IT WAS 4:00 AM, THANKSGIVING MORNING.
MY PHONE VIBRATED ON THE NIGHT STAND AND THE TEXT READ 'WE’RE DEPLOYING TO ISRAEL-- LEAVING IN 6 HOURS. I LEANED OVER TO KISS MY FIANCÉE GOODBYE AND LEFT FOR THE LONG FLIGHT FROM LAX TO BEN GURION AIRPORT. THE BRUSH FIRES IN ISRAEL HAD BEEN RAGING FOR DAYS, THREATENING HOMES AND BUSINESSES IN THE LAND THAT I LOVE.
AS A CHRISTIAN, I’VE BEEN TAUGHT TO GIVE BACK.
AS A FIREFIGHTER, MY JOB IS TO AID IN THE SAFETY AND SECURITY OF OTHERS. SO THREE YEARS AGO, WHEN MY UNCLE TOLD ME ABOUT THE EMERGENCY VOLUNTEER PROJECT—EVP FOR SHORT-- I JUMPED AT THE CHANCE.
AS MY PLANE TAXIED DOWN THE RUNWAY THIS PAST NOVEMBER, I THOUGHT ABOUT MY FIRST DEPLOYMENT TO ISRAEL. IT WAS DURING OPERATION PROTECTIVE EDGE IN THE SUMMER OF 2014. ON THAT FIRST MISSION, I TRAVELED FROM THE AIRPORT DIRECTLY TO A FIRE STATION ALONG THE GAZA BORDER.
I’M A TRAINED FIREFIGHTER /PARAMEDIC, BUT NOTHING COULD HAVE PREPARED ME FOR WHAT I WAS ABOUT TO EXPERIENCE. SIRENS SOUNDED DAY AND NIGHT AS ROCKETS FLEW ABOVE OUR HEADS. THE SIRENS WOULD WAIL, GIVING US ONLY 15 SECONDS TO GET TO SHELTER. AFTER THE EXPLOSIONS, WE WOULD RUN OUTSIDE TO EXTINGUISH THESE FIRES. THEN THE SIRENS WOULD SOUND AGAIN….I FELT LIKE IT WAS NEVER GOING TO END.
FOR 18 DAYS THAT SUMMER, I WORKED SIDE BY SIDE WITH PEOPLE I NOW CALL FAMILY. IT WAS ON THIS DEPLOYMENT THAT WORKING AS AN EVP FIREFIGHTER BECAME A PERSONAL MISSION FOR ME. THE BOND I BUILT WITH THE PEOPLE OF ISRAEL AND WITH THE FIREFIGHTERS AT THE STATION IS WHY I CONTINUE TO RETURN.
WHEN THE 39 EVP FIREFIGHTERS LANDED IN ISRAEL LAST THANKSGIVING, I WAS PLACED AT A FIRE STATION IN JERUSALEM. THE CREW HAD JUST GOTTEN BACK FROM FIGHTING SEVERAL BIG BRUSH FIRES.
THE TEAM WAS EXHAUSTED.
I STEPPED IN TO TAKE CARE OF THE ROUTINE FIRE CALLS SO THEY COULD FINALLY TAKE A BREAK.
MANY PEOPLE ASK ME, “HOW ARE YOU ABLE TO COMMUNICATE WITH THE ISRAELI FIREFIGHTERS WHEN YOU DON’T SPEAK HEBREW?” I SIMPLY ANSWER, FIRE FIGHTING IS A UNIVERSAL LANGUAGE. IT GIVES US A COMMON GROUND THAT ALLOWS US TO BOND.
AFTER A FEW SHORT HOURS OF BEING SHOWN AROUND THE FIRE TRUCK I IMMEDIATELY FELT AT HOME. THE CREW GAVE US THEIR SLEEPING QUARTERS AND PREPARED US A DELICIOUS ISRAELI MEAL. THAT NIGHT WE SAT DOWN TO DINNER AS A FAMILY.
THE PEOPLE OF ISRAEL ARE NO LONGER SIMPLY PART OF A NEWS STORY. NOW, THEY ARE PART OF MY STORY.
BEFORE THE THANKSGIVING DEPLOYMENT, WE HAD 170 AMERICAN VOLUNTEERS ON THE WEST COAST. AND, WHEN WE CAME BACK, EVP HAD MESSAGES FROM AN ADDITIONAL 150 FIREFIGHTERS THAT WERE INTERESTED IN BECOMING PART OF THIS PROGRAM.
EVERY TIME I OPEN MY LOCKER AT THE FIRE STATION, I SEE A TINY PIECE FROM A HAMAS ROCKET SITTING ON THE TOP SHELF. IT REMINDS ME OF MY ISRAELI BROTHERS AND SISTERS.
IT REMINDS ME THAT LOVE AND BROTHERHOOD, ARE STRONGER THAN HATE AND WAR.
IT REMINDS ME OF A SMALL, BUT MIGHTY COUNTRY WHOSE BEAUTY I’M DEDICATED TO PROTECTING, AND WHOSE PEOPLE REMINDED ME ON A VERY UNIQUE THANKSGIVING, JUST HOW MUCH I HAVE TO BE GRATEFUL FOR.
IT WAS 4:00 AM, THANKSGIVING MORNING.
MY PHONE VIBRATED ON THE NIGHT STAND AND THE TEXT READ 'WE’RE DEPLOYING TO ISRAEL-- LEAVING IN 6 HOURS. I LEANED OVER TO KISS MY FIANCÉE GOODBYE AND LEFT FOR THE LONG FLIGHT FROM LAX TO BEN GURION AIRPORT.
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