There is no way to prepare for the race. This week we fought two fires, which actually took place in one day. Some team members were off doing games with children while Liz, Nina, and I were painting the mom’s nails and having tea. Around 1130am people came running telling the boys they needed them to come fight a fire. About a half hour later, as the fire grew and approached the fence of the land, us girls started filling up huge pots of water and running them to the fire and back to be filled again. I’m telling you the fire was hot and so tall and so close to the orphanage houses. As I was filling up a big pot in the bathroom I was staring out the window praying because I knew we needed God to intervene. And guess what, while Nina and I were praying, we actually saw some of the fires decreasing in size and going down! We were praying for God to put out the fire and for strength and protection for everyone. Of course the little kids were scared so a few of the girls stayed with them praying and trying to comfort them. But the rest of us got down and dirty and within another half hour all the world race team was fire fighting.
I got close to the flames only a few times and I don’t know how the boys of our teams could stand the heat. It was all I could do to keep filling pots with water and pray. We prayed for rain and later after the fire was mostly out we sang for rain. No rain came. After about two hours the flames were finally all put out. So us girls prepared meals for everyone and the boys showered and ate and then they fell asleep. Not even two hours later, we were called back out. The fire had started again. Even though we had all just showered, put on clean clothes, and were tired we did what we knew to do and the fire was out a lot quicker.
God gave me a neat analogy while fighting the second fire. While carrying pots back and forth I was like darn where are my dirty fire clothes? Why didn’t I put my old clothes back on? And the Lord was so sweet to make it spiritual and say why would you ever put your old clothes own? With each fire I take you through, with each trial I take you through I never want you to put that old self on. I am making you new every time. We get dirty to get clean a lot of the time, and that is okay. As cheesy as that is I was thankful for the analogy.
That night we rested really well because we were exhausted. When I woke the next morning at about 615am I looked outside and guess what I saw? Rain clouds!!! God gave us rain!!! He is good to us. No fires that day! 🙂
Pictures to come when I get better internet.
