Sunday morning news update from KSBW.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D-aFsRmXXUI&feature=user
Sunday, May 25, 2008
Sunday 2:30 update
Last night the news said the fire was 25% contained, and this morning the San Jose Mercury reported 50% containment and 3900 acres burned. To give you an idea of how God has kept the fire at bay, when we first saw a news update on Thursday around 1:30, there were already 3000 acres burned and because of the winds they estimated 10000 acres.
The fire line near Koinonia has not moved since Thursday evening, and the only fires still showing smoke on this side of the hills are to the south closer to Freedom outside of Watsonville and higher up in Browns Valley, which are both a good distance away from Koinonia. The following picture shows our neighbors at Venture Valley retreat center pointing to Koinonia's location on a fire map. The red lines are the fire lines.
To get a bigger picture, visit this map and look for the 'hairpin turn' on Eureka Canyon Rd. above the yellow splotch separated from the main fire and north of Tyndale Ranch Rd.
When Dave and Kim visited camp yesterday, there was an inmate fire crew taking a rest in front of Brown Auditorium. Even when we weren't there, God was using Koinonia to refresh people! They saw Dave had a camera and they agreed to pose for him.
They drove all the way up to the summit and took photos of some of the damage. I'm not sure where these pictures are, but they are somewhere off of the road above camp and Dave took them yesterday.
We're not allowed to move back yet, but we can visit for a few hours. We hope to be back in a few days and get camp running again, but we aren't sure when residents will be allowed back to stay, so for now, we'll have to suffer through the pain of staying at the Seascape resort. Bummer!
The fire line near Koinonia has not moved since Thursday evening, and the only fires still showing smoke on this side of the hills are to the south closer to Freedom outside of Watsonville and higher up in Browns Valley, which are both a good distance away from Koinonia. The following picture shows our neighbors at Venture Valley retreat center pointing to Koinonia's location on a fire map. The red lines are the fire lines.
To get a bigger picture, visit this map and look for the 'hairpin turn' on Eureka Canyon Rd. above the yellow splotch separated from the main fire and north of Tyndale Ranch Rd.
When Dave and Kim visited camp yesterday, there was an inmate fire crew taking a rest in front of Brown Auditorium. Even when we weren't there, God was using Koinonia to refresh people! They saw Dave had a camera and they agreed to pose for him.
They drove all the way up to the summit and took photos of some of the damage. I'm not sure where these pictures are, but they are somewhere off of the road above camp and Dave took them yesterday.
We're not allowed to move back yet, but we can visit for a few hours. We hope to be back in a few days and get camp running again, but we aren't sure when residents will be allowed back to stay, so for now, we'll have to suffer through the pain of staying at the Seascape resort. Bummer!
Saturday, May 24, 2008
Saturday evening update
This afternoon Dave and Kim were able to drive up the canyon and visit Koinonia and their home. They were delighted to find that the whole drive up to Koinonia looked almost exactly the same as it did Wednesday save a few fallen tree branches. The road beyond camp is charred along the roadside, but their home and Daryl's home are safe as well.
The staff came together for dinner tonight, and it was good to see everyone not in a flurry and a bit calmer than the last time we were all together on Thursday morning. We shared stories and updates and talked about the last few days and the interesting circumstances evacuations bring. What we packed, what we forgot to do, what we left behind. We are thankful to God for the ways we have been blessed.
There are still fires in the Santa Cruz Mountains, and this website shows a map of the fires. Koinonia is right above the small yellow area that is isolated to the southwest. As you see, no new fires have started around that area since 9:00pm Thursday.
We hope to be able to return to camp tomorrow evening, but we don't know when we will be allowed to return. It will be good to go home.
The staff came together for dinner tonight, and it was good to see everyone not in a flurry and a bit calmer than the last time we were all together on Thursday morning. We shared stories and updates and talked about the last few days and the interesting circumstances evacuations bring. What we packed, what we forgot to do, what we left behind. We are thankful to God for the ways we have been blessed.
There are still fires in the Santa Cruz Mountains, and this website shows a map of the fires. Koinonia is right above the small yellow area that is isolated to the southwest. As you see, no new fires have started around that area since 9:00pm Thursday.
We hope to be able to return to camp tomorrow evening, but we don't know when we will be allowed to return. It will be good to go home.
SC Sentinel Article from Thursday
Both Tim and Dave are quoted in this article.
http://www.santacruzsentinel.com/ci_9348575?IADID=Search-www.santacruzsentinel.com-www.santacruzsentinel.com
http://www.santacruzsentinel.com/ci_9348575?IADID=Search-www.santacruzsentinel.com-www.santacruzsentinel.com
Relief effort?
Many people have offered their homes and help to Koinonia, and we have been blessed with places to stay since we came off the mountain.
At present, cleaning up Koinonia will be a days work, but we are looking into ways to help the Buddhist camp and a few neighbors clean up. Stay posted for more details in the days to come. Please continue to pray that our witness would be good in the community and consider if you might be able to come help next week when the fires are cleared. We know God works through circumstances like these and we trust that He will continue to work as He already has!
At present, cleaning up Koinonia will be a days work, but we are looking into ways to help the Buddhist camp and a few neighbors clean up. Stay posted for more details in the days to come. Please continue to pray that our witness would be good in the community and consider if you might be able to come help next week when the fires are cleared. We know God works through circumstances like these and we trust that He will continue to work as He already has!
Fire update Saturday 1:00
It is Saturday afternoon and we've decided to start this blog to keep you updated on the status of Koinonia and the fires. This is more accessible than our website and easier to update.
You can see a map of the fires as of Friday night if you click here. God has so far protected Koinonia and both Dave's and Daryl's house from the fire, even though the fire has been on 3 sides of camp. Dave and Kim are trying to go up the canyon as we speak with some pastors from Twin Lakes Church.
Here are some pictures from the last few days.
Early on Thursday we woke to an orange sky and smoke above the trees.
Dave across the street from his house above Koinonia on Thursday Morning.
Dave, Daryl and Craig drove up the road to see where the fire was coming from.
We evacuated the 200 guests, mostly middle school students, around 9:00. Dave was interviewed by phone soon after this by Channel 2 and KCBS, and later in the day by ABC Channel 7 news cameras.
The rest of the staff besides Dave, Daryl, and Guerillmo evacuated around 11:00am with the camp vehicles, important papers, computers, and other personal effects. The fire continued to burn all day Thursday across the street from Koinonia on the Wilson property across from the entrance road...
...at the water district property to the east of camp...
...and at the Buddhist camp on Martin and Martha's old property above and to the west of camp.
Here a helicopter draws water from the pond at the old wilderness camp on the Brown's old property. The fire would eventually come up to the edge of this pond.
We will keep you updated as we hear more. Thank you for your prayers.
You can see a map of the fires as of Friday night if you click here. God has so far protected Koinonia and both Dave's and Daryl's house from the fire, even though the fire has been on 3 sides of camp. Dave and Kim are trying to go up the canyon as we speak with some pastors from Twin Lakes Church.
Here are some pictures from the last few days.
Early on Thursday we woke to an orange sky and smoke above the trees.
Dave across the street from his house above Koinonia on Thursday Morning.
Dave, Daryl and Craig drove up the road to see where the fire was coming from.
We evacuated the 200 guests, mostly middle school students, around 9:00. Dave was interviewed by phone soon after this by Channel 2 and KCBS, and later in the day by ABC Channel 7 news cameras.
The rest of the staff besides Dave, Daryl, and Guerillmo evacuated around 11:00am with the camp vehicles, important papers, computers, and other personal effects. The fire continued to burn all day Thursday across the street from Koinonia on the Wilson property across from the entrance road...
...at the water district property to the east of camp...
...and at the Buddhist camp on Martin and Martha's old property above and to the west of camp.
Here a helicopter draws water from the pond at the old wilderness camp on the Brown's old property. The fire would eventually come up to the edge of this pond.
We will keep you updated as we hear more. Thank you for your prayers.
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