"Word of our God Stands Forever"

The screams were heard at about 10:00 PM on a Friday night from outside our house. We soon found out a gas cooker had exploded in a timber built house just below Kijabe Hospital. It was a structure that housed 9 families; most of them hospital staff including one pregnant mother, a 2 week old baby, and many children. There is no fire department here, so the the hospital was immediately notified. A tractor hauling water from the hospital arrived much to late as all the homes were in flames. Thankfully everyone got out safely and there were no injuries or fatalities.

The following day the staff and I at the dental clinic walked down to survey the remains. We saw family members still sifting through the ashes and smoke for personal items (In Kenya almost all important documents including birth certificates, land titles, money, marriage papers, diplomas are stored at home). They were all lost in the flames. I talked to a father who had lived there, "The tried to come with water, but it was too late. It all happened so fast. We lost everything. But God will provide." We prayed together as a staff for these families who had lost everything they owened.

The Kijabe Hospital Chaplain has reminded us that we all need to help out these 9 families in need. It is easy to say, "He will help, or she will help, and if pass on the responsibility to others, no one will be helped." The dental staff has began filling a large action packer full of blankets, flour, soap, clothing, rice, utensils, plates, chai cups.

Thanks to many of your donations directly to our project account through Samaritan's Purse we have made a monetary donation to the fire tragedy fund to help rebuild their houses.

Lastly, I found this beautiful young Kenyan girl. She had found her Bible amongst the ashes. You can see in the picture above the pages of her Bible were crinkled, covered with ash, and burned around the edges; but the text is still readable. The fire took away her house and her belongings, but it could not take away her faith in Him.

The grass withers and the flowers fall,
but the word of our God stands forever."
Isaiah 40:8

Our prayers and support are with these families as they recover.

Addendum- Some have asked how can we help these families in need? Financial support can be directed to our Samaritan's Purse account #003548 and designate Friess/Fire Tragedy Fund and 100% of the donation will go directly to the families affected by the Fire.