MFI Media Support Team - Katrina Devastation              (Sept 6 - 11)

MFI provides a service to the news teams on site at scenes of disaster and crisis.  The MEDIA SUPPORT CENTER is staffed by members who understand the challenges of the media and are trained to encourage and support. 

Pastor Bob and the MEDIA SUPPORT TEAM were in Baton Rouge where they set up a Media Support Center.  As we see the devastation and hear the stories our hearts are breaking and we feel the strong need to be there. 

How does one begin to help when the area is so enormous, the people in need number in the hundreds of thousands and the devastation is so complete?  Our hearts cry for the victims of the storm.

We pray too for the media as we watch the reporters desperately trying to remain objective and searching for words that will convey what they are experiencing to the television audience.  Many of them have tears in their eyes and a break in their voice. 

The mission of the Media Support Team, sponsored by Media Fellowship International, is to assist and encourage the members of the news crews and show them that we care - a cup of coffee, someone to talk to and a friend in the midst of chaos.

#1 Getting Started with the Media Support Center 

Tuesday, September 6, 2005

We started by flying into Jackson, Mississippi - it had the closest hotel room we could find and flights were available.  Mike P drove his motor home down from Pennsylvania and stopped on the way to fill up on supplies including hamburgers, hot dogs, buns, condiments, soft drinks and water.  We have supplies to feed 200 people. 

We had a time of planning, praying, and getting together basic supplies and information.  There is a feeling of anticipation of the unknown.  There is so much to be done and so many obstacles.

We spent the afternoon and evening driving down to Baton Rouge, locating the site and getting set up.  One of the areas of concern is getting a location in proximity to the stand up location for the news teams.  We prayed about it and once again the Lord gave us favor.  We are in the same area as the news people.  We are on the grounds of the Louisiana State Troopers training facility in Baton Rouge.  The first time I pulled up to a crew and was asking directions, a trooper came over and politely asked me to move my vehicle.  I found out I was parked in the Governor's parking place.  I wondered why it was open.  He was very kind and I immediately moved.

We did get a good location for the RV there though - right near the entrance where people must pass by.

  h Sharing the stories of people we met  h

  h I am reminded of the man I met on the plane into Jackson.  He was coming in from the Virgin Islands.  He had four businesses in New Orleans.  I think they dealt in art, jewelry and souvenirs. All four of his locations were lost. He had 120 employees.  He was very concerned for his employees and in how he could help them.  He is hoping to relocate to Miami for the next year and then to once again open up here. Only time will tell.  He is planning on keeping his employees on payroll for the present and offer to help those who are willing to relocate to Miami.  h  

  h  One of the couples I met was from Meterrie. When I asked them how they were she replied; we are blessed.  We and our two children are safe.  Then I asked them if they had lost anything: They had lost everything.  They had gone up to Ashville, North Carolina to find a place to stay for now at least.  They had borrowed a small pickup to go back down to pick up what they could from their house. They said that even though they had only about two feet of water in their house--the salt water was ruining everything.  The walls act like a wick in a gas lamp and by now the entire inside of the house would have to be gutted. With the combination of the heat and the humidity they said fungus was growing on everything.  She could hardly talk without breaking down.   h

It is a strange thing to have patrolmen and National Guard personnel standing around in the gas lines watching over the situation because of the danger.  You realize this is not a normal situation.  It permeates every part of their lives and of the community.

Pastor Bob

#2 Located in Baton Rouge

Wednesday, September 7, 2005

For devotions this morning I read in Philippians.  The verse that touched my heart was 3:14.  ---"one thing I do;  forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward Call of God".  I realize how important it is for us each day to thank the Lord for the day before and to begin anew each morning. 

That is also borne out to me in the people I meet.  Almost all have lost most everything or everything in the storm.  Yet when I meet them and ask how they are their response is:  "I am blessed".  Then when I go on I find out that some have no idea of where they will live; they have lost their jobs and in one situation the woman said, “I have five family members that I do not have any idea of where they are. I do not know if they are dead or alive. 

  h A lady sitting at the hotel this morning was sitting with glazed over eyes and found it difficult to speak.  As I talked to her she began in halting speech to explain that they had three family members missing; that she was a widow and had her two single daughters with her. Both were divorced and had children.  She was bewildered.  She talked about everything being lost; of sitting in a hotel not knowing what would happen that day; of where or how they would live.  My heart was so touched by her that I could hardly speak.  I asked if I could pray for her. She said please do.  So we prayed.  As I began to pray she began to cry and the hurt and anguish began to come out of her.  After prayer she stood up to hug me:  upon first touch she reached out and clung to me. She just sobbed. I felt like she was hanging on for dear life. I had heard that expression before, but never experienced it in a more real way.   h

I had more copies made announcing the Media Support location and purpose, picked up Bob Y, who had flown in from Los Angeles, and Bob and I left for Baton Rouge.

As we moved toward the freeway there were convoys of National Guard troops and of semi-trucks all heading South. Only in the last two days have the troops really moved in to the area.  

When we got to the location of the motor home we found that Mike had set everything up.  He had the grill out, had arranged the soft drinks and the water and was set up for people to come.

Bob Y and I got out our sign to tell people who we are and what we are doing.  Our sign was not even up yet when a man came rushing over: Who are you and what are you here for?  His first name was Rolf and he is a stringer for NBC television. He could not believe that someone would come to do this for them.  He immediately went back to his crew to tell them and then went into the press room where all news conferences are held to ask them to put up a flyer for us.

The MP (National Guard) sitting in the entry to the State Patrol offices looked our brochure over and was so pleased he took it in to post it on the bulletin board so all could see it. He said, "You have no idea how this will help.  Many of these folks are sleeping in their cars and almost none have food available to them.  Thank you for coming."

Later I called an executive with a news network and told him of what we are doing.  I have known him for over 15 years.  He thanked me for being there.  We have had calls from people at ABC, NBC and FOX about our being here. 

On the way to Jackson I received a phone call from our office.  She told me of a call from one of our leaders in Nashville.  He is on the Board of AFTRA for that region. At their meeting today they were discussing Katrina and he told them about what MFI is doing. They responded by saying that if MFI is helping their people (news people) then they needed to help MFI. They called our office to get a description of who we are and what we are doing, and said that they will immediately send out a letter asking their members to send support to us to help the media people covering this.  I do not know what the response will be, but I know that my heart is filled with thanksgiving.  We have never received such open hearted offers of help in the past. 

Please continue to pray for us.

Pastor Bob

#3  Baton Rouge Encounters

Thursday, Sept. 8, 2005

This morning for devotions I read from Colossians.  The verse that touched me is Col. 1:3 Here Paul writes about how thankful he is for them and their love for the saints.  I am thankful for His love for us and for your love and support to make this possible. Never have we sensed so many people pray for us.

I am also thankful for the way the Christians are responding to this need.  I have met many people coming to the area. It seems that a disproportionate number are believers.  Also in the people here the response to the Lord is overwhelming.

  h This morning at breakfast I sat with Tommie from Biloxi.  He lost his house and three cars.  As we were visiting he mentioned several times how thankful he was--he said “I lost my possessions, but my family is safe, thank the Lord."  He talked about how difficult it was for them until he was able to get out. In the beginning while the water was there he was concerned for the snakes and the alligators and later for the disease in the water.  He believes that the water is now gone from his place, but there will be snakes and alligators. Until this conversation I had not thought about the danger of snakes and alligators.   h

I am so thankful for the opportunity to be here and to listen and to pray for people.

We had to leave Bob to tend the RV and to meet the people as I drove Mike back to Jackson.  He caught a plane out this evening.

Here are the three most striking situations (people)  that I spoke to today.

  h A lady who is a news reporter for a news network has spent most of her time reporting from a shelter in Baton Rouge.  She spoke of the grief and the heartbreaking stories that the children and the families had to tell.  She did say that while it was very difficult for her, she also saw hope in the eyes and in the conversations with the children. 

She told of the difficult day she has had today.  Today for the first time she was taken in with a news crew to the areas of devastation.  She saw first hand the toxic water, smelled the stench of the area and saw dead bodies awaiting pickup.  This has been very difficult for her.  She was physically drained and emotionally affected.  I have known her for several years.  She talked about God's timing and how good it was that today was the day we would see each other on this location. I had the opportunity to pray for her and for several others at her network.  h

  h As a result of this first visit I also met a producer with another network.  She is a stringer--someone who is not a full time employee of the network. She needed to talk.  She spoke of what she had seen and what she had been through.  First, she mentioned that she had been in another city on assignment when she was called here and she did not get here until Monday or Tuesday.  On her way here she stopped off near Mobile where her grandfather had two homes on the coast. She said that both homes were over 100 years old and had historical significance. They have not yet been able to go to this area to see if anything is left.  She spoke of the stress for her and her family.

Then she talked about being on location at several of the most difficult areas with standing water, the stench and the dead.  She talked of one nursing home where the people had been left in their beds to drown.

But, most difficult for her was that today she was at the convention center and they were contacted by an individual there who said he had pictures of bodies that had been dismembered.  She said that she saw the pictures and was involved in arranging for the story to break the story.  She was in anguish over what she saw and what she heard.

 I asked her if I could pray for her.  She said, please. We stood in the walkway on the grass with people going by on both sides.  As we prayed she was given a peace that seemed to change her presence.  Afterwards she thanked me and asked if we would be here tomorrow.  She would like to stop by.  She is not of a Christian background, but is very open and most appreciative.   h

The hearts of the news people here are devastated as we have never seen before.

  h This evening I received a call from a man on another news network.  I have known Dan for quite a few years and he has been active in one of our local MFI groups.  He is staying in a tent at the airport in New Orleans. 

He has been in news for years.  He very openly said this was the largest, and the hardest story he has ever covered.  One of his comments was, "I see no end to this story".  In most disasters they talk about the legs of the story. i.e., how long will it warrant national coverage on a daily basis.  As he talked about this, he said some of these stories could be going for five years.

Today they found and talked to a man who needed to get to his property to check on something so they took him in by boat.  He said the stench is something he will never forget. As they were going down one street they went by a gas station.  There was a man's body sitting up against the gas pump.  As they studied the situation they concluded that he probably was shot by looters as he tried to stop them.  He was left there and is there today.

He has talked to many in different situations.  One of the most overwhelming conversations he had was with a Chaplain who was in the Convention Center from the beginning.  He said that he had seen and heard things that were so gruesome and so large in scope that he could never describe them to others.  He believes there were hundreds raped; being beaten was very common and being robbed was so common it almost didn't matter.  The Chaplain said there were so few security people that they did not dare to do anything when a rape was reported.  I understand that he had reported a rape to a guard and was told that at this time they were so concerned just to save lives, that they did not have the time to follow up on his report.

He said that it was like a band of marauders at large.  They had almost no security watching as people went in so they brought their weapons with them. The Chaplain said that he has already arranged for counseling for when he gets back home.   h

Several have mentioned the differences between here and 9/11.  9/11 was confined to one specific area.  The initial attack took place and was over quickly.  Even though we had the shock and there were a large number who died the Katrina Hurricane has the magnification of covering a very large area – over 90,000 square miles, I read. In some areas there is nothing left. Whatever was there is leveled. 

I think also that on 9/11 we knew our enemy was foreign.   In the beginning Katrina was a natural disaster, but, as the story unfolds there are multiple facets that seem to become clear.  There was the original damage of property and deaths; in time the growing realization of the number of displaced  people  (the first time in our history that a major city has been evacuated)  the long term effects on the rebuilding of the community; the growing number of deaths and the growing obvious failure of those in authority to make the correct decisions.

There was the violence of the people looting, raping and killing; and the leaving of those who were infirm to die in their place;  having people who were rescued from their homes taken to the waters edge and then having no one to rescue them.  Many died after being evacuated from their property.

I talked to several news people to get a sense of how long we need to be here, but even that becomes harder to discern.  In the past we have stayed until the crisis seems to have a sense of direction, and the news people are able to get a better handle on the situation and on themselves.  Today, I am wondering how long that will take here.  It is as if the anguish and the hurt is growing, not diminishing.

Please pray for the men and women on the news teams. Pray for us that we may be effective in reaching out to them. Pray for volunteers and for finances. Tomorrow, I will go out with another man to visit some of these other sites. We will then have to make a determination of what our abilities are.

Pastor Bob 

#4  In New Orleans 

Friday, September 9, 2005

My theme for today is Phil. 3:14.   Paul wrote to the Colossians regarding his thankfulness for them and his challenge to them to live faithfully for the Lord.  This is a good reminder to us; especially as we struggle with the hard times in life.

Bob Y and I spent the day in New Orleans.  It is hard to get over the impact of the immense area devastated by Katrina. We spent a couple of hours looking around the communities on the South side.  Most of these streets are a part of the poor section in town. We came across places time after time with brush from the trees strewing the area and street after street had fallen electric wires.  In a number of locations we came across soldiers in jeeps or trucks that were patrolling the area.  In some few situations there were a small number of soldiers in front of a home either to ask someone to leave or to search areas not before searched.  There were ten man patrols patrolling the city which is under curfew from Dusk until Dawn.  You not only have to have a credential to get into the city, you have to have one to leave. 

Canal Street was lined with motor homes for the media, media trucks, Homeland Security; the FBI;  the US Marshals and many more units.  There were fire department members from a large number cities active in the searches and in the safety precautions being followed.

We met media people from around the world. We had a good visit with the people from a company in Germany and saw crews from Europe, Japan and Canada. The man from Toronto was weary and looking forward to going home.  He had been here for about two weeks and was worn out mentally, emotionally and physically.

We visited with a man for a national radio network who was a believer.  He had a wonderful sense of God's presence and was thankful to be able to be here.  He is in the process of opening a Christian television station. He said that if it had not been for his praying pastor and his praying wife he could not have made it through.  He was so pleased to visit with other believers.

We stopped by the truck of a station from Las Vegas.  We know one of the evening anchors and found out that he will be in town tomorrow. We look forward to seeing him as he called two days ago to say he would be here and asked us to stop by.

We saw another man from a national news network and had the opportunity to spend time with him.  We often pray together, but today he was on a story with deadline. There was also a full contingent of news tem members around him. But, we are thankful to have been with him and to bring encouragement.

Today the Secretary for Indian Affairs for the state of Louisiana stop by our Media Support Center RV.  She would like to bring someone else to see us on Monday.  We had a call from a reporter from the Seattle Times who asked about MFI and what we are doing and why.  She said she would propose a story to her editor and if it was accepted she will be back next week.

We are seeing more interest in and support for this outreach of MFI than ever before.  We recognize the needs of media people on assignment and the stress inherent in their work.. We feel an obligation to be there and to be available. 

One of the questions asked by the reporter today was: “Do you see this as a place to evangelize?”  I answered her that we see this as an opportunity to express concern and to build friendships. If someone has a need and desires prayer we will do that.  If someone asks questions we will do what we can to answer them; but our purpose is simply to share the Lord's love in action.

Please pray for us.

Pastor Bob

#5 At the Airport  in Baton Rouge

 Saturday, September 10, 2005

Today was most interesting. This morning I had time for devotions and to visit with the two men, Bob and Ron, who are with me.

Ron and I went to the airport to meet two other volunteers who were coming in from Los Angeles to help at the Media Support Center. Their plane had been delayed due to mechanical problems so we had to wait.  While we visited we had several people stop by to ask questions.  One man was from Gothenberg, Sweden.  Everyone we spoke to took a brochure explaining who we are and what we are doing here. 

The realization hit me that yesterday, when I was talking about the stench at some of the areas in New Orleans, I did not realize it then, but each of those areas was yet to be examined for bodies.  Most of the traveling we did there was in an area as yet not cleared of those living there; of the sharpshooters or the bodies.  That is quite a realization that the Lord took us in and out of those situations in such peace and safety.

  h While we waited we had coffee in a small coffee shop in the baggage area.  I noticed a young man who seemed to be distracted.  I went over and said good morning.  In visiting with him I found that he was just returning from three days off.  He had been gone to see his wife who had gone to be with family to get away from the damage to their home and to allow him time to work.

He is a police officer in New Orleans.  As we visited it was obvious that his heart was nearly broken. He was downtown when the hurricane came in and was one of the officers called out to quell the looting on Canal Street.  He was also one of the men called in to stop the looting and crime in the Convention center.

He spoke of the difficulty when Kristina came in: they had no power, they had no phones, all of them were concerned about their own homes. They had no communication with other stations.  They had no radio, no TV and were pretty much isolated from everyone else.  They were doing what they were told by their superiors without any outside knowledge.

He talked about watching these people pull their pickups or SUV's up on the median and leaving them there while going in to the stores and bringing out bags full of items.  He said you can hardly believe that people can act that way.

He talked about the impossible conditions at the Convention Center.  Inside at night it was completely black.  The looters would be doing pretty much what they pleased. They would attack or fire on whomever they pleased; they especially targeted the police.  He said that even though the police were being fired upon, they could do nothing in retaliation because of the darkness and their concern about hitting innocent bystanders.

He was very open about these things and wanted to talk more in depth; but as we became close to the topics at hand his eyes would well up and he would come to the verge of tears.  I had to be careful not to push him over that edge.  He gave me his phone number and asked that I keep in touch.  I will call him.  Please pray for me for wisdom while talking to him.  Under the cover of darkness evil prevailed.  I’ve heard many ask, “Why didn’t the police do something?”  After sitting with this young police officer today, I began to understand the total helplessness they must have felt.    h

 We collected our two volunteers, Arolyn and Kristine, and headed back to the Center.  We spent some time going over the guidelines and training materials and preparing them for working in the Center and for going out on the streets to meet the people covering this story. It was a wonderful time of sharing and preparation and I am thankful the Lord has again provided such good help for us.

Yesterday I was interviewed for an article in the Seattle Times. Today we gave permission for an article in Assist News (an internet publication) which goes to about 3000 individuals and Christian organizations.  I have had inquiries from two other national outlets also.  We are praying that if the Lord would have these done, that He will reveal it by their interest and decision.

I continue to receive phone calls from newsmen who are either presently covering the story or are on the way to this area and want to meet.  We are praying about how long the Support Center outreach should continue here in Baton Rouge. 

Please pray for us for wisdom in the use of time; for discernment as to the hearts of those with whom we visit; for wisdom in planning; and for funding to carry on with this.  Pray with compassion for the thousands who are grieving.

I am so thankful for you and your prayers.
In Him,

Pastor Bob

#6   Remembering 9/11

Sunday, September 11, 2005

This morning we listened to everyone talk about the comparison between 9/11/2001 and the hurricane. 

Although both were disasters that affected thousands in some ways there is not a way to compare them.   2001 was an attack by a foreign enemy, planned for years, while effective, no where near what they had planned; this is a natural disaster complicated by human error. 

The first was contained to 16 to 20 square miles - a few blocks in the center of NYC; the second devastated four states and more than 70 miles along the southern coast of our country. I do not know the numbers, but one broadcaster mentioned 90,000 square miles of devastation.

One hit in the arena of the wealthy of our country and the other hit in the bastion of poverty.  One we doled out millions to individuals who for the most part already were well to do; and this one that affects over 100,000 people at the poverty level.  While many have been critical of those not leaving the area, time and time again I was told: "I would have left, but I had no transportation (no gas or no money to eat out).  The buses were not adequate for those wanting to leave.

One tells the story of death, suffering and trauma in the city; met by unbelievable heroism, fast action and an outpouring of support.  The other also tells of death and trauma of the people, but met by confusion, delay and inaction.  Rather than being known for heroism, it is marked more by scenes of the cruelty of their fellow man.  The hardest thing to fathom was the hurt caused by the looters and snipers and gangs who were raping, pillaging and destroying at random.

In those first days some of the most heroic were the reporters and news crews who stayed on location in spite of unbelievable hardships and danger. We learned about the terror through their eyes and their emotion filled voices and empathized with their feelings of helplessness. 

-----------------------------------------------------

HOW LONG WILL IT TAKE TO BECOME NORMAL?

This morning I had coffee with a man about 60 years of age who lived east of New Orleans.  Our conversation shows the complexity of what they are facing. He said they were so fortunate because he and his wife were able to get out ahead of the hurricane. Thankfully they lost no one in their family.  He spoke first with hope about rebuilding and getting back to normal, but the enormous task ahead of them was discouraging and frustrating.

He spoke about how their lives would be changed. He didn’t know if any of their neighbors would come back.  He did not know for sure where they would go or what they would do during the rebuilding.  The overwhelming decisions and actions that face him are just beginning to become real. 

He talked about going back home and how they would have to gut the house and leave it for at least six months to dry out.  They will have to redo everything in the house and around it and that could take another six months. 

I asked him where they would live during that yea and he thought either in an apartment or a trailer. 

How do you find 100,000 places for people to live in a short time?  There were almost 500,000 people who had to leave because of the storm.  No one knows yet how many will have homes that they can go back into in the near future.  Their lives have been turned upside down and most will never be the same. 

May our hearts remain tender and benevolent towards them in their prolonged need.

Pastor Bob

  h Sharing the stories of people we met  h