My Experience Ministering to Katrina's Ravaged

Today, Labor Day, I arose before the sun and set off for Kingwood, WV and the army base Camp Dawson. Yesterday 450 people from the Superdome in New Orleans arrived in the West Virginia hills, many seeing mountains for the first time.

They are tired. They are weary. They have incredible stories of survival - some frightening, some angering, and some hilarious.

Some of these are the poorest of the poor in New Orleans. These are people who had very little to start with, and now they have even less. But, they are so thankful. They are thankful to be where they are - they are thankful that the Red Cross and Christians of all stripes are treating them like kings and queens - they are thankful for a shower and a hot meal. When I ask someone how they are, the response is usually, "blessed."

Today was a lot of sitting and waiting for people to come and talk to me. They were either repelled or attracted to the collar around my neck, and those who were attracted were spiritually wounded and needy - though always thankful.

I played basketball with some of the kids and young adults - who of course were profoundly better than me, though I did earn some credibility by sinking some impressive 3 pointers, and a daring reverse layup.

Overall, it just felt good to be there. It felt good to see West Virginians (and this Marylander) reaching out to the urban poor with much love.

And, it was good to be available to hear their stories. One couple told me that what we all heard in the media wasn't true. There were reports of the Superdome being evacuated almost a day before it was actually being evacuated. They also said, that they had an opportunity to wade through the streets one day - riding a bicycle that quickly became totally submerged, and watching a man drag a huge hot-tub floating down the street.

There was also talk of death and suicide - hunger and survival instincts.

They are God's children - may God look out for them in WV, which is in the words of John Denver 'almost heaven' anyway.