Maui Hawaii-Devastating Fire Destroys Lahaina

[Richard Myers]

Maui Hawaii has experienced a devastating fire similar to what happened in Paradise California in 2018. There are at least 55 deceased as of this morning. This number is going to increase as it approaches the number killed in the Campfire in Paradise.

[Richard Myers]

[Richard Myers]

[Richard Myers]

[rahab]

I heard that one church is still standing in Lahina. Is it the sda church there?

[Richard Myers]

Lanakila Catholic Church in Lahaina survived the Hawaiian fires. If there was any question about the cause of the fire, this ought to make it plain.  Who will not believe this is an "incredible miracle."  The super natural events being spoken of in the Bible are happening all around us. We shall see "greater" manifestations of these "miracles."  All other churches in Lahaina were burned to the ground.  The Seventh-day Adventist Church, like the Catholic church, was in the middle of Lahaina fire.

source

The number of those who died in the fire has risen to 106.

[rahab]

I wonder who protected it? 

[Richard Myers]

Satan can only go as far as God allows. The news article was wrong. There were at least two churches that did not burn down. Just got word from one in my church who had just moved from Maui that our church there did not burn down. Some of the other buildings on the property burned, but not the sanctuary. I guess we get an early glimpse of the battle that is just ahead. We know the end of the story, so whatever comes, what ever God allows, we shall not be tempted beyond what we can bear!

[rahab]

Praise God 
Thank you Richard 

[Richard Myers]

[rahab]

Amen
 

[Richard Myers]

Lahaina video

[Richard Myers]

1:47 video covers Lahaina including Seventh-day Adventist Church amid destruction.

[Richard Myers]

Indiana Youth Escape Maui Fire Now Assisting Relief Efforts
August 23, 2023 | Berrien Springs, Mich. | Danni Thaw

https://www.nadadventist.org/sites/default/files/inline-images/Maui%20photo.jpg

This photo provided by the Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources shows burnt areas in Lahaina on the Maui island, Hawaii, Friday, Aug. 11, 2023, following a wildfire. Photo: Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources

Jolted from his sleep, it was 3 a.m. on August 8, 2023, when a phone call woke Kamil Metz, senior pastor of the Evansville Seventh-day Adventist Church. The caller was Dallas Matthew, 26, one of his members serving this summer as a student literature evangelist on the island of Maui in Hawaii. Matthew's news was grave. He called to report that deadly wildfires had engulfed Lāhainā, the town in Maui that Metz had left the week prior.

The sun had barely risen over Maui's picturesque landscape when the unexpected fiery chaos ensued, and the sun had barely risen over Maui's picturesque landscape.

Jaxson Maun, 29, is another member of Metz's church who found himself at the heart of a nightmare as devastating fires rapidly consumed more than 2,100 acres of the original capital of the Hawaiian Kingdom. The morning started with powerful winds, misidentified as a potential hurricane, only to escalate into an inferno of flames that engulfed the historic town of Lāhainā.

"When the fires started that morning, we had already been experiencing heavy winds from the night before. Branches were falling from trees. It felt extremely chaotic," said Jaxson. "We all thought it was a hurricane, but it started to pick up midday, so we decided not to go out into the field."

Maun, Matthew, and a youth team had been working as colporteurs going door-to-door in Lāhainā to spread the gospel ministry. But when their group leader, Mario Bravo, noticed the severe winds that day, he made a providential decision to avoid going out. Little did they know that they were escaping the path of destruction that would soon engulf the very area they had just left.

"Much later, we found out that if we had stayed even a little bit later, and if any part of our movements that day had been different, we would have been stuck in Lāhainā during the height of the chaos when the fire was spreading out of control," related Maun.

As they drove away from the danger zone, the sight of yellow smoke transformed the island's serene beauty into a terrifying battleground that would take the lives of more than 100 people. It was quickly becoming the deadliest recorded wildfire in the history of the United States.
Lahaina Seventh-day Adventist Church after the wildfires

The Lāhainā Seventh-day Church sustained extensive damage after the wildfire. Photo: Mark Tamaleaa

Miracles in the Madness



"Two parts of this experience blew my mind and demonstrated the power of the Living God," said Maun. "One of them is that everything surrounding the Lāhainā Seventh-day Church where we were originally stationed was burned to the ground by the fires, but the Seventh-day Adventist church is still standing."

Maun and his team eventually found solace at the nearby Seventh-day Adventist church in Kahului, pastored by Vassili Khrapov and located just 35 minutes from ground zero of the disaster.

"The other thing that blew my mind is that Khrapov's house is also still standing," said Maun. "When he went back to see what was left of his home, he realized that in his neighborhood, everything around his home was burned down. But the fire stopped at his doorstep. Praise God."

The experience profoundly impacted Maun's spirituality. Amidst the chaos, he found himself praying with the group for the community and reflecting on the impermanence of material possessions. This spiritual awakening taught him the importance of placing his faith in God during times of uncertainty, an anchor that guided him through the storm.

"I feel very changed by this experience," shared Maun. "Our group got together during that time of chaos and prayed. I feel more spiritually in tune with the Living God who guided our movements throughout the experience. While the chaos was brewing, we didn't know what would happen to us the next day — we just prayed and believed. That was all we could do at the time."
Back to the Frontlines: A Commitment to Relief Efforts

Maun was inspired by his grandmother's involvement in disaster relief ministry and a previous but minor earthquake in Indiana. His dedication to helping others in times of crisis found a powerful outlet in Maui, demonstrating that passion and purpose can transform personal experiences into life-changing endeavors.

"I'm just so glad that Jaxson is able to spend his time working on his passion for disaster relief," said Metz. "As his pastor, that's really thrilling because I always look for how I can help my young people work on their passions and further the kingdom of God. This was both a tragedy and an opportunity."
Photo of three men seated and smiling, one white and two of Hawaiian descent

Even after being evacuated from Maui to Honolulu, Maun's commitment to disaster relief led him back to Maui the following day. He began aiding the efforts in the church kitchen, assisting with community support, ensuring the safety of the church building, and helping provide essential supplies to those in need.

The fire's aftermath forced Jaxson to confront the transient nature of our earthly possessions. In the wake of the devastation, Metz reassured him that prioritizing spiritual and communal values over material gains was essential.

"Every time we go through a natural disaster like this, we must remember that Jesus is near to the suffering ones, and He cares. And for the rest of us, as we build our American dream, let's consider that one day it can be taken away," said Metz.

With the death toll more than 100 and hundreds still missing, the fires serve as another poignant reminder of the fragility of life and the importance of kindling meaningful connections with others while furthering the work of Christ.

The island and town will rebuild and recover, and Jaxson's experience stands as a reminder that hope can rise amidst the ashes of tragedy — God has and always will have a hand in it all.

To learn how you can help, visit www.hawaiisda.com

Danni Thaw is a freelance writer. This article was originally published on the Lake Union Herald website.


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[Richard Myers]