Monday June 7, 2010

 

House Fire

Visiting Chaplain Jim & Cindy in West Virginia

Sunday, May 30

 

 

When we heard about Chaplain Jim and Cindy’s house fire, we wondered how a house could burn without neighbors seeing it – then we followed them in their half-mile long driveway and understood.

 

 

They have a fabulous spot in the mountain, with this as their only open view.

 

 

Jim had just arrived at the chapel at Frystown, Pennsylvania, early last week when he got a phone call from a friend who said he heard on the scanner that his house had burned to the ground.

Jim had a few changes of clothing. Cindy was at work and had only the clothing on her back. They also lost all their TFC ministry supplies and display board. We were pleased to loan our things to them, and travel to their area to deliver them. It wasn’t quite so pleasing to see the remains of their house.

 

 

Almost everything was burned beyond recognition.

 

 

This desk was recognizable, but as you can see, unusable.

 

 

Everything on the first floor fell into the lower level.

 

 

Cindy covered this part to protect it from the elements, because she thought there may be some valuables in this area.

 

 

An old sewing machine from her grandmother.

 

 

 

 

Cindy and Jim in an entrance door to the lower level of what was their house. There are smiles on their faces due to the grace of God, but this has been a very painful time for them.

 

 

It was painful to walk through the rubble, and try to imagine how I would be doing if this was our house, and all our worldly belongings.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Jim salvaged some coins.

 

 

Imagine if all your filed records and important papers looked like this.

 

 

Cindy took me to a shed to show me a small box of things she was able to salvage – a few photo albums.

 

 

 

 

Notice the singed, browned trees.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Through all this Jim was able to joke about lifting with the ruined weight set.

 

 

We left their place asking God to give them grace, and peace, and strength.

 

 

Pray for Cindy and Jim as they navigate through this painful, life-changing event in their lives.

They also have two grown sons – one recently married and the other in the military. They also lost some things that were still at their parents house.