Posted on 09/07/2005 3:29:27 PM PDT by sionnsar
I have been absent from much of my family and my normal life in order to help to deal with the massive Katrina tragedy and opportunity. Yes, I said opportunity.
As these people who hadn't eaten or slept well for 5 days stumbled off buses at the Astrodome, the first thing one noticed was the absolute stench that rose from them. They'd waded through filth, been trapped in the Superdome, then trapped in a bus for hours, and they hadn't bathed. They were so tired, they could barely respond to simple questions.
But no one complained on either side. Not one volunteer flinched at the smell that would make most gag. They held it in and smiled at these survivors, because that is what they needed from us at that moment. I was amazed at the absolute outpouring of love, money and effort by the citizens of Houston. The welfare of these survivors has been on everyone's minds here in our city since the moment they began to arrive, and immediately people put feet to their faith and helped.
These survivors weren't looters, gang members or rapists. They were like my 77-year-old in-laws or your neighbors down the street, only black and smelly and scared and tired. They were so grateful as we led them up, one at a time, into the Astroarena seats to wait for processing, only because they knew that finally someone with organization and the means to help was holding their hand and telling them they were going to be okay.
It was an amazing testament to the organizational skills of man, being able to find, transport and set up cots, food, water and medical care for 25,000 people. In twelve hours.
As new survivors poured in, there were hundreds- literally hundreds- of single moms with children under the age of two. Many had babies only weeks old. Weeks old! These babies hadn't eaten formula or milk in days. Mothers had lost the bottles while wading through floodwaters, or had reeking ones that were now useless.
There was powdered formula donated everywhere, but only a few new bottles at the Dome. There were jugs of water. So I began to mix formula like mad. I distributed what I could, but realized there was an immediate need for fifty baby bottles, or some of these infants were going to fall into shock. I called friends on my cell and begged for them to immediately get in their cars, run to the store, and then meet me at the edge of the complex parking lot. I stood there and caught bags of bottles tossed to me from their car. I ran- literally ran- back to the Astroarena, where we filled bottles as quickly as possible. The looks on the mothers' faces was a mix of tearful thanks and exhausted relief.
There were mothers who politely, but on the verge of tears, would come up to me and just blurt out "I haven't seen my 10-year-old son in five days. Can you help me find him?" What can you say? What do you do? You stop, after not having eaten or drunk anything for twelve hours, and you help her.
ON one occasion, I was actually able to locate a 12-year-old boy and his 16-year-old brother, and reunite them with their mother, sister and aunt. It was a tearful and joyful moment that likely benefited me more than them. I was humbled by, and grateful to, God allowing me to help them.
The next day, we were told that another 50,000 evacuees were coming to Houston to stay. It was on to the George R. Brown Convention Center, as the Astrodome was full of evacuees and volunteers. Again within 12 hours, beds, food, and a complete triage unit with full equipment was set up and ready to serve 8,000 people. I'm not kidding- in 12 hours it went from empty to running.
I was volunteering in the medical unit of the convention center. The triage unit treated 900 people in one day. Nine hundred people is usually the number of patients a mid-sized hospital sees in two weeks or more! There was a busload of 50 children from a mental institution who hadn't been medicated in a week. Fifty people from our church arrived within 2 hours of the call to meet and care for each individual patient.
There were some adults who hadn't taken their medication and began hearing voices. They begged, in moments of lucidity, for their medicine. After receiving it, peace came to their faces and they asked for prayer. We gave it to them. Rev. Doug Richnow and others were right there, ministering to those in need.
Now that everyone has eaten, showered, and received sets of new clothing, the crazed looks of fear and exhaustion have been replaced with absolute thanks and humility from these good people of New Orleans. They feel human again, and now they are finally realizing that many people care about them deeply. They also realize that they have no home in New Orleans right now.
Where is the opportunity in all of this? It seems obvious now that I've been there. The lectionary reading for this past Sunday was Romans 12:9-21. In it, the scripture tells us to "honor one another above ourselves", to "share with God's people who are in need" and to "practice hospitality". We are to"mourn with those who mourn", and to "be willing to associate with people of low position". How often do we as God's people get to actually put into immediate practice the lectionary reading? It was a blessing to us here.
This natural event- while horrific for the many who were unprepared- happened within the confines of God's truth in the material realm. All of us on the gulf coast know what a Cat 5 storm can do. All of us knew (including the governor of Louisiana) that the levees were designed for a Cat 3. Yet, hurricanes have many natural benefits- in fact, necessary ones- to our ecosystem.
Those who are broken or poor are caught in this paradigm of benefit and tragedy. It is up to us- commanded to us in Isa 58 and many other places- to help those in need. I was honored and humbled to be a part of that command this week.
--Howard Castleberry is the acting Disaster Relief Director for St. John the Divine (Houston) Epsicopal, a position recently created to help survivors of Katrina. Formerly a career photojournalist and then successful Houston businessman, Howard now works on church Adult Education and self-directed theological studies. He and his wife Joanne have four children.
If you want to help, please send donations to: St. John the Divine, 2450 River Oaks Blvd., Houston, Texas 77019, RE: Katrina Fund. You may also contact me at hcastleberry@houston.rr.com
Traditional Anglican ping, continued in memory of its founder Arlin Adams. Good story of a Katrina relief effort volunteer.
Kudos to Houston.
Some great people there!
Thank you so much for this post. I will help.
God Bless them!
astrodome ping
My 18yo son is at the Dome too. He is a man of few words, this is what he said.
"The crowd in the Dome consisted of very good people. Honest to the point that many refused to fill out the aid forms stating that they have taken care of themselves their entire life and didn't want a handout.
Many of these people literally have nothing and just want a job. Their jobs in NOLA are simply gone and will probably never be back.
Maybe we misjudged some of these people.
Time will tell."
He just got home a bit ago and is leaving at about 0500 hours tomorrow to head back.
My son Rocks too.
Yes he does, and that's a reflection on mom and dad. Bravo Zulu, Eakers.
Thanks for the report and the ping!
You are blessed to have the family you do!
(If angels exist, Dix is watchin' for yer pings!)
Mostly mom I think.
Have you ever seen her stalk a mouse and shoot it?
I didn't think so.
As much as I need the sleep, I miss Dix's phone calls at 03:00 because, as he put it, the ChemoBitch would not let him sleep.
To bring Brother Dix back I would get up every day at 03:00.
The people of NO have been truely blessed that they have been sent into loving arms. The good people of Houston will help to heal their souls and get them back up on their feet in no time at all.
The harvest is bitter and sweet this year.
My point exactly.
Today was day 1 at the reliant Arena. I thought there was going to be a bad element there. Where I could trust no one. The people there were nicer than some people that live here. I was surprised when I saw kids with smiles on there faces just because of the free little teddy bear. When they have nothing else to play with. Most of my job is listening to peoples story's. Which was in some cases was difficult to do. I hope them having someone listening to there story makes there day a little better. The smallest thing could change these people's life's.
I'm skeered now of "themom"...
Like I said before Eaker...You got a good young man there...
Do we have a great kid or what ping.
I'm proud of you son!
Welcome nOOb.....(tell yer parents I said that)......:o)
Well done Sir ......ya done good !
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