By now everyone has heard about the Esperanza Fire burning in Beaumont.  The fire is about 30 minutes from us.  On Thursday night, the first night it started, we were going to Awana's and you could see the eerie orange burning on the hills. At that moment I said a silent prayer for those Fireman who were killed that morning. Not realizing how they would be entwinned with our lives.  The smoke was so thick on Friday it looked midnight. I drove the kids up to Gilman Springs Road to see if the fire had jumped highway 79 and was burning in the badlands. It had, we couldn't see flames but you could see big clouds of white smoke.  On Saturday at the baseball games you could see the tankers flying over head.  On Sunday night we went to homefellowships and our worship leader, who is a firefighter, wasn't there. We were told that he has been at the hospital supporting the family of the surviving firefighter who was burned over 95% of his body.  When we got home we saw our Leader on TV, he looked worn out and emotionally drained. 

Last night, I received an email from one of my Twins Club MOMs stating that one of the fallen firefighters, was a father of 5 children 2 of which are twin boys. As Chaplain of my state organization I am now preparing a Silver Pitcher form, in hopes that we can raise monies for this family.  The sad thing is the father was remodeling the families home from a 2 bedroom to a 4 bedroom, and now the work is not done, and this family has no other means of completeing the work.  We have all been asked to send letters to the extreme makeover home show to see if they will come and help this family. 

Please pray for all of the families of these fallen firefighters, remember they rush in when we rush out!