Monday, January 28, 2013

Inhambane Trip and Flooding

 

Together with Mozambican pastor, Abel, and Brazilian colleague, Fernanda, I traveled back to Inhambane this last week to do Bible studies and leadership training with the church groups there.
Bible study with the church group in Nyadumbuque.  



Please pray that they would grow in their relationship with Christ.


Flooding

On the afternoon of our third day there, we got word that the Limpopo river had swelled due to torrential rains, which was causing severe flooding in the province of Gaza, just south of Inhambane.
We cut the trip short due to the danger of being stranded if the national road was severed. The national road is the only road that goes north and south in the country, and this is the road we use.

As we arrived in Xai Xai, the town was being evacuated. Homes were submerged, leaving little islands of land or roof where people were being rescued by raft.  

Water was rushing underneath the national road as we passed over. Usually there is land on both sides of this part of the road (above).


We passed through at 6pm, and at 7pm the national road became impassable and was closed. That night the road was severed.

 As of today, 45 people have been killed, and around 70,000 displaced. Nearly 85,000 have been affected by the raging waters.


Would you please pray for all those suffering the effects of this flooding.