But let's start from the beginning...
On the morning of January 22nd, it was windy, and we had been watching a bush fire being driven from the horizon towards our compound. It seemed like it was going to miss us. Mike and the staff watched it very closely, and put out a few flames down in the lower part of the compound. Nothing major. The wind died down. Everything seemed like it was going to be ok.
But then the winds changed. The fire re-ignited and was driven backwards, up towards our house. A fierce whirlwind tore through just beside our house. It was just after lunch time. We were all still inside the house. Elias has upstairs sleeping. Our colleague, Concy, came out onto the office veranda with Walter and happened to look over at the house and notice that our roof had just started to burn. She ran at full speed and pounded on the screen door that we should get out. Marianne grabbed Elias. Michael grabbed our documents and laptop (that had been put together in the morning, just in case), and we ran outside, expecting to stand by helplessly and watch our house burn down.
Possessions, for most people, are hard to come by. And so, there is a strong sense of collective responsibility to rescue the hard-earned items, even at the risk of one's personal safety. The rescuers struggled for nearly an hour inside the house. They had poured water on the second floor, to buy more time. They got out nearly everything on the first floor...even our lightbulbs from their sockets. We witnessed miracles. Concy managed to move our solid wood cabinet, full of dishes, single-handed across the room and out the door. On the second floor, many things were lost, but they recovered some very important things, like our heavy mattresses and Mike's family guitar. Then, as fire started to pour inside the upstairs windows, Patel and Geoffrey, who had been busy upstairs knew it would not be long before the ceiling collapsed. They told everyone to get out. We felt awed, amazed, humbled, and deeply touched.
Now, we are mostly settled in our new apartment. There are definite perks...we even have running water! But most of all, we have been so blessed by our wonderful neighbours! Among them, right next door, on one side, is our dear friend and Marianne's prayer partner, Grace, who is just back from Australia after being gone all last year. Then on the other side is a mother with her two young boys. Elias and they have grown to be fast friends...it's the happiest moment of the day for Elias when they get home from school. Our neighbours have even opened up a way for us to get out on our own, for a couples' night out once a week...something that had not really been possible in our previous home.
To God be the glory.