Christmas Day in Lenasia

My Dear Confreres, A Blessed Christmas to each of you.

Just a quick note on the lightning strike we had on Christmas Day in Lenasia. At about 3pm, I left my apartment and got into my car parked at the hall entrance at the back of our church. A storm came in and the rain became extremely heavy. I decided to wait in my car till the worst of it had passed. Suddenly I heard the loudest bang and then an amazing flash of lightening. Some alarms of houses nearby went off as did vehicle alarms.

I thought nothing of it and continued on my way. But, when I returned to the church at around 9pm, I discovered my apartment, the hall and church in darkness! I went to the stairs of the apartment at the end of the church hall passageway, and saw the bricks and debris lying all around and the corrugated roofing damaged. I then realized that the lightning strike hit my apartment.
Unfortunately, many things have been seriously damaged: the fax machine and computer in the office are gone, the internet router and the telephones in my apartment and office are gone, four of the CCTV Security Cameras are gone, and some music equipment and the projector in the church too.

Mr Brian Jackson, a very dedicated and hard working Catholic, with one of his sons, Donovan, and myself, spent the best part of Boxing Day checking out different electrical things in the apartment, the church, the Caretaker’s place and the hall, to see what else may be affected, but we’re still not sure we have covered everything.

What an exciting Christmas! This is the closest I have ever been to the incredible and frightening power of lightening, and I will be much more respectful from now on!