October 3, 2024
Dear Kairos community,
Some of our Kairos community members live in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene. Some caught on the path of destruction just received their electricity back last night and are dealing with either their house challenges or those of neighbors and their towns. I just spoke with Nikki, who lives in one of the most devastated areas affected by Helene, and I want to make sure we keep all who are suffering so much loss in our thoughts and hearts.
Asheville, North Carolina, is mostly totally destroyed. There is destruction, debris everywhere, no water or electricity, no way of getting to many places, and houses destroyed or disappeared. Right now, it’s all about the basics: food, shelter, and water. Our Nikki Shoneman, who lives on the outskirts of Asheville, said: at least we don’t have a war on top of this. We suffer, but we are not bombed on top of living in an obliterated environment. It makes me think how it must be in Gaza, Beirut, or Syria right now. It’s nearly impossible to imagine worse than this, yet people experience much worse.
Nikki invited children into her house yesterday, knowing she’s being trained to deal with first aid for the soul. Some came but many have left their houses because of the lack of infrastructure. There are few families left in her neighborhood. In Asheville, it’s pure destruction, and further up in the mountains, people are completely cut off, and helicopters are sending packages with food and water. Close to 100 people have lost their lives in this community, and I can only imagine the trauma and how people are still in the shock phase. This was supposed to be a rather safe place regarding natural catastrophes, so this onslaught was not expected. The hurricane was expected to weaken at this stage of her path because of the mountains and the long journey the storm traversed.
Nikki shared how she was lucky that their house was salvageable and that trees falling and other destruction on her land was mainly dealt with, water being brought in from a spring by friends, and some food retrieved from a local place with a flashlight as light source and people signing off payments in the future. When we spoke, she was sitting in a long traffic jam on the freeway, trying to get to a place for free food delivery.
Let us pray for all these people. I’ve asked Nikki to let us know what we can do. As I mentioned, the basics are needed right now, but this community will need to heal for a very long time; the reconstruction will take many years.
I put a video on our Emergency Pedagogy International Whatsapp website. I’m asking Nikki to stay in touch with us and let us know what we can do to help. She can read the situation, and, at some point, an emergency team can be organized, although our team is still not even properly defined; we are just beginning that process. This may be our opportunity to start when the time is right. Right now, disaster distress groups are there, and other helpers are doing all they can to stabilize the situation so people can live with food, water, and shelter.
With all my love,
Karine
You who watch over the souls
Spirits who work out of cosmic wisdom
Lovingly protect soul human beings
Hear our request
Behold our love
who seek to unite ourselves with the outpouring
of your helping forces
Spirit perceiving, love outstreaming
- Rudolf Steiner
