Fireman Jeff

Our kids came to us last week and said "there is a fire on the stairs". We quickly went to the stairs, and there was no fire. The kids were not at the stairs, they were already at the window in their room and they said "Those stairs". Diagonally behind our house we could see flames and the smoke getting thicker and thicker. We don't really worry about fires here because all the houses are made out of concrete, but it was an empty lot in the middle of our neighborhood. The neighbors that have homes connected to that lot were using there pilas (picture below) to fill bucket and attempting to put it out. Well, Jeff grabbed a bucket and headed over. He was there a while and returned for our long water hose.

Funny side note: We have a friend Juan that lives next to us and He is attending University 3 hours away, so he comes home on long weekends and holidays. It happened to be a long weekend, and Juan was home. He saw Jeff helping and he yelled "Hello what's up" and Jeff yelled "Juan WHAT did you DO!!" Juan started saying "I don't smoke...I didn't do anything", and Jeff said "well you came home yesterday and look what happens." They laughed and Juan began working.

Once the fire was somewhat "under control", Jeff and Juan jumped down into the smoldering lot, and yes Jeff had his fire gear....his shorts, t-shirt, flip flops and a garden hose. In a moment it looked like his toe was smoking...Juan looked a little panicked and yelled "throw some water on it". Jeff did and you know the sound when you put water on a really hot pan...well, when he did, there was sizzling and smoke. Juan was like "are you insane", but Jeff says it looked like it was his toe, but it was from the ground underneath. Jeff made it back home an hour and a half later amazed at how long and strong coconuts burn and he was drenched from firefighting and a water war with the neighbors afterward. The strange part of the story is that the fire department was called and to our neighbors surprise they never showed up.

Benediction

" May the Spirit of Christ empower you to love and serve your neighbors, welcome them into your lives and homes and schedules and hearts, so that through belonging they may discover the joys of believing and becoming. You are more ready than you realize. Go in God's grace and peace!" Brian D. McLaren - More Ready Than You Realize