I've spent two Spring Breaks in my life doing ministry in New Orleans. During that time, I met some of the sweetest and brightest kids I've ever seen. In spite of the fact that they live in some of the worst conditions I've ever seen, they were never without a smile and a hefty dose of enthusiasm.
Today, their homes are likely flooded, if they are still standing at all. They live two blocks from the wall that keeps the Mississippi in its banks. And most of their families decided not to leave, or rather, weren't able to leave. Some of them are likely huddled together in flooded houses. Some may be at the Superdome looking for food or shelter. Others are who knows where.
A good friend of mine spent an entire summer there a few years back, loving the kids and teaching them that Jesus loves them too. When the mission workers started to evacuate earlier this week, only 1 child would go with them. They can't get in touch with anyone who stayed in the city, because there is no power and there are no phones available.
They likely have little to no food. They are likely running out of water. But even if people here could get in touch with people there, what do you tell them to do? Break into a Walmart and get food? Swim down to the mission and pry off the bars and the plywood that are on the windows, just to get inside to the kitchen?
Please be praying for these people. They need to be found by FEMA or the Red Cross. But so do thousands of others.
Links to storm coverage:
CNN Special
More CNN
MSNBC Coverage
2 comments:
Totally agree that prayer is most important, but for those that want also to contribute financially, particularly to those who were in need before the storm, the Salvation Army is a great place to do so, as they have very low overhead and are very effective at helping the poor in cities. Information regarding their hurricane relief efforts are here.
Instapundit has collected a HUGE list of hurricane Katrina relief charities here.
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