Managing a Fire Drill

For many of my friends and family the term fire drill is limited to school drills or the always fun Chinese fire drill that we always indulge in on long road trips.
Figuratively, a Chinese fire drill is an act—especially, any large, ineffective, and chaotic exercise—by a group of individuals that accomplishes nothing. To the Hyder family, a Chinese fire drill is a gag performed by us when stopped at a traffic light, especially on a long road trip when we need a moment to stretch our legs. Before the light changes to green, everybody gets out, runs around the vehicle, and gets back inside (but not necessarily in his original seat).

The other day after a fire drill of my own I began to wonder where this term came from. Here is what I found out, the term is alleged to have originated in the early 1900s, when a ship manned by British officers and a Chinese crew practiced a fire drill in the engine room. The bucket brigade drew water from the starboard side, took it to the engine room, and threw it onto the fire. A separate crew hauled the accumulated water to the main deck and heaved the water over the port side. The drill went according to plan until the orders became confused in translation. The bucket brigade began to draw the water from the starboard side, run over to the port side and then throw the water overboard, bypassing the engine room completely.

For me however, a fire drill is more related to a way of living that occurred while traveling the world and growing up in Kenya. A “Stickney Fire Drill” was related to any event in which we were unprepared and therefore had to improvise in order to accomplish tasks. Many of these events occurred while traveling.


After packing and actually getting the suitcases shut.



There was the loading and dragging and lifting to get them to the airport. At the airport there was the loading and dragging and lifting to get them to check in.

At the Airport bags were overweight. We had to repack, reorganize and reclose all the suitcases in the middle of the airport.


Then the running like crazy in airports all over the world in order to make connecting flights.



So, you would think that after a lifetime of fire drills I would be well equipped to handle them. But looking into my daughters eyes yesterday at the post office convinced me that I am not as good as I thought. As she quietly watched me, with horror in her eyes, I proceeded to pack boxes and cram them closed on the floor of the Post Office. During all of this, every minute or so, I was peeling off layers of my clothes because I was so hot from packing boxes. By the time I was done the Post Office floor was covered in clothes, tape, boxes and misc. other items. I couldn't help laughing at my 10 year old daughter silently pretending like she did not know me.

Despite all the effort I have put into trying to control my life and organize events so that “fire drills” do not happen, I really do not have the control to put all the fires out. This is where my dependence on God is always tested. I want so much to control and handle things myself, that I often neglect to let go and let God step in.

It seems that Christmas time in the United States has become a fire drill. We forget the true meaning of Christmas and run from one activity to the next, filling in any still moments with shopping and wrapping and stress. We really need to slow down and focus on Jesus.
Anyway, I know this is kind of a rambling post. I just felt compelled to write out what and how the Lord has spoken to me over the last few weeks.

“Slow down, enjoy the moment and revel in God’s creation, do not be so quick to control because HE has ordained your days and knows the journey, slow down and let HIM lead you.”

Living Stones

It is hard to believe that summer is almost here and that Memorial Day is just weeks away. It is awe inspiring to walk the rows of Arlington cemetery and see the markers that stand as a testimony to the lives sacrificed for our Nation’s freedom and defense.

Our Bible Study group has been working through some of Ray Vander Laan’s video studies. One of his series “Standing at the Crossroads” focuses on the standing stones of the Bible. The Hebrew word massebah is translated standing stones and means, to set up. To honor their covenant with God, the Israelites set up standing stones as a reminder of God’s supernatural acts on their behalf. The Bible records several of these significant events: (Ex. 24:2—4) (Josh. 4:2—3, 8—9) (Josh. 24:27).

Several years ago a friend gave us a book on how to unify the family. One of the suggestions was to collect stones from different places as a memorial. We now have quite a collection of stones and often use them to remind ourselves of life’s victories and sometimes defeats. Every time we move the movers always think I am crazy when I have them pack all of our rocks.

I have a large piece of petrified wood that Paul purchased for me when he returned from Iraq. It is a reminder that God was working in me to make me stronger during the year Paul was deployed. I honestly believe that year was one of the hardest in my life, Paul was deployed, I had a hysterectomy, and most of the year encompassed my Dad’s last months of life and ultimately his death. However, I grew more in my faith during that year as I was forced to rely on the Lord to see me through. I changed just like the petrified wood to stone. Not hardened but stronger and better equipped to the ministry God has called me to.

If we faithfully obey God, we will be like standing stones. Nonbelievers will notice that our lives are different. But if we fail to explain why we are different, we become ineffective, silent stones. I Peter 2:5 challenges us to be living, not silent, standing stones. We can and should testify to the amazing things God has done for us.

As Memorial Day approaches I want to encourage you to remember your life’s journey. Take time to reflect on how God has grown you into a living stone. Challenge yourself to be a living stone; God has placed YOU in a sphere of influence. No matter how large or small that influence may be, you can act in a way that shows others "the Lord is God."

Choose Life

“I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have set before you life and death, the blessing and the curse. So choose life in order that you may live, you and your descendants” Deuteronomy 30:19

During the last two weeks we have been faced with many life issues. Just in the last few days we have been faced with 3 suicides. It is evident that there is a crisis of selfishness and hopelessness surrounding many lives today. My heart is so heavy because each person is created unique and with purpose (Psalm 139).

Recently we have has the opportunity to minister to some young Marines on the edge. We intentionally set out to love them and show them that we are not turned off by their sin. We enclose them with fellowship and share with them the love of Christ. I am constantly amazed at what a little love and forbearance will do in a hopeless soul. Within a short time they begin to value their lives and find hope in the fact that one couple finds them worth the effort. To look into their eyes and see hope is always humbling, as I know without Christ none of this is possible (John 14:6).

Please continue to pray for us as we minister here. We are standing at the crossroads of life for many of these young people here. Our ability to reach out and help is only limited by their lack of desire for help. Please pray with us that they will reach for help before the disenchantment of life, costs them their own life.

Hyderpak is Adopting a Baby

After much prayer and discussion we have decided that it is time to adopt. We have passed the preliminary stages of the adoption process and are beginning the next step.

We are hoping to adopt a little boy of any racial background. We are praying that the Lord will go before us and prepare the heart of the birthmother. It is our greatest desire that she come to know the Lord through this process.

Please pray with us as we are trusting God to help us with the finances involved in this process. If you would like to financially assist us you can make a secure donation through Chipin!

The girls are all thrilled and are already praying for and anticipating the arrival of their baby brother.

Crossroads of the Marine Corps

Paul has been assigned to The Basic School at Camp Barrett, Quantico. This is the school that all Marine officer’s must attend and pass in order to become an officer in the Marine Corps. It is the only school of it’s kind in all the military branches. See: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Basic_School for more information.

Recently during a Bible Study we learned how Biblical Israel was at the crossroads of the world. Their job was to flavor the world as it passed through their gates. This really touched our hearts as Quantico is known as the Crossroads of the Marine Corps. Every future officer, must pass through these gates on their way to leadership. We see this as an opportunity to flavor the next generation of leaders, with a taste for Christ. Please pray for us as we minister in this unique and historic setting.

January 2010

The New Year finds us settled and happy in Quantico, VA. We left Ingleside, TX in June 2009 and took a week to drive to Virginia. We took time to drive the Natchez Trace and stop at some significant Civil War sites. After a wonderful road trip vacation, we were able to move right into our home here on base and so out transition was much easier than the last. Once we arrived in Quantico our life took off at such a fast pace. So, I must ask you all to forgive me for not updating you sooner.