Atlanta, GA – Sept. 13, 2019 – The first wave of Savannah evacuees headed for Buckhead around 10 p.m. Monday, Sept. 9. After the last buses were unloaded around 6 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 10, almost 100 souls had been transferred. Needless to say, merging this many people together in a short time provides opportunity for additional challenges.

By Wednesday morning things were tense. Stealing a theme from Remember the Titans, a note went to the floor letting the staff know we will be providing meals, and the cost of the meal was a selfie with someone from another facility sharing something you learned about them.

Anxiety started to set in because by noon we hadn’t received any. When the first person came for lunch, I asked, “Where is your selfie?”

They said, “You’re serious?”

I said, “Let’s have fun!”

She sent one within five minutes. Then word got to the floor and within two hours we had a ton.  The first collage was created around 2 p.m. on Wednesday and posted on the floor.  That night the phone went off with more selfies.

The second collage was created the next morning and the third one later.  We started having prayer on the floor with both teams.  Residents would say ‘Amen’ from their rooms.

A theme emerged; Why do storms happen, no ones asks for them?  Quiet humble leaders stepped forward to lead.  It was humbling!

The last day, I got a bit emotional listening to the staff talking about how much fun they had and how they made new friends.  I’m not sure how to count how many of these I’ve been through, perhaps 10 or 12.  It’s not something I look forward to, yet it’s hard to describe the bonding that happens.  It’s a revolution of personal perspective.

David Baumgartner
VP of Spirituality & Sacred Six

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