Most of the time, people use catchy titles to draw people’s attention — some being true, some not true — so you may be wondering if this title is true or not.

Sadly, it is a true title. But let me start by saying everyone is safe, and the building is perfectly fine.

This month in Zimbabwe, our team has gotten the opportunity to cook our own meals and to grow into deeper community through doing that. We created a schedule to cook each day, and it just so happened to be mine and Courtney’s day to cook.

We decided on some green beans for dinner, and a few minutes later, our kitchen was in flames. These flames were tall, and they were spreading. At first, Courtney and I looked at each other and began to panic. We thought we could blow the flames out, so that’s where we started. It wasn’t happening.

As we got the attention of the rest of our team, our squad leader, Lo, took charge of the situation as we all got out of the apartment. We ran to get one of our hosts, and upon entering the kitchen, Lo had put the fire out somehow, someway.

Through this scary and crazy situation, the Lord taught me about his protection. The protection of the Lord that day was no mistake. It wasn’t by chance that our squad leader had been gone for five days and she was just back with us hours beforehand. Without her there, it is hard for me to imagine how bad the situation could have been.

Might I add that a huge propane tank was sitting right next to where the fire was, and all it would have taken was a few more minutes, possibly seconds. It wasn’t by chance that the Lord had arranged for Lo to be back with us at this very second.

The very next day, I sat down to journal and process what had happened. I started thinking about how Lo could have possibly gotten the flames out, and then I realized it actually wasn’t her, but it was God through her. He saved us that day. He protected us that day. He calmed a situation that could have been terribly bad.

So today, I want to thank him for his protection. Above all else, he is our protector, and he takes care of us when we are in desperate need, and he takes care of us through others.

I am not sure sometimes why situations like this have to happen, but then I realize that it is through situations like these that the Lord teaches me so much. It is through this situation that the Lord reminded me of his protection and what that looks like in our lives.

We are all safe, and we are all perfectly fine, but only two things have changed — my awareness and appreciation for the protection of the Lord, and Courtney and I are no longer allowed in the kitchen.

Keia Blair is a Seymour native who attends Cincinnati Christian University. During her nine-month mission trip around the world, she is submitting a series of blogs that will appear in The Tribune. Send comments to [email protected].