Hello Brothers and Sisters!
First of all, I am sorry for the late posting of this update. I have tried to avoid my phone and internet in the past few days. Anyway, thank you a million times for the outpouring concern and prayers for us who are directly affected by the fires and evacuation.
I just read the whole thread today and realized I need to update you guys of what's going on. First things first, let me tell you the story/background of why I am here in Fort McMurray.
Four years ago, my parents lost their job in Quebec. It is a Frenchie province in Canada, of course we are not even fluent with English language, why worry about learning French, right? Brother W. suggested to my family that Fort Mcmurray has a bigger needs. Well, Montreal and big cities in Canada, has needs too but Fort McMurray is different since most of the Filipinos here are TFW (Temporary Foreign Worker), they are homesick, they are religious and they need that spiritual comfort. We also have that article that talks about stepping to Macedonia. After a few family worship discussion and prayers for guidance February 2011 my parents (+my siblings) decided to moved from Montreal to Fort McMurray. December 2012, I decided to visit my family. Few months later I decided to be with my family. First assignment in the congregation is to take care of the territory of the Tagalog Group. My Dad was an elder from Montreal Tagalog, after few months, they recommended him to resume his privileges and serve as an Elder in the congregation and to take care of the group. A year later since my family's moved, congregation officially announced the formation of the Tagalog Group and we can have Sunday Meeting in the second hall. Around the same time, my parents decided to purchased a house since it is practically cheaper to purchase a house than living in an apartment. And the service group is in our house which (which now is gone).
Few months after, we invited brothers to our house to stay and help us but nothing works out. The original brother who told my parents to come to Fort Mcmurray decided to stay with us. Few months after, he decided to settle. Few CO visits later, there are now 3 Tagalog elders who will take care of the group. We (as a group) slowly separated our meetings from the English Congregation. Every CO visits since we moved, there was a steady increase of our territory which leads to my story this year. First week of February, was our very first Tagalog Circuit Visit. Recommendations were made and second week of May, the GB approved the formation of Wood Buffalo Tagalog Congregation to be effective May 1st.
An eventful week followed.
1st of May, the smoke was all over the city. After our bible study with my dad, we went home and saw this fire. Just a normal wildfire. It was only 2 miles (or 3 km) away from our house.
That day was supposed to be our very first mid-week meeting after becoming a congregation.
I have prepared images for everyone.
Narrative