The smell of smoke

This morning as we awoke, the air lay heavy with the smell of smoke. Last night’s fire had devastated a large swathe of forest above our house and the crackle of flames in the tree tops just 500 m away had caused an abrupt end to our Bible study as the group beat a hasty retreat down the mountain. The wailing siren of an ancient fire tender and the animated shouts of villagers added to the sense of urgency. Their combined hard work in dousing the flames together with the grace of God in sending rain prevented the fire from engulfing the houses, and PTL no lives were lost.