African Flames

 
The other day I was just walking up the hill to my house when I noticed some flames in the field beside us.
  In
Africa, vandalism looks like setting dry grass on fire and running away.
  My friend and I wondered if we should go try to put it out but the locals here said it would be o.k. Within 10 minutes the fire had moved closer and the flames were higher than before.
  The fire was moving towards our mission base so we shouted to our friends to grab a tree branch and come (only because I saw it on an African movie once).
 I know God must have been humored by my slip on shoes, synthetic pants, and polyester shirt which screamed flammable.
  Amateur fire fighters we all began to hit the flames with our branches to put out the flames. Little did we know that the flames were overtaking us… We heard a scream from the distance
saying “get out, get out” Just as fast as we ran to the fire we had to run from it. We had to wait till the wind died down enough to go back in
  We again assembled together to beat the flames with our branches when “Momma Lizzie” a local South African came with a wet rug and put out 10 flames in one sweeping movement of her hand- show off!
  Again, the wind picked up and the flames were higher than us, in that moment I cried out to God and shouted for everyone to pray.
  It’s funny how the moment I felt helpless is when I turned to God instead of just asking Him for help before I did all my “good works.”
  God moved the direction of the wind, we were able to get back to safety and the fire truck came (pause for description:
  a tractor with a big tank on the back with a rubber tube for a hose) to put the rest out.
  I heard Dini, owner of the property, say “let’s gather together to thank Jesus.”
  As we came in the circle the numbers grew from 5 to 10 to 15 to 20 people, many unfamiliar faces of the community.
  They saw the fire, dropped everything they were doing, to bring a bucket of water and come running to help. God is faithful and I write this blog from my house, which is literally 5 feet away from the last flame that went out (close call). What a mighty God we serve
!!