[Magdalen] Gone in an hour

[Ann Markle]

Dear Sally,

This morning as a choral prelude (this choir has *never * done a choral
prelude, in the year I've been serving this parish), our choir sang
"Marching in the Light of God," first in -- what? -- the African language,
then English. I was immediately in tears on your behalf, and at sermon time
I shared the story with our congregation, and thanked the choir for that
beautiful moment of synchronicity. We all prayed for you, yours, and your
whole area. I grieve for your children and all the other children.

On Sun, Jun 11, 2017 at 5:28 PM Eleanor Braun <eleanor.braun at gmail.com>
wrote:

> 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
> >
>
-- 
Ann

The Rev. Ann Markle
Buffalo, NY