December 19, 2005 Source: Trinity Western University:
http://www.twu.ca/news/view-specific.aspx?newsID=465 Bringing Relief to Hurricane Victims Arnie Friesen, ACTS Director of Admission, shares about his experience in New Orleans, helping Hurricane Katrina victims rebuild. In the aftermath of one of the most destructive disasters of winds, floods, and chaos to hit the USA, I kept wondering what my reaction should be. Hurricane Katrina's strike on the Gulf Coast was yet another catastrophic event followed by yet another massive plea for money and resources. As my wife and I discussed what our response should be we came to the conclusion, as many others did, that the USA is quite capable of handling this situation on its own. Our focus should be on victims of colossal disasters in less fortunate countries. But as the events unfolded and as the tragic stories emerged, it became quite apparent that no disaster response plan had envisioned such carnage. My heart was torn at the thought of the thousands of displaced families who were left to be victims over and over again. When I learned of plans for a TWU student volunteer trip south during the fall reading-break it was only natural for me to step up. The time was now and I knew it was my time. Beside my own need to respond compassionately, I also was convinced that ACTS Seminaries, a ministry training centre where I work, needed to have a corporal presence on such a mission. All the details fell into place and on November 8 and 9, 2005 an entourage of 33 students and 6 staff members departed for New Orleans. What followed was a surreal experience. No words can describe, no TV camera can capture, and no one is ever completely prepared for such immense devastation. A paralyzed, ghost city awaited us. There were no sounds of children playing or dogs barking, no lights in large subdivisions and hardly a bird in view. We were ready, or so we thought. One team worked with Samaritan's Purse in Gretna and the other two teams camped out at Trinity Church in Covington. Sludge, mold, and rancidity set the ambience; broken hearts, torn homes, and bewildered eyes galvanized our motivation as we rolled up our sleeves in the clean-up campaign. Taking time to hear the stories of anguish and offering hope became the priority. In a paradoxical sense, God's mercy was being disseminated through tangible expressions of love that often bewildered the recipients. Over and over we where compelled to compress life into its simplest forms. The "normal" conveniences we have come to take for granted where scarce. Of course, we quickly learned new life lessons as all this paled in the shadow of the pain and loss that will face so many for so long. Our teams bonded in strength and resolve. Homes were gutted and prepared for re-construction. But the work of years of rebuilding has only just begun. In the midst of all this I kept thinking I would come back in a heart beat. So profoundly fulfilling was this extraordinary encounter.
Keela Keeping
Media Relations Specialist
keela.keeping@twu.ca
513.2027 ext. 3369
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