SUPERIOR, CO –Jacob Feenstra, his wife, and their three daughters share their experience of helping to sift through the ashes of a house that was destroyed in Colorado’s Marshall Wildfires. They were able to find personal belongings for a hurting homeowner, including items from her art studio.

Jacob Feenstra:

My name is Jacob Feenstra. I’m here with my family– my wife Stephanie, and my daughters Rachel, Austin, and Megan– and we’re here working with Samaritan’s Purse.

Stephanie Feenstra:

So when we got here today, we weren’t sure what to expect, really. But it was just amazing with Karla this morning, just hearing a little bit more about her story and learning more about her through being here with her.

Karla Bennett, Homeowner:

We moved in eight months ago. You would never think your brand-new home would burn to the ground. Your home is like your mother’s embrace, and you miss that. You can be somewhere in four walls, but it’s not the same as what you’ve put around you every day, so praying for that safety here.

Austin Feenstra:

It’s just so unbelievable to see how disastrous these fires have been, and how detrimental that can be to Karla and her family, and just everything that they’ve gone through.

Karla Bennett:

They found some jewelry for me that has a memory, and glass from my art studio. My daughter’s Letterman jacket was in there, and only a piece of it survived, but it was the most important part, that had her name on it. Yeah, and the rings are really shocking because there’s so much debris, but they were able to sift through and find at least– you can’t wear them, but you have them. I feel grateful for that.

Austin Feenstra:

Just finding things that matter to her in her life, it just makes me so thankful that I can come and help. This won’t be my last. I want to come back and I want to do something like this, and I want to help people and be in these people’s lives.

Stephanie Feenstra:

Just as a mom, I love seeing my kids out here working hard and working alongside other people. It’s been great to see that. And I have hard workers, so I’m thankful for girls that are willing to get their hands dirty and just put in all it takes to get the job done.

Jacob Feenstra:

I think the greatest way to teach God’s love and what you believe, especially as a parent to your kids, is by having them see you do it, not telling them about doing it. I always have a mantra that I throw at the kids, and I always like to say, “If it’s easy, everyone would do it.” That doesn’t mean that should stop you.

Anything worth doing normally takes some level of effort, and this is well worth it.

Samaritan’s Purse is a nondenominational evangelical Christian organization providing spiritual and physical aid to hurting people around the world. Since 1970, Samaritan’s Purse has helped meet the needs of people who are victims of war, poverty, natural disasters, disease, and famine with the purpose of sharing God’s love through His Son, Jesus Christ. The organization serves the Church worldwide to promote the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ.

The Samaritan’s Purse International Disaster Assistance Response Team (DART) program is committed to meeting the critical needs of victims of war, poverty, famine, disease, and natural disaster. We stand ready to respond at a moment’s notice whenever and wherever disaster strikes. The DART specializes in providing water, food, shelter, and medical care while sharing the Good News of Jesus Christ.

CONTACT: Kaitlyn Lahm, news@samaritan.org

Read more news on Non Profit / Faith Based Organizations, and Disaster Relief.