As a teenager, I visited this beautiful archipelago and remember its stunning scenery and its lovely though poor people.  I remember chiefly an unwise decision to take my t-shirt off to walk along the long curve of Beau Vallon Bay on Mahé to check out a small white chapel I could see at the end; I put it back on too late on the return journey to avoid serious sunburn, which made the next few days very painful indeed. 

I was very sad a bit later to see the country had been taken over by a socialist dictatorship [much as happened to Grenada], but it was unsurprising given the clear division which had grown up, with an affluent tourist industry which had by-passed almost completely [for jobs and supplies] the grinding poverty of many of the inhabitants.  There was little benefit to the islanders, though a lot of money was being made. 

This is just the latest tragedy for these beautiful islands and their fine people.  Paradise can have a very hard edge.  Prayers for Seychelles and for relief for those affected by these storms and the flooding.  I particularly pray for those whose flimsy houses will have been wrecked while giving thanks that no one has lost their life.