A Day in a Shelter

Let me preface this article by explaining some of the realities of shelter living. Please understand that I have a great deal of compassion for all of these victims. It hurts my heart to see people suffering and while I wish it on no one, I also recognize that if it weren't for sin we'd all still be in the garden and there would be no hurricanes. There are many things to consider about the refugees from New Orleans. First, many of these people are very poor and live in conditions of which we couldn't dream. Secondly, many live a lifestyle full of violence, drugs and alcohol. Think of suddenly taking thousands of people who are used to drinking or taking drugs to escape their life and putting them all in a small space after removing their crutches. Add to the mixture the despondancy of losing everything. This is a recipe for any number of problems. Additionally, imagine that you are a Christian and have to live in close quarters with a group of people whose lives are as different from yours as East is from West. As you read what happens in their day keep all of these thoughts in the back of your mind and contemplate how you would feel in their situations.

7am-- People are beginning to stir. You make your way to the bathroom along with everyone else, getting dressed in the small stall. There are only 5 stalls in the restroom with about 25 women to share them. There are only 3 sinks and one large mirror for you all to share and little space as you all are trying to get ready together(lest you remember days like this at camp with fond memories, imagine that this could be your morning for months). You then go and straighten up your cot or air matress on the floor.

Breakfast--You have a choice of cereals or doughnuts, milk, juice, etc. You sit around the table with a few of your family members who happened to get out with you and many strangers you know nothing about. In your mind you wonder what they were like before this tragedy occured. Where they drug dealers, thieves, rapists? There are some who are quite kind and friendly, but there are those who make you wonder, that you wouldn't want to be alone with. Uncertainty is always in the back of your mind.

Mid-morning--You wait your turn to ride in the bus to the local rec center to have your turn taking a shower, then ride to the relief center to get a few pieces of clothes to wear. Many of these people are hard working, so taking charity is difficult for them, and the feeling of hopelessness, not knowing when they will be able to provide for thier families again.

After you return to the shelter, there is nothing to do but sit around and wait for the next thing, which is lunch. The children are beginning to get stir crazy, and the level of noise is hard to explain. There's no place to be alone, to have quiet, or to think. Going outside is unbearable, as the temperature is still soaring into the mid 90's.

Lunch arrives--You are thankful for the food and those who brought it, but in your mind you remember those who don't have much food, if any, and those who are still sitting on rooftops awaiting rescue.

After lunch, there is not much to do but sit around or lie on your cot. There's a t.v. blaring in the other room, but nothing is on it that you want to see. So you sit or lie on your cot contemplating your life past and present. You remember all that you have seen over the last week and wonder about what your future holds.

Dinner time finally arrives and you eat the meal, thankful, but wishing you could have some of your favorites. It begins to sink in that you really have few choices right now, and that most things are dictated to you by your circumstances.

After dinner--there are still a few hours to burn before getting ready for bed. Your early evening is spent much like your afternoon. There are several who have babies under 1, who spend most of their time holding the baby, and those with children who have been trying to fight off their children's boredom and keep them out of trouble.

Time to start getting ready for bed. Back the bathroom to change in the stalls. You had a hard time finding something to sleep in. You probably are sleeping the the jeans you wore all day because you don't really have anything else.

When you finally lay down, you hear all the noise of people trying to settle the children who are disoriented and want their own rooms and beds. You hear the muffled crying of people as they begin to think of the incomprehensible things that have happened. They remember where they were a week ago, and how they never could have conceived of the drastic change their lives would take. You think about family members whom you haven't heard from. Still in the back of your mind is that lingering feeling of uncertainty, "Who are these people sleeping here?" You know nothing of the men sleeping in the bed across from yours. You try to sleep as best you can.

The sun rises and you begin again, wondering, "How long will this go on? How long until I feel secure again?"

This gives you an idea of some of the thoughts and feelings of a person living in a shelter. The shelter we have been working in is very nice. All of their physical needs are being met. For the most part, people are extremely appreciative for the help they are receiving. But as time goes on things will change. It is extremely difficult to keep a large number of people together under these conditions without some problems, some of them big ones. Consider this, if your neighbor had a child who behaved in such a way that you didn't want your child around them, you would have your child stay in your home or yard away from them. Now imagine that this child is sharing your house with you. Not someone of your choosing, just someone who was randomly put into your house. If you combine the emotions of losing everything with the stress of living under these conditions, you have a very difficult situation to deal with.

The refugees need prayers on so many different issues. I can't fathom them all. This is going to have far reaching implications throughout our land. My prayer is for people to see their sin and turn to God in repentance. Yesterday there was a woman at the Superdome who said, "When I get out of here, I am going to change my ways! I've been in hell, and I don't ever want to be there again!" Without realizing it, this woman was speaking of repentance, an important part of the salvation process. I pray the Lord will use this to humble the hearts of many. James 4:6 tells us that, "God resists the proud heart, but gives grace to the humble." It may take something like this to make people see that they don't control their lives, but God does. Nothing happens that is a surprise to Him. If you are reading this and you haven't realized that you have sinned before God and are storing up wrath, read this and you can assess yourself.
Lora on 09.03.05 @ 11:50 PM