HOPE AFTER THE FIRE

Letter from Franklin Graham

Dear Friend,

It’s been another brutal season for wildfires across Canada, particularly for our neighbors in upper Saskatchewan, where the raging Wolf Fire in June burned hundreds of homes around Amisk Lake.

In the northern village of Denare Beach, near the Saskatchewan-Manitoba border, 218 homes were destroyed in a community of just 700 people. We thank God that the residents were able to safely evacuate. Samaritan’s Purse deployed one of our Disaster Relief Units from Calgary, and we were joined by an army of volunteers from across Canada to help the survivors find hope in our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, as they begin to recover and rebuild.

At Samaritan’s Purse, we have plenty of experience working in the aftermath of wildfires, such as the ones that devastated British Columbia and Hawaii in past years. Our teams know how to prayerfully sift through ashes to find rings and other treasured keepsakes, which can help families find closure and see how much God cares for them, especially in times of trouble.

We also help people who are forced from their homes because of fires. In August, we deployed to Vancouver Island to operate evacuation centers for residents near Nanaimo and Port Alberni. Our teams welcomed evacuees with beds, blankets, pillows, and hygiene items.

When we respond to wildfires, I’m always reminded of the Bible story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who were cast into a fiery furnace for defying King Nebuchadnezzar. “‘Did we not cast three men bound into the midst of the fire?’ ... ‘I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire; and they are not hurt, and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God’” (Daniel 3:24-25).

Our mission is to help the survivors of these wildfires realize that in the midst of their suffering, the Son of God dearly wants to walk with them and comfort them. Please join us in praying for those who have lost their homes, and ask God to protect those who are endangered by ongoing wildfires. Thank you for your prayers and support for the ministry of Samaritan’s Purse.

Sincerely,

Franklin Graham

Precious Possessions Rescued in Denare Beach

Clothed in protective suits, Samaritan's Purse volunteers waded into the ashes of Cory and Meredith Norman's home. The Wolf Fire that tore through Denare Beach, Saskatchewan, on June 2, destroyed nearly everything the couple owned, including the home they had shared for years. This was the house where Cory grew up and the one his father and grandfather built. “It was very emotional coming back to see it,” said Meredith, who is also the chief administrative officer for Denare Beach.

Still, the Normans hoped something might have survived the flames, so they called Samaritan’s Purse. Equipped from one of our Disaster Relief Unit tractor-trailers, our volunteers sifted the ashes of their home, searching for precious possessions.

IN THE LAST SHOVELFUL

The couple asked the team to look for two of their wedding rings, an anniversary ring, and one necklace that belonged to Meredith’s grandmother. “We heard of your success finding things for other people,” Cory said, standing near the hole that used to be his basement. “I was going to go down in there and try, but I knew I would end up getting frustrated and just probably not successful. That’s why we got you.”

But hours of searching brought up little. Still, the volunteers dug, sifted, and prayed until the team lead called an end to the day. “It’s time to finish,” she told them.

Unwilling to give up, one team member dumped a final scoop of debris onto the sifter, and another immediately cried out, “Thank you, God!” All four pieces of the Norman’s treasured jewelry were in the last shovelful. We praise God!

“Everything important that we were looking for, they found it!” Cory said with a big smile. “We lost everything, but we still got that, and we’ll make it through this together.”

As the team celebrated with Cory and Meredith through hugs and tears, they also had an opportunity to present them with a signed Bible and pray with them in Jesus’ Name. “Thank you,” Meredith responded. “We are very, very grateful.”

AN ANGEL AMONG ASHES

Chandy, another homeowner, was overwhelmed when a Samaritan’s Purse team showed her a small angel pulled from the ashes of her home.

“To Nanny. Love, Chandy,” read a small inscription still visible on the bottom. Chandy’s eyes filled with tears when she held the figurine she had given to her late grandmother decades ago. “My Nanny was my favorite person in the whole world,” Chandy told us. “I remember giving it to her for Christmas a long time ago. ... It’s a Godsend.”

‘THE ASH IS MY WEDDING DRESS’

Brooke, a mother of three, found some closure as our volunteers searched her property. “It’s hard to picture everything ending up in a dump, even just the ash,” she said. “The ash is my wedding dress; it’s everything that you had. Now I feel like I have closure, and we can get our yard demolished. What I could have found was found, and now it’s time to move on.”

Our team found a Dutch oven belonging to Brooke’s grandma, her cast-iron frying pans, and family Christmas decorations, “things that were irreplaceable to us,” Brooke said.

Another homeowner whispered to one of our team members after a Bible presentation, “Your companionship with me today meant the world to me.”

We thank God for partners like you who stand with Canadian families in crisis—sharing the hope of the Gospel in word and deed. As God’s Word says, “Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ” (Galatians 6:2).

You made it possible to help 77 families in Denare Beach this summer. Samaritan’s Purse long-term recovery specialists have visited the community to explore how we might help further. Please keep praying for these families. Our teams also continue to monitor other wildfires, ready to respond across Canada in Jesus’ Name.

Thankfully Sharing God's Provision at Harvest

A bountiful garden grows outside Michelle’s school in Kenya. Handmade signs with labels like “beetroot” and “sweet potato” identify a variety of plants. “Most of the learners here are interested in farming,” said the school principal. “That’s why most of the time, after classes, they are in the garden checking what is going on there.”

Michelle is 13 years old and in Grade 7. She dreams of working in agriculture when she grows up. “I have learned a lot in this garden and I have seen the benefits,” she said.

She explains how the garden enriches meals with protein, vitamins, and carbohydrates. Beyond studying the nutritional science behind gardening, Michelle is also learning the Biblical values of generosity and diligence. “We can sell vegetables to others, we can eat, and we can also provide for those who do not have vegetables,” she said.

One of her classmates chimes in: “I have prepared an organic garden at home and I have taught my parents. They are very happy and proud of me.”

“YOU CAN FIND ME ON THE FARM.”

As we enter harvest season in Canada, God gives us these opportunities to defend children and families from hunger around the world. At Michelle’s school, our local partner provided fencing, tools, seeds, and garden training through prayer and support like yours.

In the same region, Hivene, a mother of four, received support to run a small chicken farm. She uses the training and supplies to grow azolla plants and black soldier fly larvae—excellent, natural sources of feed for her flock. Hivene has become such a successful chicken farmer that we send others to learn from her.

She uses the opportunity to share God’s love and Good News with her neighbors. “I am a born-again Christian,” she said. “I’m also a teacher professionally, but you can find me on the farm.”