Fire victims praise God kindnesses shown

To the Editor:

In the early morning hours of Feb. 21 I woke up to change my grandson's diaper. I thought I smelled smoke but when I checked everywhere I couldn't see anything and none of the smoke alarms were sounding. We had smoke alarms in every room!

I laid back down with my grandson, Roman. I remember thinking that I was so tired and I wanted to go back to sleep! Usually I would check my texts, get on Facebook, and at times Roman would cry for something to drink. None of that occurred in that particular time at 1:45 in the morning.

People told me that things were probably burning and was sitting off chemical smells that were making me extremely sleepy.

I do know without a doubt that I kept hearing a voice saying get up, get up, and don't go back to sleep!

I kept thinking it was the heater that needed cleaning and I had turned it off. Just go back to sleep and everything would be OK, I thought. But Praise God, He wouldn't let me go back to sleep!!! I was so close to going back to sleep. Instead, I got up and with my husband, Lin. He said he smelled smoke as well, but we could not find anything anywhere. The smoke alarms were not sounding!

I grabbed my iPhone and used it as a flashlight so I wouldn't wake everyone up. I found the bathroom lights were not working. I went to the breaker box and I didn't find any breakers thrown; however, I pressed on the switches just in case. Lin said the only thing he knew was that he would try to stay awake and see if anything happened.

I tried the breakers again. I walked away 8 to 10 feet and the breaker box exploded with flames. I told Lin to get Roman and I would get the girls. We had discussions with our family more than once to always get out right away! Do not try to get anything just get out and go to our mailbox area by the road. The girls immediately got up and ran out the door.

Lin had a huge football dressing on his foot where he previously had toes removed. He had Roman in his arms but he was stumbling around screaming that he could not get out the front. The front was also on fire. I grabbed Roman, and Lin and I went to the back door. By this time fire was everywhere, even above the door. Two of our pets went out the door with us. Then the door caved in just as we got to the bottom of the steps. I was told by neighbors that the place burned completely within seven minutes.

We went across the road to Dean and Dora Armor's while calling 911. Neighbors came out immediately to make sure we all got out! The boys were not home. I believe in my heart that we would not have been able to get them out!

Our sweet 83-year-old neighbor, Betty Miller, and her daughter, Suzie (in a wheelchair) took us in that very morning. All of us stayed with them for a week. They opened their hearts and home to us in our time of need. For the first time in my life (59 years old) I was homeless.

Butler County Fire and the Twin Rivers Fire Department came out. Remember that was the night of the snow/lightening storm. The roads were covered in ice! The place was burned by the time the fire department got there; however, they were able to contain it from burning neighbors' homes! The fire chief gave us Red Cross numbers. They were so kind and precious to us. Roman loves fire trucks and he was allowed to put on a real fire hat!

We lost everything! But praise God no one was injured!!! God lead us through the fire!

Our car that was paid for, but had liability insurance only, was burned. Our van did not burn because it was parked close to the road in case we needed to get out due to the storm. However, my purse with my keys to the van burned. For several days we had no transportation except my friends.

I was at Walgreens trying to get medicine replaced and while standing in line I told a lady about the fire. She left the line and came back in a few minutes with her husband and gave us some money. He told us to let them know if anything else was needed. I explained the situation about trying to get a key for my van. He picked up his phone and called someone. Both of these individuals arranged for a key to be programmed to my van, parked at Broseley, and then the key was brought to me. This was done by the next day! They saved us about $500 by getting the key and not having the van towed.

This message was first to explain the horrible things that we went through but how God was there with us, took care of us, and continues to take care of us.

Lin, Clara, Nikki, Roman, Elizabeth, Hunter, Alexis, Johnathan, and Madison want to express how thankful we are to God and everyone who helped us in gifts and prayers!!!!

I did not get everyone's name who helped us so much by giving and praying. People left stuff on our doorstep when I wasn't even there!

Gifts included everything. I needed an ink pen. I could not find one anywhere. Then I remembered the bag of sharpened pencils with erasers as well as ink pens that were given. My mother's quilts burned; however, people gave quilts. They were quilts that their family members made or even by themselves. I started to buy some extra pillowcases one night. The next morning I was looking through a box and found a huge supply of pillowcases. No gift was too small! Each gift was just what we needed.

The corporate organization in town are unable to give without contacting the main office. However, the staff such as North McDonald's and Wendy's purchased meals for us. When I started to pay they told me no charge.

People who we do not even know have given. May God Bless each and everyone one, even little Mackenna who gave her $5. Please forgive us if we leave someone out!

Family, friends, strangers, Butler County Fire Department, Twin Rivers Fire Department, Twin Rivers General Baptist Church, Red Cross, Black River Church to include the man who was working on their drive who gave us $100, love offerings from Friendship Baptist Church at Dexter (We do not know any of those beautiful people! But God does!), our church family who brought clothes that very morning, staff and friends of First Midwest Bank, Karly's Kloset, South Central Community Action Agency, staff and friends of Independent Living Center, Women's Citizenship Club, VA Medical Center, Twin Rivers General Baptist Church found us a place and set us up.

Our landlord, Todd Inman, has been a Godsend, but we have to find a new place as soon as we can!

We are a family of 6 children, 3 adults, two inside pets and some outside pets. We are sad that not all of our pets made it out of the fire. After losing so much we just cannot give up our two inside pets. They are small pad trained dogs.

We are asking for people to continue to open their hearts. We are looking for a house in the country. Preferably the Twin Rivers School District. However, if we have to we will move elsewhere. If you know of a place please call us as soon as you can, (Clara 573-712-0002).

One of our vehicles burned and of course it was the one that was paid for with liability insurance only. We are in desperate need of another vehicle. However, our funds are low; if you know of a good older cheap vehicle please contact us.

But above all please continue to pray for us! We all have been through a lot, however, the children are still having problems and nightmares. God is good and all the time; God is good! I know that He will continue to take care of us by using friends, family and even strangers.

Clara Wright

Broseley, Mo.