lot and stayed with her up until now at Kelly USA. But this friend has found family in Dallas and is leaving today. The sick Mom has been advised that she must go to the hospital -- they don't have the capacity to take care of influenza at the relief site. She won't go, even though she can barely stand, since there is no one to take care of her children. I could go on and on. Its hard to know even what to pray for, other than "Your will be done". These people need so much, more than we can give them here. And of course, they need Jesus. And while we can't give them Jesus, we certainly can show Him to them as we love them.06 September 2005
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3 "atta girl"s:
This is certainly when the situation gets more complicated than just passing out meals and underwear and cots. After the basic needs are met come the hard questions. . .and the hard days. One of the most disheartening things is that it's obvious many of these lives and families were shattered long before Katrina came calling. The storm has exposed and exacerbated the turmoil that was already there. And then there are the pockets of intact, hard-working families who really did have their lives together and are now feeling no better off than anyone else. God help us as individuals, as a city, as a nation, to know how to help rebuild shattered lives.
We are called to be light and salt. and we do that one person at a time, one baby at a time, one cup of water at a time. Trusting that the others around us are doing the same thing.
Wow...how sad. We are praying!
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