[Magdalen] Gone in an hour

[Michael Bishop]

Prayers and thoughts from Derbyshire, England where this afternoon we 
have an afternoon with teddy bears parachuting from the top of the 
church tower - all great fun for all ages.
...
....
God bless

MIchael Bishop

Rector of Boylestone, Church Broughton, DAlbury, Longford, Long Lane, 
Radbourne,
Sutton-on-the-Hill & Trusley

Diocese of Derby, Englan


> On Jun 10, 2017 at 5:00 pm, <Sally Davies 
> <mailto:sally.davies at gmail.com>> wrote:
>
> Dear friends
>
>
>
> I'm so sad about this...my childrens' school has burned down.
>
>
>
> The kids who stay in hostel were evacuated at dawn with whatever they could
>
> carry, the many staff who live there as well though some stayed and tried
>
> to fight the raging wildfire.
>
>
>
> The 30 horses in the school stables and various pets also evacuated to
>
> safety.
>
>
>
> For a few hours earlier it looked hopeful as a brave team of professional
>
> and volunteer firefighters brought the fire under control and got it to go
>
> around the school to make a fire break.
>
>
>
> But then this afternoon a gale blew in (ahead of a cold front, so a dry
>
> warm wind from inland) - and they had to get themselves to safety.
>
>
>
> Last pictures showed the admin area, reception and some of the houses
>
> burning.
>
>
>
> The wind has dropped now but night has fallen...it's going to be a long
>
> one.
>
>
>
> Desperate as this is, there are people worse off. West of Knysna, which has
>
> been devastated for days now because surrounded by forests, people had been
>
> evacuated to a centre near the beach at Buffels Bays. That has now burned
>
> and they are trapped on the beach.
>
>
>
> Many have lost their homes, livelihoods and there has been loss of life. As
>
> well, of course, all the wild animals who perish; at Woodridge we had a
>
> pesky but cute troop of vervet monkeys and in the valleys around at least
>
> one troop of baboons, as well as many other wild animals. In the Knysna
>
> forest there are many rare animals and birds, not least the famous Knysna
>
> elephants (and there's an Elephant Park there now as well as a monkey and
>
> primate park).
>
>
>
> It's unbearable and feels like South Africa is under some kind of Biblical
>
> curse. Today we got news of another downgrade, this time by Moody's. And
>
> our corrupt thieving National Government is nowhere to be seen, much less
>
> our armed forces when we need them.
>
>
>
> Please continue to pray for us...my boys seem OK but I think they're in
>
> shock. Donal is in Year 12...how will he finish his school year and final
>
> exams? What about the school play they've been working so hard on for
>
> months now...?
>
>
>
> How do we explain this pain and sorrow to kids who already doubt the
>
> existence and love of God?
>
>
>
> Sally D
>