I've written these stories before, for distant acquaintances, and although my heart was in each and every campaign, none have my heart quite like this one. This hits my home, my heart and my family.

We know that our experiences shape us...teach us...challenge us, and form us, into who we are, who God designed us to be. With every victory, every blessing, every milestone, and inevitably, every challenge or season of suffering, we find a piece of ourselves and we have two choices:  Do we allow the challenges to make us or break us? Do we get angry with God, or do we submit and say OK, here I am Lord?  Sometimes what we see as a season of our undoing, is actually a season of God moving and rebuilding.  Allowing for temporary destruction so that we are rebuilt with grit, character and peace that surpasses all understanding. It is in these hard moments, the circumstances which really test us and our faith, that we have nothing else to cling to but God alone.

I ask that you envision your family as you read this story of mine. My sister Rae, and her husband Steven, have a beautiful family which consists of 3 children, Khai (12), Austyn (3), and Stevie Jr. (1). They are your typical family, where dad works tirelessly to provide and mom works tirelessly to pour love into and be present for her children as a stay at home mom.

On the evening of December 4, 2024, they were enjoying a cool windy Key West evening outdoors. Steven had put steaks on the grill for the family and Rae was entertaining the kids on their outdoor patio enjoying the change of season air. As Rae watched her two younger children jump on the trampoline, and her older son help Steven with dinner on the grill, in an instance, everything changed. Suddenly what was a beautiful evening for this family turned into a nightmare, something most of us will never experience. The propane tank which was connected to their grill caught fire, and would soon cause an explosion which would forever change their life. Fortunately, they were able to react quickly enough to get the entire family to safety. While no physical bodily injury was sustained (Praise God), they are left dealing with the emotional loss... their home, the house they became a family in, has been destroyed. They are left with no material belongings and an immediate need to rebuild.

Ask yourself: Where do you even start? How do you begin? There is no manual for something like this.... the questions, the documents, the basic necessities they use daily... all gone, in a single moment.

This family, the Davila family, is well rooted in Key West, FL.  They have lived in and loved/supported their Keys community for generations. It is our prayer as a family now, that this love and support would be reciprocated to this family in need. Any dollar amount will help. It is my goal to raise as much as possible so that their basic everyday necessities can  be replenished while they work with their homeowners insurance to determine what lies ahead.

One thing we believe as a family: Our God is with us, He is sovereign over all, and although we may not understand His reasoning or timing of this situation, we trust that He can work all things together for our good. We are still victorious and we will continue to give God the glory for His protection of what is most precious, our family. They are safe and everything else can be replaced.

I humbly ask that you consider donating, any dollar amount, if you feel led to do so. This family needs all our prayers and support thru this difficult time. The family's immediate needs are everyday essentials...Together, lets show them just how far God's reach is and how BIG His love is!

 Thank you, with the utmost gratitude!