President's Message
by Terrel J. DeVille, President and CEO
Greetings,
I am writing this on September 10th, the eve of the 9-11 anniversary, 13 days after the third anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, 14 days before the third anniversary of Hurricane Rita, 9 days after Hurricane Gustav slammed into the entire state of Louisiana and approximately 3 days before Hurricane Ike hits landfall somewhere on the Gulf Coast. All significant events that have impacted millions of lives in such a short period of time. Many fear that Trauma Fatigue has set in and in order to cope, many have or will turn a deaf ear to the cries for help.
To this day that has not been my experience. Indeed the generosity of all we have had the privilege to talk to and see in action has been tremendous. Louisiana is truly blessed with a state full of generous people. I know this for a fact because our Children's Home is on the receiving end even when so many of our people are in such great need themselves. We must also be a friendly people because we have so many friends across the United States and the entire world for that matter. So many friends who have reached out their hands, their money and their prayers during these difficult times.
Being in the Ministry that we are in, we know that Trauma Fatigue is something that cannot be allowed. We are daily called upon to help children and their family members who are in crisis brought upon by all types of dysfunction that this world is experiencing. For every individual, every day is a significant event. Our Mission is to connect them to God's love and by God's grace we are able to work through the storms and get to that Rainbow presence that all of us seek to experience. My prayer is that each of us will continue or become servants to all of us. In doing so we will be part of that Rainbow which is God's love.
Recently we made extra room for the children and staff of both the Methodist Home for Children of Greater New Orleans, and McDonell United Methodist Children's Services. The children and staff of McDonell's came to the OWL Center on Saturday, August 30th, and plans are for them to return to Houma tomorrow, which is September 11th. Our Greater New Orleans children and their staff came up on Sunday, August 31st and they were able to return on Friday, the 5th of September. We are blessed to possess the facilities at the OWL Center and here at the Ruston Campus that made it possible for us to offer safe and comfortable care to all who were required to leave their homes, family and friends, not knowing how long they would be gone or to what they would return. I cannot help but reflect on the generosity of all our great benefactors that in our past gave so generously, enabling us to offer a Rainbow during this storm. How blessed we are to be about God's work with all of you. May all we do be focused on "Guiding Children and Families Home to Experience God's Love by Following the Teachings of Christ."
Yours in His Service,
Terrel DeVille
President/CEO
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