Cyclone Yasi

I’m writing this on Wednesday night, and the Far North Queensland coast is about to be severely and ferociously lashed by Cyclone Yasi. Following the floods that devastated Queensland in only the last few weeks, this is another huge blow (and I don’t mean that to be a pun at all).

Many of my mail-order customers are in Queensland. I wrote to a few of my regular customers in the projected path of the cyclone this morning to let them know that I would be praying for them as they faced this enormous storm. I heard from two this afternoon. One, who is a member of the CWA (Country Women’s Association) said that she was waiting it out, but had gotten bored, so turned on the oven and baked 20 dozen biscuits (AKA cookies for some of you!) and 5 large fruitcakes to help feed the cleanup crews when they arrive after the storm. There’s no stopping some people! I guess using the electricity while you still have it is a sensible thing to do and a useful way to pass the time.

The other lady said that she is right in the path of the storm, being just south of Cairns, where they expect Yasi will make landfall. She sounded hopeful, and cheekily suggested that she won’t be doing any Mountmellick embroidery in the next 24 hours!

I am praying that these lovely ladies and everyone else will be safe. I suppose that though the storm will hit in its full ferocity tonight, it will take some time for information to filter out due to the likelihood of telecommunications going down. I don’t expect any of them to read this at any time in the near future, but when you do, know that we were so worried for you, and sincerely hoping and praying that you would be ok. It sounds so very weak given the enormity of the likely devastation, but it is very heartfelt.