The Chickens Were Bigger This Time
The chickens were bigger this time. As Chaplain Ken, an ACA chaplain volunteer with Emerge, pulled into the driveway during his second visit to Brantley County Georgia, their pen was one of the first things he noticed. He was returning to visit a military veteran who had lost nearly everything in the fires except her chickens and parakeets. Seeing them again was a small but meaningful reminder that life continues to grow and move forward, even after devastating loss.
She met him at the door with encouraging news. She had found a part-time job working with animals. After everything she had endured since the fires, this was a positive step toward restoring her life and regaining a sense of normalcy and independence. What made this visit particularly meaningful was the difference from their first meeting. Although the effects of losing her home and possessions remained part of her story, there were signs of forward movement. Her chickens were growing, she had found work connected to animals, and she was beginning to establish a new routine. These were steps worth celebrating.
Her experience reflects how deeply personal disaster recovery is. Recovery involves finding opportunities, restoring stability, and rediscovering a sense of purpose alongside the need to replace homes and possessions. Even after tremendous loss, meaningful steps toward restoration are possible. That was why returning mattered. This follow-up visit gave Chaplain Ken an opportunity to reconnect with multiple families, hear directly about their experiences and needs, and better understand the challenges they continued to face. Many were still navigating the uncertainty of displacement and the loss of the security and comfort of their homes, even as moments of progress offered encouragement.
For this veteran, growing chickens and a new job were hopeful signs in a recovery still unfolding. Her progress was worth celebrating, while recognizing that continued support remained important. Please pray for her and the other families recovering after the Brantley County Fires, and for more opportunities to arise for us to walk alongside them and remind them they are not alone.
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