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Relief
Diary - Poomacha Incident - San Diego County
Wednesday,
October 31st - Seven of us from CC La Habra towed the CC Relief
kitchen trailer and a generator to Fallbrook to come alongside Safe
Harbor to feed National Guard. Set up trailer and helped cook/serve
lunch & dinner. Met Kent, Joe & Pastor John from CC WestGrove, as
well as 3 brothers from CC Vancouver (WA) who were there with Safe
Harbor. Left trailer/generator there and returned to La Habra @ 9:00
p.m.
Thursday,
November 1st - Received call from Rick with Safe Harbor. Told us
that firefighters @ Palomar Mountain needed food. Red Cross was
feeding lunch/dinner, but could not do breakfast. Loaded up
trailer/generator and rolled eastbound w/La Habra day crew and CCWG
guys following in motorhome. Driving east on 76 we saw total
destruction off to the north. Missed the turnoff - roadsign had been
destroyed by fire. Major U-turn action and we're back in business.
Get to mountaintop helipad where Red Cross and FDNY D.A.R.T. Team
are set up. Local volunteer fire department dispatcher cries when
she learns we are there to give them breakfast. CC WestGrove guys
agree to stay a few days to help out.
Friday,
November 2nd - Wake up at 4:30 a.m. to get breakfast rolling.
Firefighters can't stop smiling as we pile them up with french
toast, bacon and breakfast taters. We decide that we will throw on
some burgers and dogs to supplement the Red Cross lunch
(noodles/rice/green beans). Three CC La Habra folks drive up to help
feed lunch and dinner. Talk the CCWG guys into staying up there for
the duration. Food drop from CCWG and 3 more bodies to stay for the
night and help out for breakfast. Bedtime @ 11:00 p.m.
Saturday,
November 3rd - Up again @ 4:30 a.m. Local residents are now checking
us out and loving the chow. Fire crews from the U.S. Forest Service,
Bureau of Land Management, Bureau of Indian Affairs, Cal Fire, State
Parks and the Palomar Mountain Volunteer Fire Department are smiling
as they line up at the kitchen trailer. Four CCLH folks drive up to
help with lunch and dinner again. Dinner is wild - Red Cross runs
out of food because 200 additional firefighters show up after
hearing about the food. We throw on more burgers and dogs end up
feeding over 500 that night. Three Native American firefighters
gives their lives to Christ after Joe from CCWG shares with them!
Plans are made for a Sunday church service at the camp, but we lack
any worship. Knock on the motorhome @ 11:00 p.m. - Local church
member asks us if they can combine services with us since their
normal spot is unavailable because of the fire. He mentions that
they have a worship team! So excited that we don't get to sleep
until 1:00 a.m.
Sunday,
November 4th - Sleep in 'til 5:00 a.m. - wonderful! Breakfast then
set up for church service. Firefighters and Red Cross join us, many
of them re-dedicate their lives to Jesus. Kent from CCWG has been
sharing with an 80 year old local man who reminds him of his
deceased dad. The man is being forced to move down the mountain due
to early signs of Alzheimer's. Does not want to leave his home of 20
years and is mad at the world. Rededicates his life and asks for a
large-print Bible, but we didn't bring one - Kent gives him his, and
writes his name and phone number inside the cover. Many tears of joy
flow - the man's daughter shows up 3 hours later and wants to know
who gave her dad the Bible. Says she has been praying for her dad
for many years, and attends a Calvary Chapel down in San Diego.
Lunch & dinner go well - Decision made to pack it in after breakfast
tomorrow - no one available to spend time up here - we are
exhausted, smelly and miss our families.
Monday,
November 5th - Great breakfast - only 3 of us cooking - FDNY guys
offer to help serve the firefighters the food out front. 250 for
breakfast today - Pastor John shares the gospel with a male and
female firefighter from Oregon. Say they have never heard the gospel
message - give their lives to Christ. John asks them their names -
He's Joseph and she's Mary! Start to clean up. Four guys from CC La
Habra drive up to help us clean up and pack up. Another Native
American firefighter gives his life to Jesus just before we pull
out. Goodbyes to everyone - Red Cross. FDNY and locals. We are
blessed by serving them.
Long drive
back - brakes burning up driving down the windy mountain road. We
are dog-tired but smiling. Get back to La Habra and unpack a few
things - we'll clean out the trailer on Saturday. We figure out that
we cooked 4,000 meals. Feels like it!
GOD IS
GOOD!
DONATIONS
to offset the cost of the food & supplies can be made
through a
secure payment by
Clicking Here or
mailing donations to:
Calvary Chapel Relief - 1370 S. Euclid Street,
La Habra CA 90631
| Photos from Fallbrook Relief Effort | |
