Prayers for AICM

There is a major fire burning in Airzona just a few miles from the Mission I used to direct. They had about 100 Indian kids in camp there and all were evacuated today. The fire literally blew up from 1200 acres to over 25,000 acres in just 8 hours. The mission is in Liden and is in the direct path of the fire which is only 5 miles away at last report. The mission and school back up to National Forest that is dense and tinder dry from drough for the past 4 years. The fire is so intense ground crews were ordered off the lines and all air attacks suspended until winds die down tonight. Please pray for the mission, and all the staff (35)who were sent to Eager 40 miles away. Most were not given enough time to remove much of their personal belongings. Their homes are in danger. Your prayers are greatly appreciated.

Dale

Dale

Thanks for bringing this to our attention, Dale. I know that the mission is very close and dear to your heart. May God be with all of them as they wait for what will happen next. Perhaps we should be specific in that we ask for winds to die down so the fire can be fought effectively. Since God is a miracle worker, we will pray for His will to be done.
Derith

Dale,

We will keep your mission friends and everyone in the way of the fire in our thoughts and prayers. This certainly has been a rough year with all the forest fires we have seen.

Dave

Dale,we are watching this very closely too...my prayers are with all of those that are touched by these fires...
Ruthie

The fire has more than doubled in size since Dale posted his message.
http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/0620rimfire20.html

Prayers to all those throughout the West who are fighting fires and those who are affected by them.

Our prayers are with all these people and the fire fighters. Hopefully praying for rain will help this situation very soon.

OUr prayers are with you and the firefighters everywhere who are giving their best to protect the mission and homes. May God's helping hand be with all who in anyway are in the path of the danger that these fires pose.

Bert + Sharon

[This message has been edited by MtnHkr (edited 06-20-2002).]

I just made it home from my office in Globe. The staff from the mission and the work group from Indiana that was there are now headed for my office and church in Globe and will be staying at the church tonight. The fire is now 63,000 acres and has jumped hwy 260 just west of the mission. Winds have kicked up and the fire is crowning and moving north very rapidly. Winds are now blowing to the North east and moving it directly toward the them. I have heard that there is fire in the town of Pinedale and it is within 2 miles of the mission. Once again crews were pulled off the lines because of the high winds and irradic movement of the fire. So far it hasn't reached the mission so keep those prayers going! We did a lot of fire break cutting about three years ago. I don't know if they have been maintained since I left but even if they haven't they should help some. There are a lot of homes around the area. About 1/3 are summer cabins. 5000 people in Pinedale, Linden (where the mission is) and in Clay Springs. They all need our prayers too!

It would be heart breaking to see 11 years of work going up in smoke. I built most of the 24 buildings that make up the mission compound. These missionaries are like family to me. Please keep them all in your prayers!

Dale

An updated story as of about 2 PM local time:

http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/0620rimfire20-ON.html

It is so sad that they believe the fire was set intentionally. I can think of a couple variations of a most appropriate punishment for the guikty parties.

Dale, we will keep up the prayers for all those affected by this fire.

Dave

The fire is now over 125,000 acres. The Linden Fire Dept has made a stand at Timberline Acres just 1/4 mile west of the Mission. If they can hold that line the Mission will be ok. I just talked to the Dispatcher and she was very optimistic about their chances. If the wind does not get any stronger then Linden will be spared. Unfortunatey they have lost 25 homes in Pinedale but they saved over 100. About 30 out buildings have been lost as well. We are not out of the woods yet but things are looking a bit better than this morning.

I just arranged for 5 semi Loads of Gator-aide to be sent to the different fire dept. Quaker oats has been a great help. They are even going to deliver it for me so I don't have to line up any more trucks.

Keep those prayers going!!

Dale

The two fires have merged into one huge inferno. over 50 miles of active fire front now. The entire area of Show Low is now ordered to evacuate. The fire breached the line to keep it out of Hop Canyon which funnels right up to west Show Low. This is the worst possible news for them.

No word on the fire line at Timberland Acres to the west of the mission. The other fire line in Heber has failed too and Heber and Overgard both have strcutures burning.

Now more than ever we need your prayers.

Dale

Some bad news about the fires. At about 5:00pm yesterday a firestorm hit Linden. 100-120 home next to the mission on the West were lost. Several homes east of the mission were lost as well. The fire chief, a good friend of mine, told me one of the plumes collapsed right over the mission and west Linden. For over an hour fire was everywhere. She thought she had lost her crews and the whole town. When the fire blew through and the smoke cleared somed, houses were on fire everywhere.

Amazingly not one building on the mission was damaged. Some trees were scorched but no damage to the facility. Though I am excited to hear how God's hand was on the mission, many of our neighbors and friends lost there homes. Amazingly no one has been injured, praise God.

Many of these people will not have insurance. Please keep them all in your prayers. There are still some hot spots in Linden that still pose a threat to the mission and the 500 to 600 homes that did not burn.

Show Low is still threatened and the fire has burned over 325,000 acres.

Thanks for all of your prayers. When I can get in I'll post some pictures.

Dale

Praise God! THose two words says it all. OUr prayers will continue for all of you out there at the mission and those ffighting the fires. It was nice to hear that no lives were lost. Praise God!

Bert and Sharon

Dale,
Extra prayers for you and yours as we hear the news about the fire approaching Show Low. Our prayers are with you.
Bob

Now 330,000 acres they say.

President Bush will be touring the area tomorrow morning. Air Force 1 will be flying into Phoenix about the time I'm supposed to be leaving.

The fire is now about 410,000 acres. Several hot spots in Linden flared up and one more house was lost near the Mission. About 20 acres behind the Mission burned right up to the gym. Slurry bombers hit the buildings several times yesterday to stop the spot fires. We have some red buildings and buses but nothing burnt! We also had fire between two staff houses. Another near miss but hot shot crews were able to stop it before any damage was done to the homes. Still a threat of spot fires so keep praying, Winds are supposed to kick up tomorrow.

We actually hear that there is about 5% containment and hopfully it will be up to 20% tonight. Keep them firefighters in your prayers too. The fire went through the neighborhood where one of the staff members lives, just on the outskirts of Show Low. 100 homes there have burned. We have not heard if Pete's house was one of them. This is real nerve racking for them as you can imagine. I think not knowing is the hardest. They were able to get most everything out. Show Low had a few days to move. Unlike the Mission, Linden, Pinedale and Clay springs. They had one hour. Thanks for all your prayers. Please don't stop now!

Dale



[This message has been edited by DALE LAWRENCE (edited 06-26-2002).]

Hang in there Dale. Bob

It looks like Show Low has been saved. Thousands are returning to their homes. Those that still have homes. I opened the Phoenix Newspaper today to read an article about one of our dearest friend's family. They lost three homes. Tina and Joe Stabenow, her parents and her sister all lost homes in Timberland Acres. I don't think Tina and Joe had insurance. He husband Joe just reciently recovered from a very serious illness and her mother is still being treated for cancer. What an incredibly tough year they have had. They lost nearly everything. Their kids and ours are good friends too. As we were going through our pictures to find some with them in to copy for them, it made me realize how quickly our comfortable worlds can come crashing in on us. Tina and Joe are strong people and have a solid faith in Christ. But losing everything like this has to be tough. Even for those with such faith in God. We need to keep them and all the others that lost everything in our prayers.

Dale