Katrina Volunteer Story

Hey All,

This is probably going to be my last Katrina/Rita update. Sorry, if you
get this more than once.

The previous 3 weeks have been physically taxing on my body, but it
really seemed like a walk in the park.....but this past week, has been
by far, the most challenging and required every single ounce of energy I
had, to maintain my health and boundaries while assisting others. Read
on, and you'll know what I mean!

Last week, those folks that were still waiting to have their housing or
FEMA paperwork processed, were given a very rude and disrespectful
verbal eviction notice within 24 hours from The Astrodome/Reliant
areas. Many that were confused, and had family in town or were in the
process of making their own housing arrangements here in Houston, were
put on buses headed to Arkansas. One handicap woman I was helping, was
among them.

I don't have lots of energy, tonight to share more details on what
happened, but I stuck with Marie's family through thick and thin. I
located a couple of houses, they could rent and they located a couple of
apartments and finally decided on one where the apartment owner was
helping get their paperwork processed quicker. But the housing folks,
went and inspected these folks apartment unit and wanted the owner to
install windows in 2 of the bedrooms, for safety reasons, which caused a
Big Delay in getting a housing voucher. So, after the windows were put
in, and approved. I took several families to the housing authority,
only to be told, that they were shutting down until Next week, due to
the potential threat of Hurricane Rita coming to Texas. The housing
authority is opening up Tomorrow morning!

I was content to stay in Houston and ride out Rita, but Marie and her
family really wanted to seek higher ground in the Dallas area, and help
their kids deal with their previous Katrina- traumas, so I thought, it
was a good precaution to evacuate as well. I called my friends in the
Dallas area and no one could find a hotel room anywhere in Texas! A
friend of mine offered their log cabin thats located right next door to
their own home, near the Ft Worth area. So I picked up Marie, her
daughter and 2 kids in my car and loaded a wheelchair and luggage in my
trunk.. Traffic was so bad, that it took us 7 hours to travel only 30
miles, so I wasn't to eager to travel to Olkahoma.

At one point, of sitting in traffic at 3am, I had deducted that, at our
current rate, we would not make it to Dallas on only one tank of gas, so
I started looking for alternatives and had come up with an alternative
route, that would by-pass all the Highway traffic...and everything was
going well, except all the gas stations we were going to, ran out of
gas. By the 10th one, I got a bit nervous...if we should even travel at
all, if we couldn't get any gas to come back. And because this Katrina
family was tired and stressed out too, they started questioning and
arguing with every single move we made. (I later found out, they were
scared of facing the same fate as those in the Texas Chainsaw Massacre
movie,) because we were taking dark roads up to log cabins now. So they
changed their mind, and instead of going to Dallas, they wanted to
find the first hotel and get a room there. But I knew they were all
full..but because of their fears, didn't believe me. So we stopped at
several and told the same thing. Sold Out!

One hotel manager, suggested that, as a last resort, to buy some milk,
empty out the containers and put some extra gas in them...to make the
trip. I drove around some small town city, and found a supermarket that
also had an Academy next to it. I bought 4 containers that held 6
gallons each and found one self-serve gas station that had gas left and
filled my car up and the extra containers...and figured out a way to tie
down my trunk lid, so it would all fit.

To make an extremely long and stressful trip and story short, we left
Houston at Wed. 7pm and arrived in College Station, 100 miles away
Thurs at 3pm...You do the Math! Hotels were sold out, but Emergency
Evacuation Shelters were taking folks. So we stayed at a United
Methodist Church, right across the street from the Texas A&M
University. and Now, I was given a cot , just like the rest of them! We
all laughed about that!

What made the whole trip very draining on me was this: This Katrina
family because of old and new negative traumas, was lashing out at me,
for some of the frustrations they have endured from their past, or from
Katrina or FEMA, or from whoever...and Most of it, I could understand
and brush off, but a few of them, really hit home in my heart, and I
got hurt. They later apologized, when they calmed down, but It really
helped me, to keep them at a distance, emotionally by establishing
better boundaries for myself.

For example, when we first arrived in College Station at the shelter,
they told me, they would catch a taxi back to Houston and they wanted to
be left alone, and suggested I travel up to Dallas without them because
I was upsetting her daughter? Because her daughter had her own fears,
that I was the Son of the Texas Chainsaw folks.....which is ludacris,
but at the time, I offered them, a free log cabin next to a house that
some close friends of mine owned, up near Fort Worth.

Thanks to those of you, who called and helped me in a wide variety of
ways. You have no idea, how much I was touched that made me feel, I
wasn't alone in helping all these folks. Im glad I took the chance and
courage to open up and ask for help.

So many of my friends, colleagues and family, having been urging me to
take care of myself first. and so I finally took their advice. While
at College Station, even though I really wanted to help volunteer to
help the Rita folks, myself included, I didn't. Instead I kept busy,
catching up on my much needed rest, doing my daily 5 min. energy
balancing routine, going to a bookstore and getting some books to read
that I have an interest in, while Rita was making its way to the Texas
shores.

We got back into Houston a few days ago, they now have a new apartment,
and are getting furniture for it, as we speak. I've been helping about
7 other families get situated in their places, taking them to get food
and groceries, etc. I checked up on all of them yesterday to find out
that most of them have re-connected to most of their lost family
members, one way or another and have found apartments or homes to live
in. I drove some, and bought some food for some other folks, other
folks that have kids with Downs Syndrome, Cerebral Palsy, they wanted
to try energy healing techniques on their kids, so I got them Donna
Eden's Book, Energy Medicine, as a first step.

Today, was the first day, I dedicated to "taking care of myself" and
looking at my house, I have so many projects that are over-due, and
new business I need to take care of, so I worked until 6am, slept until
3pm. took my car to have its seats cleaned due to a smelly "accident" in
the passenger seat, went to see the Batman Begins Movie and ate my
first really yummy meal for dinner(Japanese), since all this Katrina
stuff started a month ago...and now, Im about to retire for the evening.

I don't know, if you care about reading more or not, but here are a few
lessons I've learned or remembered that would help me, and perhaps you,
if you are ever faced with similair situation of dealing with folks that
have been through hell and back.

1) On Many Levels of Relationships. Always know where your own
boundaries are! And if you decide to ignore them, Prepare some back up
plans of how to re-establish them. From the govn't, to volunteers, to
helping folks in desparation, to helping folks find their own
solutions, to teach them tools, instead of providing results for them.

2) Any type of Crisis, for yourself or helping others thru their
stuff, Its helps you get by easier, with a little help from your
friends.   I could not have possibly done everything I have done, this
past month, without the support of my friends, and those of you getting
my emails. Thanks for sending your positive energy, in so many
wonderful ways. We have done, in our own small way, what huge
organizations couldn't..Help folks in need, when they need it, knowing
that someone cares, and connects with them and supports them to be the
best they can be, during their opportunities to heal, grow and learn
more choices of self empowerment.

3) One friend shared some stories of doing EFT Tapping, to tap out many
fears that folks had, which I was impressed with. and to some degree,
gave me greater determination to do the drills, to get the skills, to
help in more ways. I am 99% happy with what I did and I did the best I
possibly could.

4) I learned that to be A true friend...one that is there for you in a
crisis. Just to be there, help and listen without judging or fixing
them. Empowering them by giving them choices. one step, one day at a
time. As much as I wanted to fix all their emotional problems, that
wasn't my job...that is theirs and when the time is right, I will be
there for them, to take that next step.

I even amazed myself with the skills I do have and realized more of my
potential during all this too! Over the years, Of all my mentors,
trainers and friends, Donna Eden, Howard Caesar, Dr. John LaTourrette,
Kim Wedman and Geshila, the Tibetan Monk have all taught me various
lessons, which I treasure, now more than ever. Those lessons that I
applied this past month, empowered me as well as others. My Deepest
Thanks and Appreciation for your sharing in so many ways.

Theres alot more I learned, but suffice as to say....If I had to do it
all over again, I would, in a heart beat.   Helping so many hundreds of
thousands of folks at one time, can be draining, but well worth it.
One goal I had, got accomplished. It was to treat folks with dignity,
compassion and to teach folks with not just my words, but by example,
with my actions, behaviors, and attitudes, especially during the
stressful times. As such, I know, that in some way, I've been a good
role model, that one day, will inspire folks to Pay it Forward, and
learn how to heal themselves, so that they will have less Hot-Buttons
getting pushed and more constructive solutions can be created out of
times of chaos.

At least for the many families and hundreds of folks, I have come
across...I know we made a difference that Made the difference. One
fish...One person, One Moment at a time.

Love, Light, Laughter and Prosperity!

Richard "Mr. Chainsaw" Cinta....hehe!
Healer, Adventurer, Investor, Trainer

Email: richardc@wt.net

p.s. Im still visiting families, but have re-committed to getting my
goals back on track as well. Thanks for helping out, whether it was a
good prayer, a phone call or more, I really appreciated it!