As most of you know, I was in Louisiana helping with the recovery in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. I left Virginia Beach on Monday the 10th of October and arrived in Slidell on the 11th. The trip was uneventful until I crossed the Mississippi border. The first signs of Katrina was an occasional tree blown down or a highway sign blown off its mounting poles. The further into the state I traveled the greater the destruction, huge numbers of trees destroyed and highway signs not just blown off the existing pole, but the pole snapped in two.
I thought I knew what I was getting into in light of the fact that I helped with the recovery in NYC after 9/11, but there is no comparison. The destruction of the World Trade Center brought devastation to a big chunk of Manhattan and temporarily paralyzed the rest of the city, but within a couple of weeks they were up and running again. Mass transit, hotels, restaurants, and electricity were all operational, not to mention city government. Katrina didn’t wipe out just a portion of a city, or even one city, she destroyed an entire region of our county. Some communities literally had every building, private, business or municipal, destroyed; there is no functioning government. The devastation and chaos cannot be verbalized. So much loss, so much suffering, so much despair, so much need for renewed hope, safety, love, security, and spiritual revival
Before leaving one of my supporters called me with an unexpected request. It seems that they had called the Red Cross twice within a two-week span to give a thousand dollar donation charged to their credit card. Both times their card was refused even though they have a huge credit line and they pay it off in its entirety every month. To make a long story short, they gave the donation to me along with the request that I use to bless a worthwhile individual or ministry.
I immediately knew whom I was to give it to. A member of my church had a brother in Waveland, Mississippi, who pastored the Assembly of God there. Both his church and home had been destroyed, he had contacts that would have enabled him to relocate with his family elsewhere in our country, but he felt God had called him to stay in Waveland and minister in the midst of the devastation. He and his family were literally living in tents. It is such a blessing to be a deliverer of God’s blessings to others in need!
I arrive at Slidell and locate Operation Blessing’s (OB) base of operations. They have graciously allowed me to work in cooperation with them, yet they allow me to reach out into the community as I feel led by the Spirit. It’s too late in the afternoon to get involved in any ministry so I have to be content to introduce myself to the staff and get settled in.
The next morning I headed for New Orleans. I was puzzled as to why I had a knot in my stomach and why I felt overwhelmed with oppression. Suddenly I remember that New Orleans is the one of the greatest centers of occult activity in our country. I began to pray in the Spirit and within ten minutes the oppression had lifted.
I’m here as a civilian, however I am wearing a pull over shirt with Police Chaplain logo on it and a clerical color. Since this particular shirt is not officially designated as part of our uniform attire, it’s considered to be civilian attire, therefore I am free to wear it in whatever setting I deem appropriate. It proves to be a ministry magnate. Wherever I go on the streets of New Orleans people approach me asking for prayer.
A human-interest story leaped out at me as I observed a hand written flyer posted on one of the building. I must admit that it tugged at my heartstrings:
LOST Oct 9
Female Calico Cat
Last Seen E.H. Holmes Apts. 810 Bienville
Tues. Oct. 4th
Please Call:
289- _____
Survived 2 Hurricane’s Only To Get Lost Now . . .
I can only guess at how much this individual has lost between Katrina and Rita, yet through it all they managed to keep their beloved pet safe. I prayed for a happy reunion.
My trip back to Slidell was somber as I endeavored to digest all that I had seen. OB (Operation Blessing) holds a meeting every evening for those who are at their site and they plan out the next day’s activities. I initially envisioned most of my time being utilized in community outreach, especially to public safety in Slidell and New Orleans, however I discovered that it was far more fruitful to spend most of my time ministering in cooperation with OB. They asked me to man the intake table the next day where the request for help are documented and processed. Is this what I came to Louisiana for, to be a paper pusher? I remember the words of Jesus, “To be the greatest, you must be the least, the servant of all!” If that’s what the Lord wants it’s okay with me, I’ll be His paper pusher. Little did I know the ministry opportunities that would flow from this position.
Since I was to spend so much of my time working with Operation Blessing, I feel compelled to share with you the scope of their ministry. There are three main ministry outreaches that they have to the community: 1.) Temporary roof repairs to prevent further damage in the event of rain. The entails repair to damaged rafters and trusses plus installing blue tarps over the leaky portions of the roof. 2.) Gutting out the interiors of homes that have been flooded. The requires the removal of all furniture and appliances, stripping off the drywall on the floors that have been flooded and removing the insulation, and 3.) Removing fallen trees and any damaged trees that are in danger of falling. Applicants come in and fill out the paper work that specifies what work they need done. Christian contractors from around the country have come to offer their services for these tasks at no charge.
As I manned the desk for the first time I remember a time over twenty (20) years ago when my family did not have health insurance. We had incurred a hospital bill and I had to go to the Social Services Department of the hospital to try to obtain help with it. The man processing my request didn’t even look up as I entered his office; he just waved at a chair and curtly told me to take a seat. A feeling of failure and shame flooded over me, instead of taking the designated seat I planted myself in front of his desk and waited for him to look up at me. When his eyes met mine I extended my hand for a handshake. As he shook my hand I introduced myself and then took a seat. I was determined to do everything in my power to ensure that I did not convey a demeaning attitude to anyone God brought to me for assistance.
The histories of those coming to us for help were varied. Some had needed a helping hand all of their lives, some in spot situations, some had never had to ask another person for help. The latter group especially found it very humiliating to have to request from anyone, especially if they were advanced in years. Knowing this, I made it a point to leap up from behind the desk and warmly great them as they walked in. I would also walk them to the door as they left and thank them for allowing us to be a source of God’s blessings in their lives. The spirit of gloom that many seemed to come in with was considerably lighter when they left. Other’s working the desk saw the impact it had on those who came to us for help, and began to do it as well. Such a small gesture, but so important to those we ministered to.
Testimonies of lost, suffering and need poured out as we accessed the needs of those that came to us for help. One woman worked as a 911 dispatcher in New Orleans, she had been trapped for three days by the flood waters of Katrina. When the waters receded and she was able to report back to work, the city didn’t need her on the 911 switchboard, the phone lines were still down, so they assigned her to duty on the streets assisting wherever she could with the city’s emergency personal. It was obvious to me that she was suffering from Post Traumatic Stress from all the horror she had witnessed. She was a woman of faith, but she had reached her breaking point. Knowing that Jesus identified the source of all comfort when He said, “I send the Holy Spirit, the Comforter." I laid hands on her and prayed for the comfort of the Holy Spirit to strengthen and sustain her. I could feel the warmth of God’s anointing flowing into her as optimism and hope replaced the pessimism and despair in her heart.
We were to witnessed the full range of emotions and faith, everything from a quiet resolve that God would see them through, to those who were literally still in shock, to those consumed with despair and even suicidal thoughts. We laughed with some, we cried with some, and with some we ministered God’s gift of salvation.
I have so many testimonies I could share, but time and space constraints prevent me from sharing in detail all that went on. I want to close by thanking everyone who partnered with me, both spiritually and financially. This trip would not have been possible without your support. I can only pray that God will pour out His richest blessings upon you all the days of your lives.
Serving & Protecting,
Joe Paluszak
Posted on
Tue, October 25, 2011
by Hugh Morgan