Annual report 2005 Malteser International - Ordine di Malta

ON THE SPOT: NEW ORLE ANS
Helping hands in the eye of the storm
A volunteer, also a member of the Federal Association of the Order of Malta
in the USA, reports on the reconstruction of New Orleans
Eight months after the hurricane, the
scope of the damage is still beyond
description. While the St. Louis flood of
1993 destroyed some homes as thoroughly
as those ravaged by Katrina, the damage
was generally confined to much smaller
areas. In New Orleans, we literally drove
for miles in almost any direction and
saw nothing but empty homes, vacated
businesses and abandoned vehicles all
around us.
We had heard of the work of Malteser
International around the world and had
supported it with contributions. Never
before, however, had we participated
in this work in a hands-on fashion. The
particular work in which we took part was
rebuilding the home of a widow in New
Orleans.
Lynette had been chosen by ‘Catholic
Charities’ as an especially deserving
beneficiary of our efforts. The more we
got to know her, the more we agreed.
Her effusive gratitude that strangers from
all over the country had not forgotten
about her or her neighbours was the
greatest reward any of us could ever have
wanted.
Members from all three associations of
the Order of Malta in the United States had
been sent as volunteers to New Orleans
for the ‘house renovation programme’.
The 26 members of our group came from
Florida, California, Massachusetts and
points in between. We varied in age and
One of the renovated houses: successful cooperation between ‘Helping Hands’, ‘Rebuilding Together’ and
the Order of Malta.
in levels of skill. We stripped wallpaper,
caulked, cleared debris, landscaped,
installed light fixtures, assembled and
installed cabinets, installed floors, painted
and painted and painted some more. The
transformation in Lynette‘s house in less
than 96 hours was truly remarkable.
The real miracle, however, was evident
on Lynette‘s face. She said on more than
one occasion that the Order of Malta had
answered her prayers. God had responded
through human hands.
Tom Albrecht, volunteer in the ‘house
renovation programme’ in New Orleans
Lynette has lived in her house in New Orleans
since 1993, recently with her youngest son
Shane, who suffers from a manic depressive
illness. She works for a large construction
company, working on the design of a tank
for NASA. She has five children and six
grandchildren. Before the hurricane, she was
also caring for her parents. Her father died in
2004 and her mother died on 22 August 2005,
only a week before the hurricane. Lynette is
happy that her mother did not have to cope
with the evacuation.
Lynette was evacuated on the Friday before
the hurricane. For several months, she lived
with one of her daughters. Since then she
has been living in one of the trailers provided
for so many hurricane victims. Unfortunately,
she had to wait several weeks for a power
connection. She would have loved to make her
famous enchiladas for the volunteers. Now she
is overjoyed with her new home.
Volunteers of all ages from the
Order of Malta participate in
renovation work.
30 A M E R I C A