Australian Fires - A Brother's Update

[Lin ASL Ebron]

I'm sure most of you are aware of the terrible bush fires that are ravaging the Australian island state of Tasmania, New South Wales and Victoria.

Here is an interesting update from one of our brothers in the affected area...

Good evening,

Here in Tasmania it has been horrific. There has been 40 fires or so burning for about a week now.

We have 4 major uncontrolled fires that are the worst with about 100 people missing (fearing the worst) but only two properties destroyed of our brothers so far with no deaths or injuries.

In New South Wales, one of our biggest states there are over a hundred bush fires burning over thousands of acres of land and no doubt many of our brothers will be affected.

We can be so thankful that Jehovah's organization is on top of the situation.

The authorities are saying this is the worst fire catastrophe in 100 years. Tasmania, Victoria and New South Wales are really feeling the pressure of what is happening with temperatures in

the range of 40 to 45 degrees across the board on the mainland.

Here in Hobart last Friday it hit 41.8 C in town and where I work on the Eastern Shore it was 44 degrees (111 F) with no sign of any decent rainfall in sight.

Last year floods and this year fires!

We had the local needs part and the coordinator of the body of elders was telling us that the Branch Office was very concerned about our brothers down here in the bush fire disaster area and that the Governing Body was asking about them and that they wanted a detailed report of the situation so as to be able to get what necessary relief through to them as quickly as possible.

Just thought you might like to know about our little part of the world.

Agape,

Once again our prayers need to mention our brothers in another disaster hit part of the world.

[Musky]

Thank you for posting Melinda!

We here in So. California are not strangers to wildfires, they can be terrifying!

Our prayers are with our spiritual family who are facing these and other disasters!

[Joey]

I just saw this news item.... 54 * C or 129.2 * F ...wow.

http://news.yahoo.com/hot-australia-added-colors-weather-map-135043015.html

[H....$]

Thanks for the update, will keep you in our prayers! Stay safe...

[surfergirl]

3 Teenagers were the cause for one of the fires in The Eastern Suburbs of Victoria. & one of the fires in Tassie was started because a camper had left an open fire going. He.d gone for a wonder. We visited some years back around Dunally & Port Arthur. Were theres a convict gaol. & where the masacre happened in the late 80-90s. It has a beautiful community of witnesses down in Tassie. My brother in law lives accross the river. From were the fires are.

The heat was unbelivable. It was right on the coast. So no relief til today.

[Martini]

[/ceOur dea friends in Aussie. You do have a terrible time of it. We have seen footage of it here in NZ and you may be aware that some of NZ firefighters have volunteered to go to Aussie to help out. What a nasty thing it is for people to endanger others lives when they start these terrible fires. Our hearts go to you all and we pray for you.]