“Would you be able to come this weekend?”
Dan was calling me from the Paradise, California area where he had spent the past few days helping with the aftermath of the fires. My mind raced through the millions of reasons I couldn’t jump on a plane in 3 days. My biggest reason was our 3 kids all under the age of 9.
“The entire city (Paradise, California) has been wiped out.” Dan shared. “Only 2 families still have a home out of the 72 families at Paradise EFC.”
I tried to let that sink in.
Fire is a different beast for me.
For over a year, Dan and I have been immersed in the aftermath of hurricanes. Many hurricane survivors in Texas and North Carolina are now our dear friends.
After a hurricane we get to connect survivors with teams of volunteers from churches all across America.
We have witnessed hope restored as the homeowners watch their homes rebuilt by complete strangers. As team after team pour into their home over months, God does miraculous things in their hearts and in the hearts of the volunteers.
I can also confidently say I am a different person from who I was when we moved our RV, 3 kids and 2 cats to serve with Reach Global Crisis Response.
“But fire? I don’t know anything about that. Why is he asking me to come?” I wondered.
“I’ll make some phone calls. If God wants me to be there, He will make it clear.” I responded.
Within 35 minutes I called Dan back to say I was already 90% sure it would work. We have the most generous and supportive family and friends.
Then God took it a step further. Oh yeah…I did ask for it to be clear, didn’t I?
My phone rang. Dan’s Mom was calling.
“Isn’t she in Hawaii at a conference?” I thought as I picked up the phone.
“Kristi, I have a prayer request to share with you…” she shared.
We chatted about the prayer request and then she mentioned Dan serving in California.
“I am probably going out to California to help this weekend too” I shared along with the conversations of the past 30 minutes.
“I get back from Hawaii tomorrow and I don’t go back to work until next Monday. Do you need help with the kids?”
I now had 5 people all willing to help with the kids within an hour.
“Ok, God. Here I am. Send me.”