Reps Circular

Dear ALMA Reps and Friends,

URGENT APPEAL: FLOODS IN MOZAMBIQUE

This is an update rather than a full circular. It comes with an urgent request for your prayers now, and in church this Sunday, for the Diocese of Niassa  where there is extremely serious flooding in Zambezia province of the diocese.

ALMA will be responding in faith by sending a donation of £5000 to Niassa on Monday so we can be alongside in the immediate flood relief efforts. ALMA churches may want to take a collection towards this on Sunday. Individuals can give online via https://my.give.net/AlmaFloodAppeal

PLEASE PASS THIS INFORMATION ON TO AS MANY PEOPLE AS POSSIBLE

What’s happened:

The Licungo River has had the worst floods since 1971 with two major bridges on the major national road -the EN1- collapsing and halting north-south movement. Electricity is out in many places as the torrential rains have knocked out 10 pylons. The Zambezi river has also risen above flood alert levels. Ten of thousands of people are displaced as they seek refuge on higher ground.

How we can help:

The Diocese of Niassa is experienced in flood relief work and supported by partners including Tearfund, World Renew, ALMA and MANNA will deliver kits to families made homeless by the floods which includes: maize, kits of seeds, water treatment and mosquito nets with each kit costing about £35. Of the $53,000 dollars needed to achieve this $30,000 has been pledged. ALMA is looking to raise £5000 or$7500

More information on the floods on:

• ALMA London facebook page  (which you can access without having a facebook account)
• BBC news
• SRN News

and two accounts from Jo and Andy in Milange:

• blog from Jo Beale on the flooding in Milange where even the solid well-built houses are succumbing to the pressure of the rain.
• blog from Andy Beale on waiting for the rains to come

With huge thanks for your prayers and commitment

PS : Please do continue to pray for other areas of the ALMA partnership too:    

Diocese of Angola  

• the Ven Eduardo da Silva Clemente, Archdeacon Emeritus of Uíge and parish priest of St Paul, Uíge died on New Year's Day and Revd Jose Coria in December. May they rest in peace and rise in glory

• Bengula school walls are now waist height

Diocese of Lebombo

• Bishop Carlos has been out and about visiting parishes including Beira and Tete
• the community of Chitima in Tete province where over 90 people have died and 190 are ill. They are thought to have drunk poisoned beer after a funeral.

Diocese of London

• We welcomed Revd James Hughesdon to St Paul’s Old Ford linked with Santa Cruz, Bairro Popular, Lichinga, and Revd Greville Thomas to St Mary’s Sudbury linked with Chuanga on the Niassa Lakeshore
• Six people from St Mary’s Stoke Newington are busy planning their visit to Tete in April for the opening of the Church of the Epiphany