http://www.letterstokatrinasurvivors.com/ Comment en Barbara
As Katrina approached and tore into your lives, I watched in anguish and prayed for you. I waited with the world to hear that things might not have been as devastating as predicted; but instead I saw the anger and pain in your eyes and in the slumped shoulders. I heard the frustration in your voices. You wanted to lash out at someone, at some Being, at some mindless mass of weather who had somehow chosen your home and surroundings and very lives to alter forever. And I wanted to stand with you and scream a primordial scream that would somehow stop all the insanity; but I couldn't. So I dropped to my knees and prayed and prayed for your emotional, physical and spiritual healing. I prayed for your future and for mine; because, who knows when each of us will experience our own private aftermath of a storm in our lives to rise up from like a phoenix from the ashes? God bless you my fellow man or woman. God loves you and so do I. Put all your hope and trust in Him and He will guide you. I can put a face on the victims now. We have evacuee children in the school where I teach. I see their resilience and I can hope for them and for you that it will all be better soon.]]>September 30, 2005 22:11:26 marsha
i feel really bad for what has happened over there in new orleans.when i first saw the hurricane katrina on tv when it had hit new orleans i cried.i cried along with my mother and sisters.and ever story i hear that comes from new orleans i watch it on tv or i listen to it on the radio.if i had the money to go to new orleans and help all the people that really need help like with clothes,shoes,food,or any kind of baby things that i could give then i would.in fact i send a whole lot my clothes,my mom and dads clothes and even my nieces clothes.i just wish that there was more that i could do.but for now i did my best i know how too.]]>September 30, 2005 20:20:37 Jan
As a survivor of three hurricanes last summer in Daytona beach, I totally understand the emotional rollercoaster you are currently on.

It has been 12 months now and things are really starting to come back together. The bonding of neighbors and others who came to help us during that time has created some wonderful memories and new friendships.

We met people we never would have had the opprotunity to spend time with and for that we are all very grateful. Rebuilding can be seen as a challenge, yet it can also be seen as the beginning for new possiblities.

Please know you are in and will continue to be in our prayers. When the media moves out and you think people have forgotten, know that your neighbors in Florida have not....we are grateful every day for the chance to rebuild, reconnect and live to experience another day.

God bless you!]]>September 30, 2005 18:26:11 Mary
God is waiting for you to come to Him. He loves you and all your loved ones. Trust God and ask of Him anything and He will do it. I'm praying for all of you.]]>September 30, 2005 18:26:07 Tina
My thoughts and prayers are with each of you. I can't imagine what you must be going through. I can only send you my sympathy, prayer and in hopes that you will feel them.They come from my heart! God has a mysterious ways of opening eyes. Everything happens for a reason. Whether it's bad or good... Take it and make it what you want. You know have a new oppurtunity to live life to the fullest. It's all about your attitude... Appreciate for who you have in your lives and cherish them with every ounce of energy you have... Sending my thoughts and prayers your way...

Tina]]>September 30, 2005 17:16:20 Mary
I have held you in my prayers upon hearing the devistation caused by Katrina, and then Rita. I cannot even begin to imagine, the pain and frustration, you have been afflicted with. I PRAY THAT EACH DAY, YOU WILL FIND GREATER STRENGTH , ALLOWING YOU TO MOVE FORWARD AND REBUILD YOUR LIVES. SO MUCH GOOD COMES FROM BAD SITUATIONS, KEEP ASKING FOR GOD TO WALK AT YOUR SIDE. HE WILL NOT ABANDON YOU. I SEND BIG HUGS TO YOU. ]]>September 30, 2005 16:51:31 Sheila
My thoughts and prayers are with you.]]>September 30, 2005 15:39:26 Jana
I feel for all of you in your time of need. I've known loss like this and the struggle to start over, and all I can say is: "You will find your way, one step at a time".
When the hurricane hit, I knew major relief efforts were underway to help people. At the same time, I received an email from the Humane Society of the US asking for support. I have been in animal rescue for 30 or so years, so that's where I put my major support, also sending that email out to over 1000 people, mostly publishers and businesses, who passed it on.
At this point in time, over 7000 animals have been rescued and are waiting for their people to come and claim them.
If you have lost a pet, please contact the HSUS Disaster Center. Go to http://www.hsus.org/ and find out if your pet survived after all. There will also be many animals left after all is said and done. If you decide to adopt a pet, I'd also suggest starting with HSUS.
I know a new pet won't help you replace ones you've lost, but it will give you unconditional love and support at a time when you need it most.
If you've lost a pet or know someone who has, please also go to the HSUS site and sign the petition to Congress called the PETS Act, which will allow for provisions for pets in all local and state evacuation plans. We want to be sure this never happens again.
As you start reconstructing your lives, hope is the one thing you'll need most. Know that people around the world are thinking about you and that the Universe will support you. I was in Germany a couple of weeks ago, and the first thing people asked when they found out I was American was how people were doing in Louisiana. More than their own lives, this was the first thing on their minds. Likewise, my friends in Egpyt also emailed me and participated in supporting the rescue efforts.
I believe that things like this happen in order to make way for even greater things, and I hope you can open to receive it when it arrives. I know how hard this is and how hopeless things may seem, but just believe that you are not alone, and you will be ok. It just takes time. Keep looking forward (and up) and take a step at a time. You are a survivor, and you will rebuild your life, even better than before.
Our thoughts are with you.
Bright Blessings]]>September 30, 2005 15:18:29 Paulette
Watching your stories unfold right before my eyes there was a recognition in my soul of a similiar journey.
The familiarity of "This can't be happening to me", "Why?", "Its not fair", "How am I going to be able to take care of my family?" Feeling the nakedness of my soul with the past erased and an uncertain future.
In moments like these we come face to face with our lives asking - What really matters? Such a moment came in my life while going through a divorce and awful custody battle when I received a phone call at my sister's home in the middle of the night that my home was fully engulfed in flames. In that instant it felt like life would never be the same again.
In the days, weeks and months that followed brokenness and pain were my daily companions. Yet in the midst of it all what stands out to me above everything was God's faithfulness. He never left me. No matter how dim it seemed to be at times, he was there with me through it all. His grace and goodness touched me daily in many precious unexpected ways.
Keep the fire of "Faith and Hope" burning brightly in your heart. "Fear not" for he is with you. My thoughts and prayers are with you. God bless you with many beautiful moments throughout your journey.

In His Love,
]]>September 30, 2005 14:17:19 Khalid
Human sufferings any where is very painful and agonizing. I can imagine your plight and condition when you are without a home, without proper food, totally dislocated and completely uncomfortable. The plight is even more miserable and devastating, when you were in real need! some of you who were a little more blessed to be effected less, plundered you, robed you, made use of the bad time on you and even assaulted women. What a heinous crime, humanity standing on a side was weeping and crying to see what a fellow being should have done! And what did they do?

GOD was kind to them to have given them the peace, the strength, the freedom and no/less suffering. Why because HE wanted them to earn His blessings by doing good turn, by helping your neighbors, your brothers and sisters, your town mates, your suffering mates. GOD gave you the opportunity to help your fellow being, to further strength your bonds, to show your love and kindness to your brothers and sisters and to give them what you always expected from them all your lives.

What did you do? What and how much you could plunder? What could you loot? Did you get satisfaction by doing all this? Did you get that much that you could live the rest of you life without working? Did you get happiness? Did you get peace of mind? Could you remain happy and satisfied the rest of your life? Can you not be ashamed of what you did and you should have done. It is a matter of shame I pity you, you may or may not have been caught, you may have escaped the police, the army, the law enforcing agencies. But can you escape you self and your conscious. Can you look in the mirror? What do you see, an upright man with pride and dignity or a man with shame? What did you earn, why did you do it? God gave a golden opportunity to earn his blessings, his kindness. Show your nobility, your kindness your caring for others. Prove the very purpose of humanity, the very object of your existence the very purpose of your being born.

YOU DEFIED IT, YOU FAILED, YOU FAILED MISERABLY,
You could not prove your worth
I PITTY YOU, I SIMPLY PITTY

And for you my friends, you did suffer, you suffered inconvenience, you suffered hard ship, you suffered some misery. This is the test you have passed it. The time will go as a matter of fact it has already gone. Every dark cloud has a silver lining, you are going to rebuild yourself, rebuild stronger than ever before. You have tasted the agony the plight of suffering; you have learnt the lesson of kindness humanity the lesson of doing the right. Please don’t forget it Pass love and care to others. You have succeeded you are the eventual winners. May the lord Bless You! Bless you with kindness, his favors and be happy. You have suffered and paid for your past, now you are clean as ever. Start you journey afresh with a clean slate. BUT remember what you shall not do YOU shall not repeat! Serve humanity, serve thy fellow beings share your kindness your caring your love your passion. Keep humanity as your top priority; keep it always above your person.

I am with you at this moment. You are not alone we all are with you to give you comfort, to share these times with you, brighten up, keep it up, well done you are the winner, you have to have new energy, new vigor new strength and new wisdom your next horizon is the sky, you have to rise, rise much higher than before. The opportunity is waiting for you. My friends rise. Rise up with a new commitment. Our prayers are with you.
Bless you! Bless you all
]]>September 30, 2005 02:54:19 samuel
Thoughg everything may seem lost, just remember all you have in life is time, from the day you were born to the day you will die. Starting all over again is going to be hard but I know that the lord wil help you make it.Time will heal.]]>September 30, 2005 00:07:01 Jim
i myself ,wife and children are victims of the hurr-
icane in louisiana and have entercountered some over-
whelming problems to which my story would fill up five
pages on the short version.
so what i have to say is that the president lied we
never received not one dime from; fema,sba,and other
programs. we did receive some food stamps and a check
from red cross to which i purchased a generator.But the
real need of money to rebuild our lifes and my small
business that my family depended on so badly has been
destroyed 100% to were I cannot do that kind of work
any longer.I am a man full of pride for my family and
the work I do and i don't like hand out! I rather work
and make the money honestly. I am a contractor and all
my equipment and tools was caughtup in the storm and lost forever, i lack the finances to replace them. So
if any one needs repairs on there home and are close to the Gonzales area call me at 225-622-6569 so I can
support my family. I don't have alot of tools that made
the storm but slowly I guess they will build up one a-
gain. we live at; 18447 MUDDY CREEK RD PRAIRIEVILLE,LA
70769 OR james21akridge4322@yahoo.com I look forward
to your help,thank you Jim Akridge]]>September 29, 2006 04:58:32 Lori
As I have watched the horrific events from these davastating storms I pray for each and every one that is involved......
From the victoms...their familys and loved ones....to the governments foul ups that they get things going right and learn from their mistakes......
We went thru a devastating event in 1995 with a levee break that caused havic and more.....
The whirl wind events that happen after that are mind boggling.....signing up with Red Cross....FEMA...SBA....Getting your "New" Place....
Fighting with Credit Card Companies over payments and insurance that you have purchased with them for events such as the ones we have went thru....even to Bankruptcy....because things did not go as they should with Title Companies not doing their jobs of Title searches for back taxes that you may have forgottern about because of the Cahoas you are and have been going thru.....
But the point is....
God is with you all of the way.....He knows what is going to happen before we ever do and He will get you thru everything....
Give Your Worries to Him.....It will lift the burdens of Stress and Worrie from your shoulders....
Let Him Guide You...Watch for His Little Signs.....
They are all around.....
We made it thru....I'm not saying that it was easy...but with Your Faith In God.....Letting Him lead you is Awesome....
May God be with and Bless Each and Every one Abundantly with all that You may Truely Need.....
God Bless YOU...
Lori]]>September 29, 2005 19:54:35 Marcia
I am humbled by the beautiful letters people are writing to you. I hope there are thousands of you who are gaining strength from the support and love so many are sending your way.

The beauty of this website is how it can connect strangers in a way that breaks down the many barriers that artificially separate us. My heart has been broken by your losses and yet I feel a gentle mending as I hear stories of hope, of loved ones reconnecting, and of the generosity of one human to another.

We all rebuild and redefine ourselves when we go through big changes. I write music about change and one of my songs begins, "There are no magic words that can take away their pain, there are no magic words to explain all the 'whys', I can hold them with love, I can kiss their wet eyes, but I'm not a magician, I can't make it like it was."

No one can wave a magic wand and bring your old life back to you. You will never be the same, or live life the same. However, I hold in my heart, the hope that you will find greater meaning, love and purpose in your life as you go through the slow process of building a new life. You deserve to have a wonderful life and I urge you to believe in yourselves...believe that you are worthy of having a magnificent life.

If you would like, you can listen to my latest song, and even download it for free. The song is "The Magnificent You" and it will encourage you to dream and believe that you can succeed. All you need to do is click on this link or paste it and it will take you straight to the page where you can download the song: http://griefandlosshelp.com/free/gift.html

I wish you the best and send you hugs,
Marcia B.]]>September 29, 2005 18:04:44 Grace
My heart aches when I think of your great loss and you are in my prayers daily. I pray that you will remember that God is with you and as this "door has closed" for you that the one that opens will be even greater. ]]>September 29, 2005 15:41:54 Mary
Our hearts and prayers are with all of you.
Just wanted to let you know, singers & songwriters have rallied to you with our special Katrina Aid cd featuring "America Cries for You"
A heartfelt song and video that is traveling the world via the internet.
All who read this letter can view it and then pass it on.
http://www.LloydMarcus.net/AmericaCries

Over, $2,000 has been raised so far from our town of Deltona Florida.

We want you all to get back on your feet and continue in God's service.

God bless.
]]>September 29, 2005 13:45:50 germain kouassi
que celui qui songe les coeurs sache consoler ses coeurs afligés et abattu.
MERCI]]>September 29, 2005 12:15:30 Elizabeth
Good Morning to you all,
When you read Jeremiah 32:27, it says behold am the Lord, the God of all flesh is there anything too had for me, I just want to encourage you that all is not lost, I will keep on praying for you, God knows best.

When you read Isaiah 43:1-2, you will realy know God deeply loves you.

I wish you all God's blessings and protection.

Thanks.

]]>September 29, 2005 10:05:33 TeAroha Taki
Sending you my prayers, thoughts and feelings at
this time, wherever you are from me and my
family in New Zealand.

Gratitude is one of the most important and
unwavering feelings one must keep in heart
and soul, know and feel that what you have
experienced with Katrina must be for some reason.

Do not worry or fret, if you have lost a loved
one know that they are in a better place now.
Your home and material possessions mean nothing
compared to being alive, you are needed to help
your family and friends they need you too.

Know that you have to be strong and courageous for your living family, all of us in other countries are praying and thinking of you.

We are one family of this Universe, our thoughts
of love and peace in all things, connect through
the Law of Attraction.Know that we send to you
by this unique and universal law, naturally and
easily our prayers and thoughts of love,peace
and friendship across the miles.

Be not afraid,let go of the fear and let God
guide,lead,heal and comfort you,give thanks to all those wonderful people in your country who are giving you shelter and protection, and know that there are
many people around the world praying for you all.

Arohanui (lots of love)
Kia Kaha ( be strong)
]]>September 29, 2005 09:44:51 Sam
Greetings to you all in the name of LORD JESUS.

We are praying for you. May the Lord comfort your heart and mind. May the Lord touch you and heal you. May the Lord bless you abundantly with spiritual and material blessings.

Be close to the LORD. He will care for you.

May the Lord bless you all

Sam Mathew]]>September 29, 2005 07:25:36