PHOTO: LAURIE TRUJILLO
God’s Hand Protects the NCC Family
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y the end of August, the Northern California Conference (NCC) territory had been hit by 12 wildfires, unprecedented in their growth rate and intensity. “Although this has been a very challenging time for many, we praise the Lord for keeping our members safe,” said President Marc Woodson. “At the same time, we mourn with those who lost their homes.” Caldor Fire – Leoni Meadows Leoni Meadows staff members became aware of the Caldor Fire about three hours after it started. As it burned toward the camp, the staff evacuated horses, packed up valuables, and endeavored to protect the buildings. They used a bulldozer to cut fire lines, blew pine needles off roofs, and moved flammable items away from structures. After leaving for safety, they—along with people around the conference and the country—prayed and waited to see what would happen. “We heard competing rumors,” said Eric Henton, Leoni’s assistant director. “Multiple people said there was nothing left.” However, when he and other staff were able to get back to the property, they saw that most of the main buildings were still standing, including the Leoni Lodge, the Meadow View Inn, and the historic
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26 Pacific Union Recorder
Northern California Conference
Leoni House. “We were pretty relieved,” said Henton. “God is good.” Unfortunately, some staff members lost their homes, and the property was badly burned. “We lost between 90 and 95 percent of the growth on our 1,000 acres,” said Executive Director Craig Heinrich. (Read his story of God’s providence at right.) “It’s a mixture of emotions—a rollercoaster,” said forestry manager Chris Pappas, who lost his home in the blaze. “We are so grateful that nobody got hurt, the horses were evacuated, and so much was saved. At the end of the day, it was a positive outcome compared to what could have been. Everyone is safe, and the core of the camp is still there.” Caldor Fire – Placerville Area As of this writing, 27 families from the Placerville church and El Dorado Adventist School have evacuated their homes and are waiting to see if they are still standing. The church continues to serve the evacuees, providing food and spiritual nurturing. “While this is a challenging time, people are seeing needs and doing whatever they can to bless others,” said Ed Fargusson, interim senior pastor. In addition, 23 families from the Camino/Camino Spanish district have evacuated, including Pastor Avimael Mendoza. River Fire As the River Fire approached, Grass Valley church Senior Pastor Jeff Richards was evacuated from his home, along with 15 other
