Greetings!
It is said that a picture is worth a thousand words. And as we look at devastating photos of the tornadoes in Kentucky and the flooding in B.C., we know that all too well in our hurting hearts.
As we monitor and assess the tragedy in Kentucky and surrounding states, we continue to respond over the long term to others who are in dire need in the wake of disasters.
When I was in Dulac, Louisiana recently, I couldn’t bring myself to take a picture. Imagine you are with me in the bayous of southern Louisiana. The narrow road has a water channel on one side to allow shrimping and fishing boats to navigate out into the open water. On the other side are what were houses and mobile homes elevated 10-15 feet. This is the area in southeast Louisiana with the highest concentration of Native Americans. They are mainly from the band of Indians called Biloxi-Chitimacha-Choctaw.
Hurricane Ida came ashore on August 29th, the anniversary of Katrina in 2005 with sustained wind speeds of 150 mph, leaving huge destruction in its path. Most of the homes have major damage and many are destroyed. One family in particular came back to their home to only find the decking of the housing remaining on the pylons and the walls and roof gone. The husband, wife and four children have a difficult choice; move four to five hours away and live in temporary housing provided by FEMA or stay on their destroyed property. There are so many disaster survivors looking for temporary shelter.
This family chose to stay. And I couldn’t bring myself to take a picture. They took some of the metal roofing they salvaged and broken pieces of plywood and fashioned some walls around the base of the remaining pillars. And so they wait. The "no-see ems" and mosquitoes are out in force this time of year. And there is no reprieve for the family living with this exposure.
This season I will read the Christmas story with new meaning. Mary, the mother of Jesus, and Joseph, were also seeking refuge. With renewed energy and vigor this Christmas, I want to see MDS thrive to keeping bringing people back home. May it be so.
