The Aftermath

I honestly do not even know what to say about all that is happening on the Gulf Coast because of Hurricane Katrina. It is just utterly devastating and overwhelming-it honestly looks like a third world country down in New Orleans. It makes me feel guilty and at the same time incredibly thankful for all that I have and often take for granted.

One of my RA's is from New Orleans-her family is fine-but her house is of course flooded-and she is just handling it so well. At a fairly young age, she has already grasped the fact that God is in control and she is fully trusting in Him. It is amazing to watch and a true inspiration-she even got to talk a little in chapel about it the other day, and it really touched me. I honestly cannot even imagine...keep praying for those folks-it may be months before everything is cleaned up-it will surely never be normal again. It is at times like these it just seems almost wrong that everything else in the world continues to go on-but I guess life does have to go on. It just blows my mind. God IS in control, though...and I sure am thankful for that!!

We may be taking in some Tulane University students, which is awesome, and also will be very interesting if they end up residing in my residence hall. I am just wondering about curfew, rules, etc.-if they will also have to abide by them or not. But I would welcome them with open arms...I love the way that Americans are responding, I just cannot wrap my mind around why people are dying in America because they do not have food or water. I guess, though that this happens every day and our eyes are really being opened to the truth of poverty-in our own country-right now than it ever has been. I sure hope it makes a difference-I hope that we don't look at it, think it is sad, give a little money, and then turn our backs again like it isn't there. I don't have a plan of action, but I truly pray that God can use me to do whatever I can...

I want to leave you with a verse that my RA has been quoting during all of this:

"If calamity comes upon us... we will stand in your presence before this temple that bears your name, and we will cry out to you in our distress, and you WILL hear us and SAVE us..." ~2Chronicles 20:9

May God give us strength...