Fire at YWAM Belize...

Monday we embarked on a drive to southern Belize for a staff retreat. About 15 minutes away from our destination, our director received a call...the YWAM kitchen was on fire!!
It had been a busy morning, packing and finishing up last minute details on base before our entire staff headed to a relaxing time and input from Rick Allegretto, the YWAM regional director for Central America and Mexico. We left the base, everyone anticipating a special couple days ahead and some good sun and pool time.
Not long after we had left, the butane company came to fill our tanks, we were anticipating all the preparations for the upcoming youth conference this weekend. As we heard...the butane tank being filled caught on fire and ignited the entire kitchen. It quickly spread through the kitchen and on to the dining hall, incinerating the dry wood from "20" years of service. Everything was destroyed: melted fridges, warped freezer, stoves, utensils, towels, bowls, cups, spoons, coffee makers, coolers, food- everything gone. It was a shock and even more frightening for our short term volunteers that stayed here on campus while we were gone.
The fire department arrived about a half hour after they were contacted. All the while the butane filling truck positioned near the kitchen. The men had to wait until the fire melted the rubber hose to disconnect it from the butane tank. What a story!
We are grateful no one was seriously injured...one of the butane company workers was burned on his hand, I believe. God was so faithful that no one else was there...our children of the families here always ride their bikes by the kitchen.

Now we start from scratch...we've seen our community rally behind YWAM in this time. For this weekend- Legacy Youth Conference- the show must go on. We won't let this crisis deter us from what God wants to do in the hearts of these young people this weekend. Pastor Scott from Roaring Creek jumped right in, rallying help and setting up a make-shift kitchen. A couple groups in Belize, young people included, came today to help clean the wreckage. My Refuge, the local Christian radio station helped raise money, two stoves were donated, butane tanks and money was given from the butane company...we've seen God's hand move through the responses of others.
Please keep us in your prayers in this time as we start from the ground- today we were talking about new tablecloths we could use, only to remember that they were stored in the kitchen, how ironic! Pray that God would send helpers...I'll keep you updated as more unfolds...check out the pictures.
blessings...Omar and Alyssa