Posted on 09/03/2005 5:16:14 PM PDT by sionnsar
Dear All,
It's Saturday in Baton Rouge and I don't know what "Saturday" means any longer. Still missing 29 parish families.
Thanks to friends we now have a 225 area code cell phone and a satellite phone is on the way. We are in contact via email (and the occasional phone call) with people scattered across the country, trying to get them settled temporarily. By the end of the week we have plans to start an on-line Bible study for those with email access.
Our parish in exile goes on. The situation here appears to be much more measured. Pieces are coming into place so we don't feel entirely besieged every few moments. Presently we're focusing on triage, then temporary housing, then longer term options. New moms are coming to St. Luke's as there is no room in the local hospitals.
I think 12 more arrived the other night. One had a c-section less than 24 hours prior. We are trying to push out food and clothing, supplies, etc. to the major intake sites. The roads here are clogged and gas is hard to find.
I had to wait three hours yesterday afternoon. I awoke very early, thinking I'd beat the crowds, and found that people all over had parked their cars overnight in the gas station lines waiting for morning. Thank you all for your love, concern, prayers, care packages and relief. The most acute need we are hearing today is for children's and women's underwear.
Next is ready cash to help people get settled. Our diocese has an excellent hurricane website in place at www.edola.org. We are graced with with extraordinary leadership and the response of the Church here is beyond measure.
St. Luke's website is www.stlukesbr.org
with opportunities to help there as well. If you are supporting ERD or your local Red Cross -- I know our friends in Texas other gulf coast states are scrambling to assist refugees pouring in there -- bless you.
Tomorrow my parishioners in this area will gather at the parish in New Roads, LA for the Eucharist. It will be good to be together in this context and we will pray for you all. Below is an email report from my sister Colleen who is a nursing student working at the Astrodome in Houston. It's helpful beyond words to know that we are not alone in this. Your emails and expressions of love are most heartening. Prayers and blessings from higher ground, jerry+ op
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I worked at the Astrodome today. Never seen anything like it in my life. THOUSANDS of people without shoes and wearing the same clothes and peeing in them over and over. People that look like mom and dad who were CEO's and such of major companies were even there (just a few, though).
The majority were just normal folks or homeless and poor people that didn't even know where the buses were taking them. 90% of them are sick from prior conditions and other diseases and symptoms from standing in waist deep dirty water or being outside all night on their roofs for days. Unbelievable. Babies in the same diaper for 5 days even.
Many of them are leaving the dome to take on the streets of Houston. The medical area was swamped. Seizures, codes, diabetics in DKA, heart failures, etc. I think I triaged and treated about 100 people myself alone. They are calling all medical staff even from the schools to go in. It was good for me. I am glad you are well. Give my love to everyone. love, Col
The Rev'd Jerry Kramer is rector of the Church of the Annunciation in New Orleans in the Diocese of Lousiana
Traditional Anglican ping, continued in memory of its founder Arlin Adams,
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