We couldn’t have asked for a calmer or more smooth transition back to school. Everyone was so excited to get back into the school year in person and our happiness wasn’t quenched! School started in August and continued throughout the quarter operating with no sicknesses or changes in restrictions. Though a little out of practice, the kids are adapting to being back in a school setting. They actually have gone above and beyond with keeping the school looking nice and interacting well as a group. A new group of Student Council representatives have been making plans and keeping the students engaged with some fun projects. Our teachers are encouraged and working hard. All has been “muy tranquilo.”
So of course we had to throw in some excitement…
Almost three weeks ago now, we were all headed out to our morning break when suddenly loud BANGS began rocking the whole campus. Sending my students with another teacher, I ran towards the front of the base to see a gigantic billow of smoke and flames across the street from our property. Even now, thinking of the explosive pops going off, I feel my body tensing up. The Lama Gas plant where we get our bottles of propane refilled across the street had caught fire and propane tanks were exploding one by one sending debris flying in the air. We quickly moved the students to Refugio de Esperanza, the school behind us where one of our SAM missionaries teaches. It was an intense afternoon of sorting through misinformation and working through details to be sure our students were all safe as firefighters rushed in to contain the fire at the plant and deal with gas explosions.
After navigating road closures and crazier than normal traffic, parents were able to get to Refugio to evacuate their children. We then closed up the school and houses on base and evacuated ourselves as they declared a safety radius beyond the SAM Center and Refugio. I don’t know that I have ever been so shaken in my life. The sounds of those tanks exploding for over a half-an-hour was overwhelming. When we were finally able to process all that had happened, I didn’t know how to ask others to pray, or how to really report what we had gone through. It was such a surreal thing.
The next day school was cancelled and the following weeks saw more road closures and a few tense situations as the city dealt with possible gas leaks and the removal of the remaining tanks. Our kids took a little time to recover, jumping at the sound of a motorcar backfiring and even the common sight of smoke in the air. But as always, God redeemed crazy for good.
One of the beautiful things that came out of this incident was a unique appreciation for our firefighters. The bomberos here in Ucayali Region are totally volunteer, without any significant support from the local government. All of their equipment is secondhand and many went into that fire lacking proper equipment. They had no gas masks or proper flashlights and even the chief firefighter was shown with holes in his boots. There has been a huge cry for support for these men and women, and I am proud to say our kids stepped up and answered in a huge way. In just a week, our students raised 2,900 soles for our local firemen! We were able to present them with this money and a special, heartfelt thank-you during our chapel the week after the incident.
In addition, I am super, super thankful for the safety God granted us. Not only did he see that only 3 people total were injured (Only 3, despite the plant full of workers and a neighboring warehouse catching on fire!), He graciously kept all of us safe throughout. (I learned later that Mike had taken a quick walk to the store to pick up a few things and was leaving the store as the fire started. He was forced to stop in the intersection and watched as a propane tank flew through the air and landed ahead on the sidewalk that leads to our base. Not sure how that prayer request would have gone over…please pray for Mike Brown who was hit by a flying propane tank.) So thankful for the safety God granted all of us!
So, prayerfully, we are back to calm. All of our 35 students who are coming this semester are here. We just welcomed three new girls (Grades 8,9 and 10) who are part of a Pioneer family new to the field. Our own family is temporarily a family of 5. Camilla Carrera is staying with us for a month or so while her mom is in the US for cancer treatment. Say a little prayer for them when you think of it, please, friends. It is hard to be a family apart from each other. Camilla’s moving-in also increased our pet count to 3 birds, 2 dogs and 2 cats, one of whom is pregnant. To say we are a zoo is an understatement! Thank the Lord though we are a healthy, happy zoo!
So despite a temporary “moment” of chaos, we continue on. We have now added “explosion day” to our list of crazy reasons the school has been forced to close. (And you thought snow days were wild!)
We love you dear friends! As you enter into the fall season, enjoy the chill in the air and drink something pumpkin spice for us! You are in our hearts as always!
Family of 4 Serving 1 