Dear Holy Trinity Family,
My 25 year history living in Georgia-mostly Atlanta area and 2 in Augusta gave me a unique perspective of the very recent disaster called Helene. Primarily coastal area, I was particularly aware of Savannah's issues as my best friend has lived there for decades. My history includes raising two daughters mostly as a single parent. I had a job history that just barely kept a roof over our heads. Long term substitute teacher, library assistant, YMCA school program leader, 2 brief stints as a church office secretary, 3 years -Georgia State Revenue dept, and a graduate student assistant for Georgia State U-among other things. Besides all of that, I volunteered as a guide for the 1990 Olympics. Just finishing up my Masters degree, I received a call with a job offer in Augusta, Ga. And I grabbed it. I can honestly say that nightmares and unprovoked attacks began within 2 months. I lasted 2 years but the whole experience stayed cm through very scary dreams.
After my teaching career ended and I couldn't support myself, a friend from church and owner of lakeside property, invited me up to Maine for a week. I fell in love with Maine and pulled off the biggest geographical cure I could ever imagine. Within a month I was housed, churched, and befriended. AND back in school for a second Masters degree that would at least keep me afloat teaching adult ed and courses at the local community college. I moved to NH for more work and it was at St. Thomas Episc. Church that I learned that Hurricane Sandy had devastated New York and coastal NJ. I was sent down to Long Island with my car stuffed with supplies and I helped sort donations and toured the devastation for two days. It gave me the 'boots on the ground' experience. When Hurricane Helene hit coastal Georgia, not a town was left undamaged. I was stunned and I wanted to help somehow. I first contacted my Savannah friend who connected with her associate priest (actually a Lutheran pastor) to ask what coastal town needed the most help and was told "Augusta". I contacted the Georgia Synod office and the response was "Augusta" and Valdosta. Since I have no experience with anyone in Valdosta, at bedtime prayers that night, it felt as if God was whispering in my ear: "help Augusta and you will get the help you need to banish hurtful memories." And I sat up and yelled, Augusta! ??? Really?? God, are you kidding me? No, he wasn't kidding.
So I did some research on Lutheran churches in Augusta and found Pastor David Hunter of the Lutheran Church of the Resurrection and we spent considerable time chatting and discussing what prompted me to focus on Augusta. The upshot to this is that he plans to discuss community needs with his staff on October 15 and give me a more accurate needs-based picture. As far as I know, safe drinking water is still a major factor and items for repairing needs. With Council's advice and my happy agreement, we have decided to ask for monetary donations. Their stores are open so they can get what they need with the donations provided.
Here is what a check should say:
To: Holy Trinity Lutheran Church or ELCA.
On the Memo, write: For Lutheran Church of the Resurrection-Augusta (Georgia).
All checks will be added together for one (or 2?) donation to Pastor David's church for community assistance.
And my Augusta memories? Well it occurs to me that I have enjoyed healing laughter over the whole plan setting; the wonderful way our church reaches out to people in distress, and because God whispered in my ear and I shouldn't have been surprised at the outcome.
(And I should listen more often to that voice in my ear).
Shirley Jackson