[Magdalen] Gone in an hour

[Suzie Buchanan]

So much loss and what a total change of "life as we know it" for everyone involved. May God give strength and guidance and especially peace to you all.  
Sent from my iPhone

> On Jun 11, l2017, at 10:10 PM, Christopher Hart <cervus51 at gmail.com> wrote:
> 
> Sally, I've only just now read this after returning from an overnight away
> with my wife. How heartbreaking. I can't imagine how devastating it must
> feel to you and your boys.
> 
> 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
>> 
> 
> 
> 
> -- 
> 
> Christopher Hart
> 
> List Mail Address: cervus51 at gmail.com
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