Out of the Ashes: Life After Losing Everything in LA Fires | Ep.29

This is a powerful conversation. The Los Angeles fires have devastated our community. In this episode, we sit down with our dear friend Dean McMahon, who shares his story of resilience after losing his home in the Eaton fire. Dean opens up about waking up to embers landing in his yard and the ensuing chaos of his family grabbing their belongings and fleeing the Eaton fire. He opens up about the challenges his family has faced, the support they've received, and how their faith has carried them through this difficult time. We also discuss practical steps to prevent home fires and how you can protect your family. Visit https://fightfirefirst.com/ and use code WaterAccess10 at checkout for 10% off fire prevention resources. Plus, 10% of all proceeds will go directly toward helping Dean and his family rebuild. Throughout this episode, you'll hear how you can join us in supporting Dean's family and others who have been affected by the recent fires through these links: 1. GoFundMe for Dean McMahon & his family: https://www.gofundme.com/f/5wn8j-help-the-mcmahon-family-rebuild-after-fire 2. Grace Community Church's Fire Relief Fund: https://www.gracechurch.org/news/posts/3851 3. City of Los Angeles Relief Funds: https://lacity.gov/LAstrong Together, we can make a difference. Don't miss this moving conversation about faith, hope, and the power of community. 00:00:00 - Introduction 00:00:43 - Start of the Episode 00:00:47 - Discussion about the Wildfires 00:02:29 - Guest Introduction 00:03:04 - Dean's Story 00:09:00 - How to Help 00:10:30 - Continuation of Dean's Story 00:12:14 - Discussion about the Fires 00:15:16 - Maternal Instincts and Fire Preparedness 00:17:34 - Firefighter One: A Home Defense System 00:19:49 - Dean's Experience After the Fire 00:24:43 - Returning to the Burned Home 00:29:02 - Finding a Piece of Home 00:30:50 - Reflections on Faith and Loss 00:32:15 - Finding Hope in Christ 00:38:29 - The Impact of the Fire on the Community 00:41:15 - Practical Challenges After the Fire 00:42:27 - The Role of the Church Family 00:44:08 - The Shift from Giving to Receiving 00:46:03 - The Importance of Small Things 00:46:31 - Memories and Loss 00:47:31 - The Impact of Losing Earthly Possessions 00:49:24 - Finding Gratitude and Grace in Loss 00:50:00 - The Power of Sentimental Objects 00:52:40 - The Role of the Church in Recovery 00:55:07 - The Question of Leaving California 00:56:12 - How to Help the Fire Victims 00:57:45 - Closing Remarks