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CNN Live At Daybreak

Arizona Evacuees Turn to Prayer

Aired June 24, 2002 - 05:05   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: And a number of Arizona evacuees have turned to the power of prayer to help save their homes.

Craig Smith of CNN affiliate KGUN reports from the town of Eager.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I love you Arizona.

CRAIG SMITH, KGUN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Most of them don't even know each other, but in this time of grief, concern and uncertainty, they've almost become a family.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And I pray, Lord, your continued blessing. I pray, father, for your provision.

SMITH: The power of prayer was what some of the evacuees were after. So, just outside the shelter, which the evacuees will call home for a while, they gathered and asked a higher power to help in their time of need.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Our heavenly father, we come before you and we seek your grace and your mercy. We know that you have begot of love, of peace, comfort, strength.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I think it was extremely spiritual uplifting. Spiritually, I think it really was, and as I just said, I think a small town is like a big family.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The reason we're here is to pray for all the surrounding areas, for the fire, to ask the Lord to put the fire out and to save lives and homes.

SMITH: And while they prayed, they also remembered. By putting yellow ribbons just about everywhere in sight, these people say they're remembering all the firefighters who are risking their lives to save as many homes as possible.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: A lot of those men and women are putting their lives on the line so that people can save their homes and so that they can go back to the communities that they used to know.

SMITH: But it's the unity that seems to keep their spirits high. They don't know how long they'll be here, but they're certainly making the best of it.

UNIDENTIFIED CITIZEN: God bless America, my home sweet home. God bless America, my home sweet home.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

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