[Magdalen] Gone in an hour

[Eleanor Braun]

I just saw the pictures you posted on FB.  How completely devastating!

So often when there is a disaster like this in the US, whether fire or
tornado or hurricane, what stands out in the aftermath is how much people
come together to help each other.  People of different races and economic
condition and religion forget the differences and help where and how they
can.  That's where God is in these situations.  I pray your community will
have this experience.

Eleanor

On Sat, Jun 10, 2017 at 12:00 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
>