We had a pit dug to burn some brush in. It will eventually be filled in once all the cleared limbs, roots and such have been burned. Some of the brush was being pushed in by the Deutsch, when the sides of the pit began caving in. The front tires dropped over the edge. There was a smoldering fire in the pit. The Deutsch would not pull itself out; the bucket on the front made it too heavy. Reverse just was NOT working. More and more dirt collected in the treads of the rear tires trying unsuccessfully to pull it out. The Deutsch continued to slip farther down into the pit until the bucket came to rest on a large stump. The bucket itself acted as a bit of a shield to keep the front end from actually being touched by any flame. But that bucket was getting hotter. And somewhere behind the bucket, behind the grill, under the hood -- well, there was fuel! Fire, fuel - not good. J stopped trying to reverse out for a moment and got off to shovel dirt onto the smoldering fire. Just no way to get the fire put out. T had a baby in her arms some distance away and realized this could be quite serious. Fervent prayer started. Let the dirt put the fire out. Let reverse get that tractor out of the pit. Hurriedly, J brought Allys over and hooked her up. Chains taut. But, she could not budge the Deutsch. Then she ran out of gas! J then tried chains and a come-along, anchored to a nearby tree, got the tension on the chains very tight and tried reverse again on the Deutsch. Those rear tires just could not bring that heavy bucket up out of there. T at quite a distance away, praying so hard. Baby staring intently at Gramma's face; he'd never seen her so worried. Gramma is always happy, smiling. Trying Allys again, after a quick fill-up. ...to no avail. Lord, don't let us lose the Deutsch. Don't let the chains snap. Don't let me lose my husband. The come-along breaks. Then, Farmer B's gift. Farmer B had left an excavator here - after digging that pit! Dare J use it? J had never operated an excavator before. But then there isn't much mechanical stuff that J can't figure out. Quickly, up into the cab. The excavator fired up. The beep-beep-beep, signalling reverse. The tracks started to clank and the machine moved backwards. Turning slowing now into position. Lord, please don't let us lose a track! But, good, the earth is soft. Move Allys out of the way. Forward, forward. Right in line to pull. Hook up the chain. Taut, now - taut. Just right. Praise God!!! Slowly, as if with no effort at all - Mike-Mulligan's-Steam-Shovel pulled the Deutsch up and out -- clear of flame and heat!!!!! Praise God! No loss of ....ANYthing!!! The excavator is put back into its resting place. The Deutsch is driven back to the barn, bucket cooling all the way. What a debt we owe Farmer B! Thank You, Lord, for taking care of -- EVERYthing. | 
