Disaster Relief: Hurricanes Katrina, Rita & Wilma

From Pandita

Richard and Pandita went to the shelter to cheer up the kids with a bag of balloons, Grandpa Jake stories, and a Grandpa Jake puppet along with his African American granddaughter puppet. When we arrived at the children’s play area and the mood was very chaotic, and the children were very hyper and running around. We tried to organize them in groups for stories but they couldn’t settle down, so I just started asking their names and making friends with them. I began to write down their names and ages. We promised the children that we would be back again, but they would have to sit down and hear a story before they got their balloons. We spent two hours with the children just talking with them and trying to develop a rapport with them to prepare them for the next visit.

Off to the Kelly Shelter, the largest shelter in our city

Richard also volunteered at the prison where he is assistant chaplain, so I took my 21 year old son Daniel for a tour of Kelly to encourage him to volunteer. We met Joy getting her badge and as we walked around we were stopped by FEMA officals asking if I knew Spanish. We ended up at the FEMA office for the rest of the evening translating for four or five families and we also had the opportunity to tell these families who have suffered so much that they are special to the Lord and He had a plan for them, that they had survived this and He will take care of them. Later three families prayed and received the Lord

We met some of the sweetest people who were smiling and so happy to have someone talk to them and show a little interest. The children got so excited to have their pictures taken and kept saying, “Will you take a picture of me?” Then we’d show them the picture on the digital camera and they thought that was so exciting. They were drawn to us like a magnet and kept calling others to come get their pictures taken too. One grandma had an old cross around her neck and that’s what the Lord used to give us an instant connection with these dear people.

The City of San Antonio has been working hard to accommodate the evacuees and make sure their needs are met. Around the shelter we saw banners at schools, churches and people’s home saying “Welcome New Orleans” or “Welcome Friends from Louisiana”. Some banners were written by children and displayed their interest in welcoming the evacuees. There’s a lot of spiritual input and many opportunities to show concern and pray with the people here.

Family International Volunteers Katie Roselle and Linda Perkins their first day at the shelter.
The need is overwhelming and there are people everywhere–wandering, not knowing what to do, confused and searching for missing loved ones.

Daniel Roselle and his wife Katie right outside the KellyUSA shelter where thousands of evacuees are being housed.

Hugues de Gaalon and Linda Perkins at the KellyUSA shelter where we are beginning our efforts to do what we can to make a difference in the lives of these thousands of displaced people. The city of San Antonio is making every effort to accommodate the evacuees and provide their needs.

We went to the Red Cross today to see how we could get involved. Although the Red Cross is working hard at trying to organize things, it is understandably a bit hectic and confusing. At the Red Cross office they were mainly trying to sign up and assign the volunteers. We did not want to just leave our names and address and wait until someone called us, so we persevered until we talked with someone in charge.

We will have a meeting on Tuesday, to see what we can do as far as activities and programs for the children and teens. We will also be visiting the shelters (there may be 4 or 5 by then) in order to determine how to best organize things.