RESPONDING TO THE NEED
The Family’s Response to Hurricane Katrina

In response to the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, Family International volunteers are currently on the scene aiding existing relief efforts in providing food, clothing, water and other basic needs to the evacuees from Louisiana. Our foremost priority is the emotional and psychological well-being of the children and adults who have endured this tragic course of events. As Christian counselors, our volunteers are focusing their efforts in providing emotional and spiritual support, as well as programs, activities and inspirational materials to impart comfort, encouragement and hope, and to bring happiness and emotional stability back to the displaced children.

RELIEF WORK AT THE ASTRODOME

Hurricane Katrina has ripped apart lives, and shattered hopes for 1000’s of souls that survived her wrath. Many escaped without even a pair of shoes on their feet. Blistered feet fled New Orleans, some having lived on their rooftops in the boiling sun waiting for rescue.

An atmosphere of hopelessness permeates the Astrodome in Houston, the new home for thousands of displaced Americans. In New Orleans the Family International missionaries are presently ministering to the military and police officers. These men have been working non-stop, most having lost everything themselves to the hurricane. This Family International team is helping to provide hot meals for the police and military officers.

As we ministered to them, people wept in our arms, and we were able to pray with them and leave them with comforting literature to read. The children from the Family International in Houston performed at the Astrodome tent for children’s activities. Please continue to pray for our ministry to the evacuees —Jesus is their only hope and peace!

We want to thank Activated Ministries for donating tens of thousands of pieces of Christian literature and books to donate to the evacuees. Because of your generosity we have been able to reach many people in great need of comfort and encouragement — and we have also led many people to receive Jesus as their Savior.

Meet Stan
This is Stan. We met him today at the Astrodome, and he told us his horrifying tale of being swept along by the rushing currents. He tried holding frantically to anything passing his way. He managed to grab onto an overhanging telephone wire, which he clung onto for dear life for 8 hours! In this toxic soup, the thought crossed his mind that he might die. He said he wasn’t afraid of dying as he knew he would go to Heaven, but didn’t want to die alone. Finally, a canoe came by and took him to higher ground. He stayed for 3 more days in the hot baking sun giving him 2nd degree burns all over his body. Eventually he was transported to the Astrodome in Houston.

On arrival at the Astrodome his feet were very swollen, so he secured himself an area to sleep near the food canteen and bathroom so he wouldn’t have to walk any distance. At last, he was able to show a volunteer his feet which had tripled in size. The doctors fear he’ll lose both feet to gangrene from being submerged in this contaminated brew for so long. After a few days some of the swelling did go down. After praying with him for healing he was moved to tears. Please do continue to pray for Stan that he’ll fully recover.

Meet Kevin
On September 10, Nick and I were up at 5 and ready to start at the shelter by 6AM. With Family Services not available on the weekend it was quieter, but we had one young man, Kevin come in.

He arrived very dirty and wrapped in an old blanket — it was almost unbelievable. He was very broken-hearted, his eyes were all red from crying and I wasn’t sure if he would burst into tears again. He told us his story of how he had come up from Mississippi to East Texas where he had one relative, but no phone number or address. He hadn’t eaten in 4 days, he had gone to one place where they didn’t have a place for him to stay overnight and then he tried the next night at a church, but he was in such a traumatic state from wandering and traveling that sadly he was misunderstood and turned away.

He finally found a hospital where he received some medication as he had been crying uncontrollably, and then walked another 3 miles from there and turned up here at the shelter this morning. I was able to assist and take him for some clean clothes, and set him up with a bed and bedding in the shelter. We found out he has lost contact with his wife and daughter, so after getting him breakfast and settled in we started helping him with calls and an internet search for them.

Later in the afternoon, Kevin came back looking for the “missionaries” and gave us a beautiful shop bought card, with a few simple words sincerely thanking us for helping him. Here is Kevin with us at the end of the day, thankful and feeling hopeful and new found friends together. We continue to pray that we can help him find his family.

EMOTIONAL HEALING PROGRAMS

Hurricane Katrina exacted a heavy emotional toll on thousands of children who have been traumatized by the disaster. After the Asian Tsunami, psychiatrists around the world were unanimous in their consideration that one of the best ways to help the affected children is to play with them, conduct activities with them, let them return to school and just have fun with them!

In response, The Family in North America assisted with emotional healing programs for these children. These programs involve organizing games, music shows, clowning, providing toys and games and literature and videos with a message of hope and comfort. The children responded well to these programs and it was so wonderful to see them smile and play again.

Christmas in September at the Astrodome

There is no end to the suffering, yet every day we can see a great outpouring of love and cooperation that’s bringing solutions to all the problems that are existing here. We have coordinated many efforts to get a children’s center open, a place where we can put on shows, lay out our books, show videos, have the parents attend with the children and make it a wonderful educational and spiritual experience to give comfort and get their minds off their problems.

On our way to the Astrodome to minister, we got a call asking if we could help distribute three 40 foot trucks full of toys. An FM radio station from Miami had been petitioning its listening audience for 5 days for toys for the children in the Astrodome in Houston, Texas.

Each child was able to fill up a big bag of the toys of his choice. How wonderful it was so see the smiles on the faces of these children who have endured such traumatic circumstances. Most of them lost their homes and had no idea what the future would hold for them. Radio listeners, Family International members, Red Cross representatives and police were able to bring the joy of Christmas a little early this year.

Astrodome Children’s Center
“The Family International has been providing entertainment for the Children’s Activity Center at the Houston Astrodome where nearly 8,000 evacuees are still being housed in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. The Activity Center is being operated by the American Red Cross, the YMCA and other agencies in the Houston area. Our own Sunshine Singers performed for the evacuees as part of the entertainment schedule.”

Helping Cynthia
While singing to the evacuees in the Astrodome, we met precious Cynthia, who lost her home in New Orleans. She is a 53 year old retired military woman whose daughter is presently in the armed forces in Iraq.

Cynthia was stranded on her roof for 2 days with her granddaughter, when they were picked up by a boat and dropped on a bridge on the I-10, where they spent the next two days without food or water. Finally, a bus picked them up and took them to the Astrodome.

When we sang for her she joined in with us with her beautiful voice. After singing Amazing Grace together, she broke down in tears, letting it all out with sobbing from the depths of her soul. I held her in my arms and told her, “It’s ok to cry.” She kept saying, “I just want to go home….” I told her, “I’m from New Orleans too, and we all want to go home, but Jesus has a better home for us, and really this world is not our home…..we’re just a passin’ through!” After sharing some passages from the Bible on that subject we sang her John 14. “In my Father’s house are many mansions…”

Like so many others, her home was completely destroyed by hurricane Katrina, so she really can’t go home. It is very hard for people to adjust to the aftershocks of what has happened. Thank God we can help by giving them the water of God’s Word and hope for the future.

Healing for the Children

In seeking how to best respond to the need, we chose to set up “Emotional Healing” programs for the children in the shelters. We organized games, face painting and sending clowns to the shelters to keep the children occupied and get their minds off the recent traumatic incidents.

We have also focused on counseling and comforting of others. This is becoming more prominent now as many of the urgent physical needs of the evacuees are being met, and the folks have more time to reflect. Many are asking deep questions about what ha happened and needing help to get over the loss of loved ones and possessions, and take on a positive, hopeful perspective of the future.

ASSISTING AT GROUND ZERO

Our team drove through the night to New Orleans to hold four Sunday Services in a restaurant that had suddenly been converted into a feeding station for 2,000 police, military and rescue workers. Between services, the singing team helped prepare and serve the delicious meals prepared by our very good friend Glen Guidy, who had to quickly learn how to feed 10 times more people than usual. Since not everyone could come to the restaurant we brought food to those still stranded in their homes and the building crews.

Our next singing “engagement” was at the West Jefferson Hospital where vaccinations for Hepatitis A & B, and Tetanus were being administered. When the kindly priest who was celebrating mass at the hospital saw us with our guitars he asked if we knew any “hymns.” Many of the doctors, nurses and patients were moved to tears by the songs, and later commented how motivated they were to see teens helping out so cheerfully!

Family International volunteers wish to express their condolences to each victim of Hurricane Katrina. Our hearts go out to each one affected by this tragedy and the resultant suffering and loss. We pray that God’s abundant grace and comfort will afford a place of refuge in this time of trouble.