Today is my birthday. And definitely a memorable one because
an unexpected event happened.
Halfway through frying plantines for my teammates, we heard
people shouting: “Guys, we need your help! Come quickly!” We rushed outside and
flames were coming out from one of the windows of the house across from where
we are living.
Apparently as some people were walking to get tacos for
dinner, they saw flames coming out of the window, and a few kids were trying to
get out. Joel rushed into the house, grabbed two of the kids while the other
two followed him out. Christi-an, who was talking to Carlos (a nearby worker),
heard the shouts, and they came rushing over too. Carlos broke the glass at the
window, and started pouring water to put out the flame.
People rushed to carry water jugs to the house and by then
other neighbors had rushed to the scene to help as well. Some tried to savage
whatever furniture they could from the house and got the children out of the
house. Looking at the roaring flame, I really didn’t think our jugs of water
were going to do any good. However, after a few rounds of water, the flame died
down and smoke just poured out of the window. About 10 minutes later, the fire
truck arrived. They continued spraying water into the house to make sure that
there was no more burning.
We got the kids off the street to our front porch while some
helped clean out the house that was now smoked and drenched with water. The
kids were fed and we hung out with them until they were picked up to stay at a
pastor’s house.
Looking back, God had really been gracious and protecting
them. It was no accident that people happened to walk by and saw the fire and
got the kids out just in time. The four kids had been left alone and were
locked up in the house. They got out safely uncharred without a single burn on
their skin except for one little girl’s hair was slightly burned. It was no
accident that the jugs were just filled up a few hours before for our house. And honestly I did not think the small jugs of
water would be able to do anything to the flames when I saw it roaring out of
the window, but God stopped the flames. It was no accident that it happened
yesterday and not today when we are leaving for Ecuador. And someone said that
the grandmother was praising God and thanking Him for these Americans.
Who knew this was going to happen? Nobody, except God. I
really pray that the kids will not be haunted by this event so early on in
their young lives but that the love of God will overshadow and cover all this
pain and shock. Thank God that He chose us to shine His love among this
seemingly chaos.
