Ok, a stretch, but it worked. We then went down to the City permit office and secured permanent workers' passes enabling us to roam freely throughout. There were many perplexed looks as to why a plumbing outfit needed a chaplain but it's still New Orleans. The Central Business District (downtown) looked like a war zone and smelled like a sewer. Quite honestly it was emotionally harder to see the church without the 6' water in it.

Toxic smelly mold mold everywhere. We were covered in burnt orange and bright green smears after rescuing the final vestments, books and sentimental items from the 161 year old parish. The stench was awful and the record 97' degree heat (hotter inside) not helping matters. Almost immediately I started itching and got a head/stomach ache. It burned our chests to breathe in.

Our hope now is to retrieve and restore the main altar, stained glass and a few other items from the original church so these can be incorporated into the new building down the road. Folks are so sad that their beloved church is likely a total casualty of the storm. We have members in their 80's attending Annunciation since their youth. Chaplains doing morgue duty with the 82nd Airborne dropped by to check on us.

They're assisting with the body recovery effort. Praise God some people are still being found alive, holed up in their hot smelly homes. I then drove by our house and couldn't even stand to look at the first floor where most everything we owned -- including all of our belongings from Africa, clothes, furniture, photos of the children as babies, birthday parties, holidays, etc. is now destroyed. Rescued some items upstairs. After finally getting to sleep last night I had my first nightmare; the ground shook terribly and an enormous storm surge rolled in.

We then drove through the Lakeview Area on the way out, home to St. Paul's Church, very much in the same shape we find ourselves. The former security officer (company gone) wanted to see his dad in Metairie in the next neighbourhood over. His apartment's roof is gone, all of his clothes and other belongings ruined by the water that stood within for weeks. And he was denied any FEMA aid, told the damage was not severe enough.

The Red Cross has apparently done great work in other parts of the country to where our evacuees fled, but here they've been non-existent. No idea where they are or what they're doing in the direct damage zone. Yesterday on the radio they were telling folks here just to give up trying to contact them and look for other help. So many balls have been dropped.

I cannot adequately describe what we saw driving through the area, using trails cut by the military (who've been tremendous throughout). Heartbreaking. A layer of brown film enveloped the rubble and trashed houses. You have to touch, smell and taste it.

Even before the massive demolition takes place, there are 22 million tons of debris and 350,000 cars to remove. Word today is that 200,000 homes in the area will have to be razed. 150,000 people will never return.

But we are a people of hope and look forward to the new vision God is opening up for us. Church of the Annunciation very much intends to be up and running as quickly as possible, in some capacity, participating in the healing of our City.

Pray with us that we take advantage of this opportunity to build a better New Orleans. This past Easter Sunday I had to change an elderly handicapped man's catheter in between Services because he couldn't find any medical care. Please pray for the following parishioners from whom we have had no word since before the storm: Jane, Elizabeth, Louise, Chris his wife and baby, Trebor, Neil, Dorsee, Mark, Shirley, Cliffie, Doug, Ann and Edith.

Prayers appreciated for Stacy and the kids as they're having a tough time right now. We are most grateful for all of your love, care, prayers and support. Be assured of our prayers. May all we do together be for God's greater glory.

Blessings,

jerry+ op

--The Rev'd Jerry Kramer is rector of the Church of the Annunciation in New Orleans