[Magdalen] Gone in an hour

[Jay Weigel]

How horrible! I know it is cold comfort to say that at least the children
and the staff, the horses and pets are all safe. when everything else in
the area and in one's country seems to be going wrong. I have seen before
the amazing Christianity when things like this happen and all around people
open their churches and other buildings to makeshift schools and homes for
those in need, and I pray it will happen again as it has before.

On Sat, Jun 10, 2017 at 4:34 PM, Ann Markle <ann.markle at aya.yale.edu> wrote:

> Sally, I'm so sorry, and will include you, your family, the school, and the
> larger community in my prayers, and in those of my parish. Unfortunately,
> God doesn't will or protect us from the tragedies life serves up, but does
> accompany and strengthen us, and help us to find the holy and the lessons
> that lie within the difficulty.
>
>
> On Jun 10, 2017 12:01 PM, "Sally Davies" <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
> >
>