First things first
I have gotten really behind on my blogs. This past month has been extremely busy, but I’m trying to get caught up. I couldn’t begin my blogs about Ecuador, without first sharing this story, even though it took place about a month ago. This will be my last blog about the Dominican Republic, and then, I promise I’ll catch you all up on this past month!
The fire
Our last few days in the DR were spent in San Juan with the other teams who had been there for the month. On our last day, as teams are all getting ready for dinner, I had gone upstairs to change. I glanced out the window to see huge flames coming from the window of a house across the street. Immediately, the house emptied as we rushed across the street to help.
While some were trying to put out the fire with just a few big jugs of drinking water (and were somehow successful), others had dashed into the burning house. There they found 4 terrified children clinging onto the bars in their windows, and were able to bring them outside to safety. From there, everyone went different directions. Some went back into the house to get all the furniture they could out of it, and some ran straight to the children who had been home alone. We managed to clothe, feed, and comfort the children. Some helped communicate with parents and police to inform them of what happened. Others spent the whole time in prayer, and still others were able to see other needs that I would have easily overlooked. When the immediate danger was over, they were clear headed enough to realize we still hadn’t eaten dinner, and arranged to get plenty of food for us, as well as the children and their families.
Very rarely did anyone have to speak – people saw the needs and rushed to fill them. It was incredible to watch how God used each one of us differently in that moment. Someone who observed us in the hours after the fire described us as ants, all moving in perfect rhythm to take care of the physical, spiritual, and emotional needs that existed.
But the thing that has stuck with me the most, was when the night was winding down, my team still had dinner together. By that point the needs had become fewer, and there were still many rushing to fill them. But, I was not thrilled about being pulled away. I wanted nothing but to remain with the children and in the chaos the night had become. The rest of my team recognized a different need though. A need for us process the night and unwind… together. After I let go of my own desires and remembered I now live a life of community, I was able to recognize my own need for it as well. After just a few minutes of being together on the balcony, I realized I wouldn’t trade that time for anything. Even though we had spent the whole month together, with little personal time, once we were able to get away, we realized how necessary that time together had become.
