Lidia Veciunca is our first Romanian student at Cedar College of South Africa and although I only met her in Africa for the first time 2 and a half years ago, we share a strong frienship and alot of what Im posting here its going to be from her, about her or with her.
Today is a sad day for people at Mission Kwasizabantu, South Africa. Our church, the Auditorium, a building with 10.000 seats, has completely burned down.
This morning when we woke up , the sun was shinning and I thought it was going to be a warm and beautiful winter day. A common day. We had no idea what the Lord had planned for today.
Around 9 o clock we received the news :the auditorium is burning down. I thought it was a joke and I ran to the window. What I saw were clouds of smoke covering the sky and the auditorium in flames. Then I took this picture I'll attach later.
We ran there along with all the people at the Mission and everyone was getting what they had at home to put the fire out. Us , the girls, took the fire extinguishers form the hostel but on the way there people told us it was too late. I didn't listen to them and I ran with that big bottle, now when I think of it I do not understand how I could carry something that heavy – but I thought they were going to put out the fire with it.
Sadly, there was nothing we could do. We all stood there and watched how that awesome building where so many people heard The Word of God was burning. People wanted to bring water, but the water was cut off , there was no running water at the Mission that very hour. That isn't very unusual here, water and power are cut often.
It all started with a short circuit in one of the tiny wooden apartments on the side of the Auditorium, where Lydia and Archie live with their 4 little kids. All they could take out of the fire were the children. When Archie went to get something else, he got burned and had to come out. He only hurt his hands.
Everyone was present there. On streets, people wept, women were holding their heads sobbing and crying. Some were praying out loud… It seemed like the end of the world. The strongest men at the Mission, were crying watching how the work of 8 years was burning down.
When it was built, in the 80's , there weren't so many people at the mission, nor much technology… so people built it with their own hands. In that sorrow on the streets I could see uncle Robert, now in his 80s , he did all the wooden side of the building…. I saw uncle Jack, who did the cement part. People worked so hard for the Auditorium.
Uncle Erlo was there too with his brother, uncle Friedel. We all stood there astounded and nobody could go near the building. In half and hour the fire destroyed EVERYTHING. A few men managed to take out 10 or 20 benches from inside. But all the rest, the pianos, sound installation, and hundred of benches turned to ashes. When the building finally crashed it was a big moan and cry outside….
Of course they called the fire station, but they took an hour to come , to remind us we were in Africa…
Uncle Erlo came there and went to Attila to ask him about his health. He didn't make a fuss or blame anyone. He was concerned about the health of the others. His brother, uncle Friedel was supposed to fly to Europe last week but he was bit by a poisonous spider and the doctor advised him to postpone the trip for a week. This way he could be with uncle Erlo and the rest of the co-workers today.
Every day at 11 o clock we have a service in the Auditorium ( 11 am and 7 pm ) but today the Auditorium was smoking ashes. We gathered in the school hall and the sermon was about Job. The Lord gave, the Lord took away, blessed be His name. And we were told that God is in control and we don't have to ask "why, Lord?". We don't know what dialog He had above.
In situations like these one could see what matters most. Is it God? Is it the world with its things? Maybe you think "but Lord, it was for Your glory, here people turn to You and so many found peace with You and joy here… how could you allow such a tragedy??" No! We must be thankful that nobody died. A building can be rebuilt. But a life doesn't come back. And the preacher said that Job didn't question God and he had taken 10 children along with herds , servants and everything. But he knew God was in control and He could do whatever He wanted.
We don't know the future, but maybe the Lord has something in mind and will make a new Auditorium. We want to help clean the huge mess and any other thing we can help with… while staying united and grateful that nothing worse happened.
I was very encouraged by Lydia's attitude. Her 6 yo, Cobus, was crying : ooooohhh, all my shoes burnt inside… and his mom told him that the Lord will take care of everything and he didn't have to worry about a thing.
At Prayer, we prayed for everyone who heard the news about the Auditorium; that the Lord will comfort them and they will trust Him, cause He is in control.
God bless you all,
LidiaVeciunca.
This morning when we woke up , the sun was shinning and I thought it was going to be a warm and beautiful winter day. A common day. We had no idea what the Lord had planned for today.
Around 9 o clock we received the news :the auditorium is burning down. I thought it was a joke and I ran to the window. What I saw were clouds of smoke covering the sky and the auditorium in flames. Then I took this picture I'll attach later.
We ran there along with all the people at the Mission and everyone was getting what they had at home to put the fire out. Us , the girls, took the fire extinguishers form the hostel but on the way there people told us it was too late. I didn't listen to them and I ran with that big bottle, now when I think of it I do not understand how I could carry something that heavy – but I thought they were going to put out the fire with it.
Sadly, there was nothing we could do. We all stood there and watched how that awesome building where so many people heard The Word of God was burning. People wanted to bring water, but the water was cut off , there was no running water at the Mission that very hour. That isn't very unusual here, water and power are cut often.
It all started with a short circuit in one of the tiny wooden apartments on the side of the Auditorium, where Lydia and Archie live with their 4 little kids. All they could take out of the fire were the children. When Archie went to get something else, he got burned and had to come out. He only hurt his hands.
Everyone was present there. On streets, people wept, women were holding their heads sobbing and crying. Some were praying out loud… It seemed like the end of the world. The strongest men at the Mission, were crying watching how the work of 8 years was burning down.
When it was built, in the 80's , there weren't so many people at the mission, nor much technology… so people built it with their own hands. In that sorrow on the streets I could see uncle Robert, now in his 80s , he did all the wooden side of the building…. I saw uncle Jack, who did the cement part. People worked so hard for the Auditorium.
Uncle Erlo was there too with his brother, uncle Friedel. We all stood there astounded and nobody could go near the building. In half and hour the fire destroyed EVERYTHING. A few men managed to take out 10 or 20 benches from inside. But all the rest, the pianos, sound installation, and hundred of benches turned to ashes. When the building finally crashed it was a big moan and cry outside….
Of course they called the fire station, but they took an hour to come , to remind us we were in Africa…
Uncle Erlo came there and went to Attila to ask him about his health. He didn't make a fuss or blame anyone. He was concerned about the health of the others. His brother, uncle Friedel was supposed to fly to Europe last week but he was bit by a poisonous spider and the doctor advised him to postpone the trip for a week. This way he could be with uncle Erlo and the rest of the co-workers today.
Every day at 11 o clock we have a service in the Auditorium ( 11 am and 7 pm ) but today the Auditorium was smoking ashes. We gathered in the school hall and the sermon was about Job. The Lord gave, the Lord took away, blessed be His name. And we were told that God is in control and we don't have to ask "why, Lord?". We don't know what dialog He had above.
In situations like these one could see what matters most. Is it God? Is it the world with its things? Maybe you think "but Lord, it was for Your glory, here people turn to You and so many found peace with You and joy here… how could you allow such a tragedy??" No! We must be thankful that nobody died. A building can be rebuilt. But a life doesn't come back. And the preacher said that Job didn't question God and he had taken 10 children along with herds , servants and everything. But he knew God was in control and He could do whatever He wanted.
We don't know the future, but maybe the Lord has something in mind and will make a new Auditorium. We want to help clean the huge mess and any other thing we can help with… while staying united and grateful that nothing worse happened.
I was very encouraged by Lydia's attitude. Her 6 yo, Cobus, was crying : ooooohhh, all my shoes burnt inside… and his mom told him that the Lord will take care of everything and he didn't have to worry about a thing.
At Prayer, we prayed for everyone who heard the news about the Auditorium; that the Lord will comfort them and they will trust Him, cause He is in control.
God bless you all,
LidiaVeciunca.
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment