Dear family and friends,
It was one week ago this evening that I wrote petitioning for your prayers. Tonight however, I am filled with a deep sense of gratitude, peace, and also sadness at the tragedy that has transpired in one of my second homes. One week ago today, my alma mater, Westmont College, sat ablaze on the hill with fire. Tonight it is lit from within by a sense of God's protection, love, and a peace that surpasses all understanding.
First, I want to thank you for your prayers. I personally had one of the longest and hardest sessions of prayer in my life, praying against the fire that buffeted the college on three sides and I am sure I am not the only one. I was already confident that prayer works, but this confirmed it even more. For proof, please see these pictures taken by Brad Elliott at: http://www.westmont.edu/teafire/pictures2.html
Second, the real update on the fire: the Tea Fire was 100% contained on Tuesday but only after burning 1,940 acres, destroying 210 homes, and damaging 9. Westmont itself was hard hit: it lost 9 structures on campus as well as 15 faculty homes in the adjoining neighborhood, Las Barrancas. Four of the structures destroyed (the math building, the physics building, and two Quonset huts used for arts and ceramics) were scheduled for demolition in the next few weeks. The most damage on campus occurred in the dorm I lived in my freshman year, Clark Halls. Two of the 17 small cottage-like buildings were damaged and two were destroyed including Mark "the RD's" house, which was a complete loss. Westmont is now beginning the rebuilding, recovering, and healing process with the support of thousands of alumni across the country and around the globe.
On Wednesday the cause of the Tea Fire was announced, but in a manner that was somewhat damaging to the school. As a result, confirmations were made today that no Westmont students were involved in the start of the Tea Fire but rather another area college. To catch up on more news regarding the circumstances surrounding the blaze, please see http://www.independent.com/. In the midst of a traumatic time, Westmont's officials have acted with incredible integrity and compassion and I am so grateful. In addition, some of our "rival" schools have really been incredibly, particularly Azusa Pacific University who postponed a conference championship men's soccer game that they could have won by Westmont's forfeit in order to give our school an opportunity to play. Read the incredible story here, courtesy of the LA Times: http://www.latimes.com/sports/la-sp-plaschke18-2008nov18,0,5737203.column?page=1. Westmont students have also been volunteering to help area families clean, sift through, wash clothes and bedding, and do other practical things.
Westmont's campus is currently closed for an extended Thanksgiving holiday and classes will resume December 1, on which day Westmont will also be holding A Service of Hope and Renewal, which if you are in the Santa Barbara area are all invited to at 10:30am at Westmont. Many faculty and lots of students have lost everything and so if you would like to make a donation or offer help of some kind, please let me know and I will be happy to tell you where and how to do so. If you would like to make a monetary donation directly to Westmont, you can do so here: https://secure.westmont.edu/forms/giving/donation_form/newdonationform.html. Note that it is for wildfire relief in the appropriate area.
Just a quick note on where I am: our long term for the fall semester will be ending very quickly and I have about 55 pages of writing to do before the end of the semester. I will be home in Visalia for Thanksgiving, so I hope to see some of you! Lots of activities and Christmas concerts and parties are on the docket for the next couple of weeks as well. I will be in Santa Barbara over my Christmas break as well for a couple of days, and hope to see more of you then!
I also wrote a (rather long) reflection about the fire for my writing as faith practice class as an assignment and a way to process. I would be willing to share it if you're interested.
Thanks again to all of you for your prayers and thoughts. They are indeed felt.
Blessings,
Megan
