November 2005, just 3 months after Hurricane Katrina devastated New Orleans, we decided to go as a family to the now famous "9th Ward" of Saint Bernard's Parish to see how we could be of service. Our colleagues there, who also had some serious water damage done to their home, took us in and together we spent 6 weeks preparing and then performing Christmas carols and distributing canned food and messages of encouragement right in the heart of the destruction, a little town called Chalmette.
FEMA had set up what amounted to a "tent city", called Camp Premier, to house residents who had lost their homes, and had no where else to go, as well as the hundreds of workers who were there to get that city back on it's feet. They gave us permission to go in and spend time with any who needed comfort and healing. There was also a state sponsored psychiatrist who was there to help. I asked him how it was going and if he was able to do any counseling. He said " No, no, not really....everybody seems fine."
By contrast, I found people very open and many needed an opportunity to pour out about all they had been through. Here I am with Odette, 71, who lost 3 of her children and one grandchild...... It was very moving to be able to put our arms around near strangers to pray for them and thus begin their time of healing. Tears flowed from both of us, as Odette poured out her heart about the tragedy. .....in the bottom photo I am praying for Odette.
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