Sharing what has transpired since then…
Greenville
(Greenville is an unincorporated community in Plumas County, California, United States, on the northwest side of Indian Valley. Most of the buildings were destroyed by the Dixie Fire in August 2021.
In the spring of 2024, I traveled to Greenville in search of a place to start fresh. I knew this place from well before the Dixie Fire, when it was an historic town surrounded by lush forest. The fire changed everything. I had in mind finding a piece of decontaminated property to build a new home for myself. It would also allow me to be part of Greenville’s rebirth from the ashes.)
Journal Notes
Lord God, I cannot plan, scheme, or forecast, because You are God, and You are the one who will accomplish what You want through me. As I reflect on what is on my heart regarding Greenville and the vision I received in the past hour, I consider what could be done with my life in a place that has been devastated—burned to the ground, empty and filled with broken hearts.
In a moment of prayer, I felt a deep connection to this scorched land. My spirit can relate this to any community or group of people who have been conquered and driven from their homes. They leave broken, having lost their sense of place. I, too, feel transient, seeking to be placed where You will position me.
In Greenville, there is a school, but the students have nowhere to live. I am uncertain if there are even students or if it is closed. There are no municipal buildings, no fire department, no grocery store. There is no church, no restaurants, no homes, and no playgrounds. The town has been erased.
How can we build a community that serves as a place of healing and solidarity, where each person lifts the other? We need to be accountable and true to one another. This can be achieved.
Greenville is different from Grizzly Flats, which was more of a resort-style subdivision. Greenville is over a hundred years old, a town where people have built their careers, raised their children, retired, and formed businesses and friendships. There is history here, and there is heart. This is truly a place of the heart, and that heart needs to be restored.
Could it be that I could obtain employment with Cal Fire or another branch of government? (I am currently being considered for the Cal Fire position) This would allow me to work remotely or, at the very least, build the finances needed to acquire a piece of property in Greenville, creating a foundation for a church and establishing roots that will grow into a strong community.
If I were to gain employment with a one-year term as the offer stands, would that be enough? I believe it would. You are the God of all possibilities, and there is nothing outside of You that can hinder Your desires from being fulfilled.
Before that – The Next Day
