November 17, 2018 Next Thursday, November 22, 2018, is Thanksgiving Day. There are many things we may be thankful for, and we should express that somehow. One of the things that is at the top of the news these past weeks is the wildfires that have plagued the state of California. It has been featured over and over again in news reports are reactions of many fire victims whose homes may have been consumed by the fires. They are thankful for the great work of the firefighters and other first responders, and they are thankful above all that they and their loved ones and pets are alive. Most of the things they have lost could be replaced, but life is most precious. Rebecca Messner, a contributor to the Daily Guideposts, wrote that one day her grandson came to her at church one day and gave her a very tight hug. She asked him what is was for and he said it was for a jacket she had given him two years earlier. Ms. Messner thought, he was thinking her for something she gave years before, something that might not even fit him now. Then she concluded that what he did was something we should probably do also, be thankful for things we have received, not only once—like on Thanksgiving Day, but always. So let us remember any good thing we have received from friends and strangers, and above all from God. 1 Thessalonians 5:18 says, “In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.” Let us all be thankful people, expressing our thanks not only on Thanksgiving Day, but every day of our lives.
Eddie Zamora, Redlands, California
There have been many stories of heroism during these weeks of wild fires, but here is one story which is rather close to my family’s heart.
In the midst of the deadliest and most destructive fires in California’s history, stories of incredible bravery and heroism by firefighters and first responders are emerging. One such tale came from the hospital in the destroyed town of Paradise, where paramedics, doctors and nurses continued to give medical treatment to patients and fire victims in the hospital parking lot as the fire consumed the hospital and the houses around them, before finally getting the clearance to evacuate. One of the nurses, Allyn Pierce, manager of the ICU of Feather River Adventist Medical Center, refuses to called a hero saying it was a group effort of people just doing their jobs. He lost his house and his workplace in the fire. His truck, a Toyota Tundra which he used in the evacuation, is heavily burnt, showing just how close a call it was. Allyn is not in a good place right now, but he is finding support in his close-knit community. “I’ve been spending a lot of time with my team that was trapped up there with me,” he told a reporter “That helps because they truly understand what we went through.” Allyn clearly loves his truck, and took to social media to praise Toyota for the hardy manufacturing of the vehicle that saved his life. “The reaction has been so positive and supportive,” he told us. “Starting with the truck community and spreading out to the world. It’s surreal. My contact at Toyota has been so compassionate, supportive, and understanding of my scattered state of mind.” It’s impossible to imagine what it must be like to try to rebuild one’s life after such a devastating event, but Allyn and the people of Paradise are determined to work together to get back on their feet. “We’re doing what everyone else is doing. Finding a rental, finding a job (now that my hospital burned down), making sure our kids get to meet up with their friends and teachers that have also been displaced. My heart hurts for Paradise.” A reporter from New York Times, Jack Nicas, relates more of what transpired. Allyn’s actions helped spark the quick evacuations of the patients from the hospital to another hospital in Chico, a town east of Paradise. Allyn then hopped into his truck with two colleagues and headed for safety. Like many residents of Paradise, they quickly hit gridlock as many vehicles could not move on because fires surrounded them. Cars burned around them and Allyn feared his truck might be next. Here is a view from his truck.
Allyn put his coat against the window in an attempt to shield them from the intense heat. He played Peter Gabriel’s music “In Your Eyes” to calm himself as he recorded a message to his family, “In case this doesn’t work out, I want you to know that I really tried to make it out.” Suddenly a bulldozer appeared and pushed a burning truck next to him out of the way, opening some room for him to maneuver. But instead of driving out to safety, Allyn turned around and drove back to the heart of Paradise, the hospital.
Doctors, nurses, paramedics and police started a triage center in the hospital parking lot. They broke into the hospital for gurneys, oxygen tanks and other equipment and went to work, treating about two dozen people while the fire continued to rage around them.
Then the hospital caught fire. The team quickly moved the patients about 100 yards away, to the hospital’s helipad. Eventually authorities cleared a path to safety, so they loaded up the victims into their own vehicles and drove out in a caravan. Everyone made it out safely.
Allyn Pierce, ICU manager of Feather River Hospital
Allyn’s Toyota Tundra, which he fondly called the Pandra, before and after the incident.
The front and rear of Allyn’s Pandra—the lights still work.
Toyota USA responded to the story which was carried by several papers, social media, and ABC7; Toyota USA will give Allyn a new Tundra.
If you wonder why I related this story about Allyn Pierce in this issue of CyberFlashes, actually Allyn has direct connection with MVC and AUP. Allyn is the son of the late Solpen Solilapsi Pierce. She attended MVC Academy and took nursing at Philippine Union College (now AUP). Allyn and his siblings, Christopher and Trinette, grew up with our kids. Allyn and our oldest son Keith were classmates in the fourth grade until Jr. High at La Sierra Elementary School. Then the Pierce kids moved to Loma Linda Academy, but we were continually in touch. We were at Allyn’s wedding to Leah, a nurse, at Grass Valley, CA. Allyn’s Dad, Dr. Allyn Pierce, had him take marine engineering which he finished. As a marine engineer he spent several months aboard a ship, but he eventually left the ship and took nursing, which may have been his first love—“and the rest is history.” Eddie Zamora
ANNOUNCEMENT
Attention, all Mountain View College and Mindanao Mission Academy Alumni and Friends!
Closing Thoughts If the sound of the alarm bothers you because you want to sleep some more, just be thankful you can hear. If the morning light is too bright for your sleepy eyes, just be thankful you can see. If your nerves become testy because your kids are noisy as you prepare them for school, just be thankful you have family. Other people may be lonely. If your work seem so monotonous and your boss is seems so uncaring, just be thankful you have a job. If your dinner table doesn’t look much like what you see in magazine spreads, be thankful any way that you have food to eat. If your clothes and shoes seem old and out of style, just be thankful you have something to wear, especially as the weather gets cold. Yes, sometimes we take many things for granted. Let’s be thankful that we have stuff that other individuals might wish they could have.
Happy Thanksgiving, Everyone!