San Diego fire update!

As many of you know, we continue to be members of Tecate Mission, located near the area where many large fires have raged this past week, fueled by high winds. For us, it was not just “news”. Many of our friends were affected by this tragedy.

The “Harris fire” started about a mile from the mission house that Willa Edmonds calls home. She and her daughter and family were evacuated soon after it started on Sunday, Oct. 21. They went to the mission, which was evacuated shortly after. They crossed the border to find refuge at Mission Director Ron Hoffman’s home in Mexico. Four days later, they were able to return home to find the house standing with minimal burns to fencing around the home. The mission was not burned, although there were homes nearby on the Mexico side that were.

We had several friends in the San Diego area that had to evacuate, although their homes were saved. The mobile home park where we used to live had to be evacuated, as well. Our son Josh has several firefighter friends who have been working the fires. Sadly, he has a friend whose family home in Lake Arrowhead was in danger, too. As of this writing, we are not sure what happened to the home.

We praise God for his protection in all of this! Many churches and other organizations are still working together to help meet the needs of those affected.

Four people who lost their lives were found only two miles from the mission in an area that we passed almost every day. Also, another man who lost his life had attended the mission church several years ago. He died saving his son, who now has burns over 50% of his body. Please be in prayer for those hurting as a result of the fires. “When I am afraid, I will trust in you.” Psalm 56:2

What would you say?

What can you say to someone who says her mother tried to kill her when she was 11 years old, then joined a gang because she felt they loved her more than her mother did!

What can you say to an inmate who never knew her dad, saw all her mother's live-in boy friends beat her mother, sell drugs, and then go to jail? Oh, did I mention that every one of these men molested the person who is now an inmate. Do you think she has chosen a heterosexual live style?

Or what about the man who had to start stealing when he was 5 years old because his mother was running the streets and not bringing home any food for he and his sister. He says, “our mother chose the streets, drugs and men over us!”

Then there is the one whose dad put a knife in his back pack when he went to kindergarten. When he asked his dad why, his dad said, "My enemies send their children to this same school and you will need to use this to protect yourself!"

We see the truth of Exodus 20:5 “. . . for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me,” But we claim Exodus 20:6 for those who have professed Jesus as Savior: “but showing love to a thousand {generations} of those who love me and keep my commandments.”

Sadness and joy!

We were saddened today because, as we looked out over our class, we saw two men who had been with us in the past, then were released, only to return again. We had a good rapport with them before, so we were able to pick up where we left off.

They both have made professions of faith, but we long to see them get victory over sin. One of them gave testimony that he had stopped reading his Bible and finding a church became less important to him than the worries of the world.

We were joyful when he challenged himself and the others to remain faithful to God and walk away from problems. He wants to sing a song for us next week.

OH, may God help these people who are caught in life cycles of sin! May God give us wisdom! May He have mercy of us all!