Monday, September 1, 2008 Greetings from Baton Rouge where Louise and I have taken refuge from the wind and water of Hurricane Gustav. The many prayers and messages of support are appreciated. All of our staff and volunteers have left the city of New Orleans. We expect to open our office at St. James Church as soon as we can safely move about. The wind and rain here in Baton Rouge are bad and predicted to get worse.

St. James, St. Luke's and St. Alban's Chapel are all either hosting evacuees or are prepared to do so and take up emergency ministry. You may remember that St. Luke's is adjacent to Woman's Hospital, Baton Rouge, and acts as an overflow site for the hospital. Sharkoor and Coutrney have taken a van load of youngsters, who live without parents, to Atlanta or Birmingham.

Louise and I were awake and moving about at 4.00 a.m. on Sunday when a computerized call came to our house in Slidell ordering us to leave. Sunday was a long day, emotionally and physically exhausting. We loaded up what personal things we could, stacked furniture, and closed up the house. We were on the road by 8.30 a.m. but so was everyone else in south Louisiana. I felt physically ill by the time we made it to Baton Rouge.

The emotional and physical reaction I experience in my heart and body is more than a bit surprising. I know that I am not alone in this experience. Healing from Katrina has not been so certain as I had hoped. I talked with Dr. Karen yesterday and she was not at all surprised by our reactions. In fact, she expected it. I share this in hope that my experience will help others. By God's grace and with a good deal of self-care and patience, we will persevere.

Gustav is wading ashore early this Monday morning in Terrebonne Parish, Louisiana I am concerned for our folk in that civil parish (St. Matthew's, Houma and St. Andrew, Bayou du Large) as well all of the southwest Deanery. Trinity, Morgan City and St. Mary's, Franklin, will take a big hit. So far as I know, our clergy are safe and have checked with parishioners who needed help. The preparations were appropriate and were carried out properly. We are waiting now as the hurricane passes. The wind is whistling even here in Baton Rouge.

Gustav does not seem to be as severe as was predicted. God's Holy Name be praised. My greatest concern has been the potential storm surge, which was predicted to be catastrophic. Some even thought it might even overtop the huge earthen levees along the Mississippi River. That storm surge has yet to materialize, so far as I can tell. Let us remember that New Orleans flooded the day after Katrina passed.

Please be reminded that I cannot personally respond to every email that comes in. I will try to keep you informed.

In the meantime, please pray for us.

Bishop Jenkins

OH, OH . . .the television report has just shifted to the Industrial Canal in New Orleans. Waves can be seen breaking over the floodwall. Unlike the drainage canals in New Orleans, the Industrial has no gates to keep the water from the Lake and the MRGO from coming in. You will remember that it was the failure of the floodwall along the Industrial Canal that flooded the Lower 9th Ward and contributed to the disaster in St. Bernard Parish. It ain't over till it's over.