[Magdalen] Gone in an hour

[Ginga Wilder]

Oh, Sally.  What a horrible thing.  Prayers being offered for every loss.

Ginga Wilder

On Sat, Jun 10, 2017 at 6:45 PM Jay Weigel <jay.weigel at gmail.com> wrote:

> 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
> > >
> >
>