Christmas always brings back memories. The family gathered, the Christmas story, great food…you know what I mean. But for 30 people in Bellefonte, Christmas now has a new memory.
A fire broke out last night in an apartment complex where our friends Aaron and Jessica Hart live. They’ve been married since the summer, and Aaron’s just come on staff at Calvary as my assistant at midtown and a Ministry Apprentice. They, like many of the others who lived in their apartment complex, lost almost everything they owned to the blaze.
WJAC coverage here. Centre Daily Times coverage here.
Aaron and Jess were supposed to be flying to visit her family in Chicago this afternoon. He grabbed his backpack on the way out of their apartment, saving his laptop, his Bible, and a copy of The Chronicles of Narnia. Jess ran out in her bathrobe. They lost all their furniture, all their clothing, all their books and artwork…Aaron even gave away his jacket to someone on the street as they watched the firemen work to save the building. They’ve lost a lot of stuff, but they’re alive, and have a great attitude about the whole thing. I was amazed at their story, and their perspective today.
Thanks to some connections that Calvary has at the airport, they were able to get on a later flight at no extra charge. They spent the day at the DMV getting a new license for Jess, and were able to buy some clothes and necessities.
They’re going to be fine. I am certain that the church will rally around them and help them get back on their feet when they come back from Chicago. They’ve already received offers of temporary housing, and we’ve fielded lots of phone calls from people wanting to know how they can help. In the next few days, we’ll be putting together a plan for those of you who’d like to jump in.
Tonight, as I’m thinking about the bigger picture, I find myself wondering if we can do something substantial to help some of the other victims of this fire. There may be a lot of people who don’t have family and friends in a position to help.
Stay tuned to see what develops here…
1 Comment
Jo Moseley · March 6, 2010 at 12:03 am
I hope it’s okay for a “girl” to be reading your Blog! ; )
You have such a Heart for the Lord. I just found your blog and it’s actually several months after this update. I hope your friends are settled into a new home by now. I’m always so Blessed to find other Christians who blog about life and the ways He works in them!
Congrats..on the new Daughter! Blessings ~ Jo