Odd Thoughts

A Hurricane Story

This story comes from my dad:

9/3/05
Friends,

I had a profound experience tonight as a volunteer at our local evacuee shelter. I met two middle-aged Cajun brothers (Randy and Oray) and Orry's son (15-year old Corey), who were rescued by boat-helicopter-bus today after spending over three days in their attic and on their roof. They had evacuated Oray's wife and daughter and their 75 year-old father the day before Katrina hit. They said that after the levee broke the water rose from their feet to their chin in fifteen minutes. They believe thousands to be dead, having watched as the coast guard bundled the dead together and tied them to trees for later recovery. As they were rescued they had to shoot their (several) dogs and leave everything they owned behind (what little was left). They were sunburned and exhausted as they were delivered to the bridge near the Superdome and later put on a bus for Nacogdoches. As they entered the shelter, with air conditioning, food and army cots, one of the men said to me, "This is heaven" (I never would have thought to call it that). The one thing they wanted most was a shower (but that would have to wait until tomorrow). They asked me to try to locate an aunt in south Louisiana (where their father and sister was), which I was able to do. They were sobbing with joy to hear these men had survived. Tomorrow I hope to link them up via phone. I plan to visit the men again tomorrow and help them reunite with their family and to tell them of the gospel. Randy remarked to me tonight that he had made more changes in his life in the last three days than he had in the previous thirty years. Orry said that the next time he heard the word "hurricane" he would be the first one out of town. The sister I spoke with (Marrion) was still missing her 18-year-old son and asked that we pray that he would be found. We saw 200 new evacuees arrive at one of the Nacogdoches shelters tonight, all with similar stories. I know I will go to bed tonight with a more grateful heart. Pray for the gospel to fill these voids in people's lives.

Randy Booth