Hi Folks, we received this update yesterday from the Ranch where we will be doing our DTS in April. WOW!
On Thursday morning, January 23rd, we woke up to smoke filled air and ash beginning to fall onto the ranch property. The computer app., “Watch Duty,” showed that a large brush fire was about 12 miles away with strong winds moving it in our direction. At 6:30 am, I let the staff and students know that we were on “fire watch” and informed them that they needed to get ready to evacuate. We met at 8:00 am to pray and after arranging to move the Family Bible School for the Nations to the YWAM Ensenada campus, 42 staff and students moved to town by 9:30 am. We estimated that the fire would reach the ranch after nightfall and the McCoy and Lopez families stayed in hopes that we could try to save our homes and the base structures. Isaac Arce, former student and staff, arrived with a small group of men to help along with a group of Lopez family, friends, and neighbors. There was no response from local firefighters; we were on our own. I sent Sue and Shaina into town at 8:00 pm and around 11:30 pm, we all agreed that it was time to evacuate due to the strong winds pushing the fire rapidly toward us. The photo below is of me up on the main road at the turn off to the ranch (taken by Andi Kosubek).
Brian arrived at the Ensenada base at about 3:30 AM… thinking that the base would be gone. We got up on Friday morning and headed down the dirt road, anticipating great loss. As we drove onto the ranch and we were amazed at what we saw. Not one building was lost. The fire had come so close, it even scorched the bottom edge of the barn under construction. The ground all along the opposite side of the road of our home had burned… but the fire never went onto our side of the road. People were sending me texts, saying they were praying. They sent scriptures. They send words and pictures that the Lord showed them… A wall of water protecting our buildings. Angels with their wings together, creating a dome. Angels on all corners protecting the base. We were given a front row seat to a miracle, and all we can do is worship with deep gratitude. To God be the glory. Such a confirmation that God's hand is on the land, the ministry, and the ranch in a mighty way.
For pictures, check out this facebook page
https://www.facebook.com/islandpastore/posts/pfbid026qHgngBxAHtRcp7hi2koRHtGd6SwzmboiYixbdrZp2uVuhjP1Vjojwqm9EtGEN8Xl
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