Betty Harris and her children were separated as they fled Hurricane Katrina and were reunited in a shelter in Houston, TX. They then traveled to Beaumont, TX, to be brought back together with extended family in a local shelter. While there, Harris’ two grown daughters were transferred from Xavier University in New Orleans to Holy Name College in Oakland, CA. Her son arranged to travel to Seattle, where Harris has two nieces.

When it was clear that Harris, who evacuated New Orleans, wished to relocate in Seattle, EMM contacted the Rev. Mary Gould, Interim Coordinator of Church in the World Ministry at St. Mark’s. Gould was out of town at the time. However, after a few calls, members of the congregation put together a five-person support committee which identified an apartment and agreed to sponsor Harris.

Harris, who had waited patiently for a sponsor, caught one of the last planes out of Beaumont before Hurricane Rita touched down.  Once in Seattle, she bonded instantly with the St. Mark’s community. Not long after arriving, Harris hosted a “Taste of Louisiana” dinner for members of the congregation. She found a job as a medical assistant at a local hospital and has since moved into her own apartment in the area. The support committee is in touch with her daily, and she is known throughout the congregation as being a humble woman with a profound and deep faith.

According to Gould, the opportunity to sponsor a family has been invaluable for St. Mark’s. “I would encourage every congregation, large or small, to do this,” says Gould. “The blessings received in return are unimaginable, and the witness of [Harris’] steadfast faith in the midst of losing everything is a huge gift to us in this community.”

Harris is unsure how long she will be in Seattle. She has a large, extended family in New Orleans, and is still waiting to learn the extent of the damage to her home. For now, she is moving ahead with her life, laying down roots with the help of St. Mark’s Cathedral.