March 2007

Mozambique - Cyclone Flavio

Feed The Hungry has mobilized a relief effort to aid the victims of Mozambique's flooding and subsequent disaster brought about by Cyclone Flavio.

Tens of thousands of people were displaced and lost their homes and belongings. Schools, stores, and hospitals literally had their roofs ripped off by the 175 mile per hour winds.

A number of the evacuation centers cannot be accessed by road and supplies must be airlifted. "Some 4,000 people could lose their lives if they do not receive drinking water and food soon", Paolo Zucula, Mozambique's top disaster official, stated. "They are starving and some diseases such as malaria and cholera are looming," he added.

Iris Ministries in Mozambique stands ready to receive containers of fortified rice meal packs, canned vegetables, dehydrated soup mix and dried fruits... life-saving food to distribute through their network of 400 churches in the disaster zone... food that will extend God's love to people who have just lost everything! Air support has been secured to airlift supplies into the remotest areas.

Iris teams will share the Word of God and pray for those receiving help. They have about 400 local churches still standing in the storm affected areas; local church leaders will minister the Gospel to the people during each distribution. Their team in Marrumbula reported on Saturday that 30,000 displaced people have assembled into a makeshift camp there alone.

Profile of Mozambique:

• Two-thirds of Mozambicans live in absolute poverty
• Life expectancy at birth is just 38 years
• Mozambique is the tenth poorest nation in the world
• 2,000 people per day are pouring into crowded refugee camps in central Mozambique at present
• 240,000 people have been displaced in total
• 1.3 million orphans live in Mozambique

The people of Mozambique need your help today! Please give generously... and please give immediately.

 

Sudan

Chuck Strantz (LeSEA graphic artist) and Stefan Radelich (US Executive Director) had arrived in Amar Geddid under the protection of an African Union (AU) military convoy.

It was a dangerous trip; they passed many burned out villages along the way. No Christians had ever come to that settlement before, but when a South African AU officer shared the Gospel with the local headman, the Sheik overheard and was touched. Chuck was inspired to wash the Sheik's feet as a living demonstration of Christ's love.

In this area torn by war and famine, God is moving mightily through local churches and even the AU peacekeepers sent in to help stem the violence.

In December 2006 friends like you helped Feed The Hungry distribute food in Nyala, Darfur, through a church in a settlement camp called Korea. About 30,000 people live in Korea, where there is almost no water, sanitation, education, or food.

On a follow-up trip in February, FTH was welcomed by the local church with an outpouring of love. The pastor said, "We know your money could have been used in other ways. We are grateful you used it for us." He said that when he first heard about Feed The Hungry's help, he thought immediately of the early church in Acts, when believers had all things in common so that none would be in need.

Stefan reports that, "If it wasn't for the church, there'd be no hope in Sudan. They're bold, their vibrant, they're unafraid, despite a heavily Muslim government known for persecuting Christians".

Please pray with us for the safety and security of the Christians in Sudan, and that their Gospel witness will take root among their neighbors.

Please also pray that God will show us how He wants us to respond, and provide us with the resources to reach as many people as possible.

We plan to send five more containers of food and we want to send 1,000 Bibles for Sudanese people and for the many AU troops who are far away from home. We know God has big plans for Darfur -- we're glad to be a part of them!

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