The situation in Baton Rouge is safe and orderly. If any of you have loved ones here, all is relatively well. But we are running low and supplies, the roads are clogged and gas is hard to find. I'm down to 1/16th of a tank in my truck and cannot find a place to refuel.

The folks here have been tremendous, particularly our Episcopal Church leadership, clergy and parishioners. Grace abounds. Stacy and I are staying with a priest friend and his family, offers for shelter keep pouring in, the children have already started at St. Luke's -- where I've also been graciously offered office space.

Yesterday I went down to the Athletic Centre at Louisiana State University where special needs and elderly evacuees are being taken in and cared for. A call went out for chaplains. I was helped to find parking and ushered straight in. When entering the centre I was struck immediately by the order, calm, and countless volunteers -- particularly the college students -- giving aid and comfort. A definite bright spot; grace abounds. The stories were horrific.

Time and again traumatised people, particularly seniors, told of going under water three and four times, certain they wouldn't come up again. I just wanted to cry over and over. They were desperate to talk, share their experiences, and pray with someone. I was reminded of 9.11 as people were passing out flyers, desperate to find missing loved ones.

The media are not allowed in but upon exiting the building a BBC reporter cornered me and asked if people's faith was being tested. I told him it was the exact opposite: everyone with whom I visited talk of God's deliverance and mercy, that He is perfect and merciful. Not sure what today will bring.

We already have 112 students expressing interest in coming to school here at St. Luke's. The office was swamped yesterday with families staggering in, small children looking up at their parents with eyes that said, "what is happening to us?" A number of families are staying in the parish hall, library, etc. 43 very recent moms and their families are coming to us, one who just gave birth to a 1 lb. baby.

The Kramers are fine and being well cared for.

Again, the church community is responding here with compassion and purpose. I still have parishioners stranded around the country, running low on funds. And a number are missing altogether. Phones with 504 area code (New Orleans) are not working for the most part hence it's been impossible to raise people. Occasionally we get a call in and out but it's entirely frustrating.

We are networking by email and text messaging, trying to account for everyone. Our need for sanitary and hygiene supplies is acute.

Many have asked how to help us here. If you go to the St. Luke's website (www.stlukesbr.org) you'll see a "make a donation" button on the home page. This is for hurricane relief funds. Otherwise, St. Luke's Episcopal Church, 8833 Goodwood Blvd, Baton Rouge, LA 70806 (225) 926-5343. We also need places for families and individuals to stay both short and longer term. But again, we have to find them first. Please keep us in your prayers and be assured of ours. Blessings, jerry+ op

--The Rev'd Jerry Kramer Church is the Episcopal priest at the Church of the Annunciation in New Orleans.

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