Saturday, 3 March 2007
Heidi and I have one more day in the flood zone before we fly our Cessnaback to Pemba. So we are up early at the World Vision compound in Morrumbala, loading our Land Rovers and big trucks for a trip to more refugee camps. We would especially like to get to the flooded Shire River and paddle our way in dugout canoes to people stranded on isolatedislands.
Our little convoy heads east on a dirt road through the pristine African bush. The mountains and skies are in their full glory, wild, clear and beautiful. Brilliant cumulus clouds perfectly accent the deep blue heavens overhead, hiding a dark fury that has been unleashed on thisland for two months. Heavy rains and cyclones have pounded southeast Africa until now over 300,000 people in this area have been forced from their houses and have lost everything.
A thousand feet above the flood plain, the countryside around Morrumbalais poor, but lush, green and relatively dry. We are racing and swerving over the rutted, winding road to make time. We raise clouds of dust,climb hills, dip into valleys, wave to children in villages, and presson to the infamous river.
Heidi and I have one more day in the flood zone before we fly our Cessnaback to Pemba. So we are up early at the World Vision compound in Morrumbala, loading our Land Rovers and big trucks for a trip to more refugee camps. We would especially like to get to the flooded Shire River and paddle our way in dugout canoes to people stranded on isolatedislands.
Our little convoy heads east on a dirt road through the pristine African bush. The mountains and skies are in their full glory, wild, clear and beautiful. Brilliant cumulus clouds perfectly accent the deep blue heavens overhead, hiding a dark fury that has been unleashed on thisland for two months. Heavy rains and cyclones have pounded southeast Africa until now over 300,000 people in this area have been forced from their houses and have lost everything.
A thousand feet above the flood plain, the countryside around Morrumbalais poor, but lush, green and relatively dry. We are racing and swerving over the rutted, winding road to make time. We raise clouds of dust,climb hills, dip into valleys, wave to children in villages, and presson to the infamous river.
But suddenly we encounter a camp we didn't expect. It is huge. We can't just drive by, so we pull off the road and stop, surrounded by adesperate crowd. They find out who we are, and they are thrilled. Manyof them are already in our churches, and so we start singing and worshiping even as we discuss the situation with their leaders.
These people haven't eaten in weeks. The rising waters forced them fromtheir houses along the river plain, and they slogged on foot throughmuddy swamps until they reached high ground and gathered in huge camps.
When they arrived they had nothing but the ragged clothes on their backs. The people literally sat on the ground in pouring rain, thunder and lightning with no shelter, food, or visible hope. Children weresick, crying and screaming. Some ran naked like animals. The desperate tried to eat nasty roots and worms out of the ground. Skin and eyeinfections, intestinal disorders, malaria and an array of other health problems began to spread.
After some days the people began building primitive little huts out of nearby sticks and grass, and now there is a sea of these huts for thesix thousand refugees in this one camp (see the photos!). But still the people sit and sleep on the dirt with absolutely nothing -- no flashlights, toilets, CD players, sleeping bags, cots, Coleman lanterns,tea kettles, bug spray, fans, water bottles or hot dogs. They just wait, tired, hot, dirty, hungry and sick. Our visiting doctor, Koos Le Rouxfrom near Cape Town, begins to treat cases, and says he's never seensuch a needy medical situation.
While some of us discuss food logistics, we preach too, and pray for the sick. Terry Inman and Rodney Hogue, pastors from the San Francisco BayArea, flew immediately here to help us minister, and they passionatelypour their hearts out with Heidi and me. No one resists the Gospel.Everyone is eagerly listening to every word, responding to every call,wanting prayer for everything. Many already know Jesus, as we have probably several thousand churches in this one province, but they know they need Him now more than they ever thought.
We brought tons of rice, beans, blankets, plastic tarp and othersupplies, but not enough for the whole camp at once. Organizers areafraid if we feed only part of the camp, there will be rioting and bloodshed. But no other supplies have come to this camp yet, and we justcan't take the food away. We are assured other organizations will bringadditional food immediately.
Meanwhile, in the hot sun and under trees all around, Jesus is savingand healing. Four deaf people hear this morning. Our own Mozambicanpastors are praying throughout the crowd. We always have good news, we preach. Jesus knows your suffering. Through all of this we will seek Him more, and He will reveal Himself more than we ever thought possible in our lives.
These people haven't eaten in weeks. The rising waters forced them fromtheir houses along the river plain, and they slogged on foot throughmuddy swamps until they reached high ground and gathered in huge camps.
When they arrived they had nothing but the ragged clothes on their backs. The people literally sat on the ground in pouring rain, thunder and lightning with no shelter, food, or visible hope. Children weresick, crying and screaming. Some ran naked like animals. The desperate tried to eat nasty roots and worms out of the ground. Skin and eyeinfections, intestinal disorders, malaria and an array of other health problems began to spread.
After some days the people began building primitive little huts out of nearby sticks and grass, and now there is a sea of these huts for thesix thousand refugees in this one camp (see the photos!). But still the people sit and sleep on the dirt with absolutely nothing -- no flashlights, toilets, CD players, sleeping bags, cots, Coleman lanterns,tea kettles, bug spray, fans, water bottles or hot dogs. They just wait, tired, hot, dirty, hungry and sick. Our visiting doctor, Koos Le Rouxfrom near Cape Town, begins to treat cases, and says he's never seensuch a needy medical situation.
While some of us discuss food logistics, we preach too, and pray for the sick. Terry Inman and Rodney Hogue, pastors from the San Francisco BayArea, flew immediately here to help us minister, and they passionatelypour their hearts out with Heidi and me. No one resists the Gospel.Everyone is eagerly listening to every word, responding to every call,wanting prayer for everything. Many already know Jesus, as we have probably several thousand churches in this one province, but they know they need Him now more than they ever thought.
We brought tons of rice, beans, blankets, plastic tarp and othersupplies, but not enough for the whole camp at once. Organizers areafraid if we feed only part of the camp, there will be rioting and bloodshed. But no other supplies have come to this camp yet, and we justcan't take the food away. We are assured other organizations will bringadditional food immediately.
Meanwhile, in the hot sun and under trees all around, Jesus is savingand healing. Four deaf people hear this morning. Our own Mozambicanpastors are praying throughout the crowd. We always have good news, we preach. Jesus knows your suffering. Through all of this we will seek Him more, and He will reveal Himself more than we ever thought possible in our lives.
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