Mozambique in Disasters

Dear Friends

May the peace of God be with you.

For the last 4 weeks our Country has been going through the experience and impact of 4 natural calamities, namely:

• Floods in the northern part of the Diocese of Lebombo, causing displacements, destruction of fields, homes and livestock.
• Cyclone in the central and northern part of the Diocese, causing destruction of homes, Churches, livestock and other property
• Drought in the south, making fields unproductive and destroying seeds
• The sea invading homes and property as high and strong waves demonstrates their strength (perhaps anger), leaving people in dismay and disbelief.

All these disasters came to worsen the already debilitated economic situation of many citizens and have made them more vulnerable.

We need to remind ourselves that malaria and HIV/AIDS have not given up causing havoc. Ironically, as we were remembering the 14th anniversary on 9th March of the death of Bishop Olavo Luis primate of Brazil, victim of malaria which he caught here in Mozambique while visiting us, that same day a lady named Rosângela who visited Lebombo in a Bible Study Program between Lebombo Brazil and Sweden was also dying in Brazil, just 1 week after returning from Mozambique. She was 40, married only last year and as she is of African origin, she felt she had come back to her roots for the first time.

Additionally, statistics given by the Ministry of Health last week show that cases of malaria had increased last year.

“What shall then say to these things?”

Although we may look as if we are “sitting in darkness and in the shadow of death” we are indeed “prisoners of hope”

What to do?  To bring back hope to those who are in hopeless situations and show that God cares through the Church.

Where to do? Some carefully selected areas which have been affected by one or more of the calamities would be assisted in the 6 provinces covered by the Diocese. The number of families will be far higher that 3500 in Gaza, Maputo, Inhambane, Sofala, Manica and Tete.

When to do? As soon as we have financial resources because the needs are acute and response is needed now.

How to do it?

• We have called our people to pray, interceding for the situation. Please join us in praying too.
• Provide seeds, about 12 types according to the different areas and habits. This is for all areas
• Provide home utensils and clothing in those areas where people suffered floods and cyclone – local congregations are also contributing
• Blankets, capulanas, soap and hygienic items
• Teaching about the environment, addressed to the general public but beginning with Church members.

Our request to you, dear friends is that we work together to restore hope to those people who “sit in darkness and shadow of death”.

God bless you.

Together in the Gospel, the message of life in its fullness.

+Dinis Salomão Sengulane

P.S.

After writing this letter, Maputo was shaken by explosions from army arsenal. From this frightening disaster, some of the damages are as follows:

• More than 100 deaths
• More than 400 injured, those who called on hospitals many having been hospitalized, many with burns, limbs blown up or badly damaged and various injuries
• Many houses totally destroyed and all content made unusable
• 4 Anglican Churches damaged, 2 badly and 2 slightly
• Thousands of houses whose glass windows were destroyed, many whose content was damaged or destroyed.
• Dangerous explosives landed in different places, causing panic to hundreds of people
• Everyone who had the explosions is worried and as to the impact of this disaster.

Prayer, counsel, material help and a deep commitment to make sure that this does not happen again is what is needed at present.

God bless us

+Dinis Salomão Sengulane

Bishop of Lebombo