Just one more...

I want to add a little addendum. I wrote during the heighth of the storm that a little restaurant in The Pass was washed away. That turned out to be a terribly vicious rumor. Some in Boston who knew the place have received emails from me assuring them that when they return to the Coast they will have a place to get a cold beer and some broiled oysters. Now I can give first hand info as just yesterday I dined at Shaggy's albeit with a limited menu selection and many love bugs. Debris still covers the beaches in many places, but the Coast seems more intent on providing relief supplies to Texas than in worrying about cleaning up our own beaches. I think this is as it should be. Thanks be to God.

Gustav Last

Home at last. Haven't had a shower since Sunday AM so this is going to be decidedly short! I have some roof damage and trees down - sandbags kept water out thoough. All in all no worse for the wear. Storm clouds linger, but it is quiet. No word from Christ Church BSL yet. Other churches are OK. BSL took a big hit. Waveland had 19 ft surge (Katrina was 26 there). News from NOLA is good. Although if I were the authorities I would be all over the companies that did not secure the barge and ships. That was an unnecessary risk. Thankfully no harm done. Now the talk is of a safe return to NOLA and working on how to deal with the stress and trauma of having to evacuate. There wil be some mental fatigue and depression. In fact a lot. This will be an issue for us to consider after we are all back home.

Geoffrey Lewis has put together a series of photos of Gustav. Some are his and some may be from other sources. Pretty vivid shots though. Here is the link on Youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jPMzWBx51Vk

I have contacted about 1/3 of the parishionrs and all are safe and sound with damage at minimum. Will continue to hear from others as the week goes on I am sure. John Byrd caught a snake which he promptly wanted to show to me. Some things just never change. We lost some limbs at the parish house but the roof held. DeMiller Hall had some leaks, but they were monir and Holy Guardian Angels will open tomorrow. Faye, Malcolm, Julie and I did a walk through this AM. The debris line is inches short of the Camille Memorial. We have quite a mess to clean up but little other damage. With Ike headed toward the Gulf I will keep the vestments at my house.

I give thanks for all of the letters, emails, and prayers.

"...As it is there are many members, yet one body...
If one member suffers, all suffer together with it:..."

My prayer today is that we will continue to be one Body in Christ and that we will stand together what ever pain, suffering, or storm might come our way. I am consciece of the peril of Hurricanes Hannah and Ike and I pray for safety for all in the path. I tell my children in Godly Play that wherever they go God gets there first and is waiting to welcome them. Thanks be the God.

Gustav 10

Just a quick note before we get busy. If you remember shaggys restaurant in pass xtian. Gone. Extènsive floodng. Môre later. We are waiting for all cleár to go home. I am praying this day "we give thanks for all the blessings of this life" I cannot thank tou enough for your love. Jane
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Gustav 9

Troubling. Rumors that shelters near biloxi are closing and putting nola folks out. (not ARC). On òther side we just helped a nola family find lodging in Jackson. Tensions are rising as the time hoes by. We have much flooding. Popps ferry is flooded as is my Street. We will spend another night in the shelter. AC is not working. i need to cleán the bathrooms Pray for cool heads and warm hearts
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Gustav 8

Breakfast time. Gustav is on shore and no bad reports so far. I visited with a lovely couple from nola. He had a feeding tube and needed some privacy. He was terribly uncomfortable but his face showed a joy for life. The lesson for me. - a smile makes everthing better even in a shelter. Time to make the rounds. BTW tornado by and wind strong. Still under curfew. Not out of Woods yet. Roof groaning. Awespme wonder át the beauty of creation
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Gustav 7

Good Morning. The tenor of the place is decidedly better. Hope is that NOLA may be spared. Hooray. Talk is now about going home. Many tornados. Not over yet.
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Gustav 6

Good news as it goes to the West. We have had squalls but not too bad. I registèred 69 in about 2 hours with òthers doing the same. We have severál families from nola. Two of my parishiòners are here and another working as a volunteer. That makes it môre like family for me. The video meet was good. Thanks helen. I am almost toò tired to think tonight. My práyer is that travel has been safe and folks have been welcomed. One family from NO got a call from her sister in Boston. I found out that sox lost. Oh well. i hear the rain beginning again. It will be a long night. God bless you all. We are resting in Gods love and your práyers. Jane
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