RSSComing Home
Lynn Betancourt and her three children were among thousands forced to evacuate New Orleans in the aftermath of Katrina. The family resettled in Marietta, GA, but in the spring of 2007, Lynn believed it was the right time to return to New Orleans and reunite with family she had left behind. She placed her family’s belongings in a storage unit in Marietta, as she was not sure where they would live in New Orleans.
Fortunately, Lynn found a job and a place to live shortly after arriving in back in New Orleans. But with a brand new job, she could not take time off to go to Marietta and retrieve her family’s possessions, nor could she afford a moving service. Lynn brought her situation to a case manager at the Diocese of Louisiana’s Office of Disaster Response, a program supported by Episcopal Relief & Development, who was hopeful they could solve the problem quickly.
The case manager found a website for St. Catherine’s Episcopal Church in Marietta, and called the rector to inquire whether anyone would be able to help pack up Lynn’s belongings and load them on a bus. The rector’s quick and compassionate response was just the thing Lynn needed to hear: “How about we just load up her things and bring them to her?” he said. The church had a group of volunteers scheduled to go to Mississippi for a work trip later that month, and they were happy to make a side trip to New Orleans. They even offered to help with most of the expenses.
A few weeks later, a truck pulled up outside Lynn’s home and volunteers helped her unpack. Afterward, the group shared refreshments and fellowship on the front porch. This wonderful picture of hope restored ended with a heartfelt prayer for God’s blessing upon Lynn’s home and her family.
