Sunday 15 February 2009

Victoria Bush Fires 8

We witnessed the faithfulness of volunteers and supporters in the hundreds today by visiting Yarra Glen, Healsville, Toolangi, Yea, and Alexander, all in Victoria. Actually, we helped set up the office in Toolangi. The minute the road opened, Major Ron Clinch and company moved to take the service to the people.

At one of the sites, we arrived at the moment at which a senior couple was given the keys and official papers for ownership of a camper which they will drive to their property and begin the process of rebuilding their lives. The owner of the camper had driven it six hours to make the donation and without drama, left to make his own way back home.

Deep gratitude in the midst of near disbelief swelled in the hearts of the bushfire victims. They drove home with great hope.

There are many more stories and many of these will not be told. God is at work among the healing. Hallelujah!

Romans 12:3 (MSG)
3 I'm speaking to you out of deep gratitude for all that God has given me, and especially as I have responsibilities in relation to you. Living then, as every one of you does, in pure grace, it's important that you not misinterpret yourselves as people who are bringing this goodness to God. No, God brings it all to you. The only accurate way to understand ourselves is by what God is and by what he does for us, not by what we are and what we do for him.

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

In the aftermath of the major fires, let's not forget Redesdale fires - 4th largest on Black Saturday and wiped out 12 houses. Perhaps it is because there was no loss of life that the people, survivors, carers, cfa, support crews etc in this area seem to have been overlooked. Just a reminder that the salvos are looking after these peolpe and working in this area as much as any other.

Wendy

Anonymous said...

Commissioner, thank you for keeping us updated via your blog. It's good to know what's happening in response to the fires.