[Magdalen] Prayer Request--Fire at the neighbors'

[Lynn Ronkainen]

prayers offered for this sad and difficult situation Jay - glad you were 
there to be the hands, feet, comfort and hospitality to them.

Lynn

website: www.ichthysdesigns.com

When I stand before God at the end of my life I would hope that I have not a 
single bit of talent left and could say, "I used everything You gave me." 
attributed to Erma Bombeck
 "Either Freedom for all or stop talking about Freedom at all" from a talk 
by Richard Rohr

--------------------------------------------------
From: "Jay Weigel" <jay.weigel at gmail.com>
Sent: Sunday, January 15, 2017 10:35 AM
To: <magdalen at herberthouse.org>
Subject: [Magdalen] Prayer Request--Fire at the neighbors'

> Last night I was just about asleep when I heard a couple of bangs like car
> doors slamming and then a couple more. Our neighbors across the road, and
> the ones just down the hill. are known to be noisy at times, so I grumbled
> and turned over. A few minutes later I was startled out of near-sleep by a
> louder boom and sat up, saying "holy sh*t, what was that?" which woke S/O.
> I didn't hear anything more, but less than ten minutes later there were
> suddenly flashing red lights in the bedroom window. At that point I  got
> up, threw on my robe, and started down the stairs. I got halfway down to
> where I could see the road and came back up. "It *is* something! There's
> cops everywhere!" I said. S/O got up, we both got dressed, and we went
> outside...he was quicker than I was, so by the time I got downstairs he 
> was
> already back in looking for some blankets.
>
> It wasn't the police, it was fire engines, lots of them. Six companies, 5
> of them volunteer, plus one truck from Harrisonburg. Six young people were
> standing in our driveway. Their outbuilding, a garage/workshop similar to
> ours but much larger, was engulfed in flames. In it were their tractor, a
> truck cab and other things, welding and mechanic equipment, and the young
> man's treasured Mustang, as well as the dog runs for their 4 dogs. The
> three grown dogs had been in the runs; the puppy had been in the house 
> with
> them. As the story came out over the course of the next couple of hours,
> while we shuttled back and forth with tea for them, water for the dogs,
> blankets, etc., one young couple apparently lives in the house and the 
> rest
> are more or less related one way  and another, siblings with their
> significant others. The father of one of the young couple (not sure if the
> husband or wife) is the same man who built our house and also built 
> theirs;
> He died just a few months ago (we weren't aware of that) and they're still
> sorting out the will. Anyway, the guys had been hanging out in the shop as
> guys will, and had left 15 minutes or so prior to the fire to get snacks 
> or
> something at the local 7-11. When they got halfway back they could already
> see the flames and one of them had the presence of mind to call the girls
> to get up and get out of the house (they were already up 0 and call 911.
> The firetrucks came without sirens or that definitely would have wakened
> the neighborhood. When they got back one of the guys was able to get to 
> the
> building and open the dog runs (very brave on his part!) but then he had 
> to
> run for his life. They got 2 of the dogs but were still looking for the
> other when we got outside.
>
> The building is a total loss, as is everything in it, but the house and
> garage are safe. Firemen found the body of the dog inside; she was
> apparently too scared to move. The young folks had no electricity and no
> water as of early this morning and probably none today. They have
> homeowner's insurance but don't know whether it covers any of what they
> lost. They're young and not well-educated and still sorting out what to do
> after dad's death. Pray for Jason and Alex and their extended family and
> also for Izzy, the dog who didn't make it.
>
> And by the way, It's a hell of a way to meet your neighbors!