Harold writes concerning our network of literature distributors: “Most of them I can’t reach. Power problem but Mulanje ones are all alive but lost houses and crops.”
We give thanks that the Lord has preserved the lives of many of his people, but there are many reports of believers losing their homes and livelihoods.
Please pray for Brother Stephen who has changed other travel plans to return to Malawi on Monday to help with SALT’s response to the Cyclone.
Pray for journeying mercies, and that he will be able to use his experience to make a meaningful contribution to the effort, and be able to encourage the team on the ground. They have come through a very difficult week, on the back of several difficult months.
Please pray for the ongoing rescue and recovery mission following the cyclone last weekend.
Malawi’s emergency services have very limited capacity, but several international teams are converging on Blantyre to assist with the search.
Malawi was already suffering from its worst ever cholera outbreak prior to the cyclone, and the flooding will make this problem much worse.
Brother Harold reports that they are still experiencing periods of heavy rain – pray that the country would have respite from these extreme weather conditions.
Anna says, Give thanks for some positive news: We started Bibletime with the little kids today.
Note: After so much negative news in the past week, it’s wonderful to see the spiritual work resuming at Saidi.
What is the biggest challenge you will face in the next six months?
I must admit, I really had to think when this question came up a few days ago. [Edit: And that was before Cyclone Freddy hit Malawi!!]
Please pray for much wisdom and guidance as we plan our disaster relief effort in the wake of Cyclone Freddy.
Brother Stephen has cancelled a planned trip to Jordan in order to return to Malawi on Monday (DV). It’s clear that the situation there is pretty dire. An initial survey of the area immediately surrounding Saidi reveals extensive damage.
Initially, we aim to establish a feeding station for those with nowhere else to go. However, we need to assess what we will be able to do to help our neighbours in the longer term, and plan how best to do it.
The needs will be enormous.
We have much to give thanks for. Although there has been terrible loss of life in the natural disaster which struck Southern Malawi last weekend, we have received accounts of miraculous preservation of others.
In particular, Brother Harold wishes to thank the Lord’s people for their prayers. He and his family were preserved through very serious danger, as were other brothers and sisters in his village at Njuli.
Although there has been extensive damage to homes near to the SALT site at Saidi, we have not heard of any loss of life, or serious injury.
Many of my friends in the U.S. have either personally experienced or know those who have experienced extreme weather events. In some areas of the country, we have it down to a system.
The rain has eased enough for Anna and Goodson to begin to assess the damage in the surrounding community following Cyclone Freddy.
Anna writes: ” We walked. 😉 Not even trying to drive today.
“Some pictures are following. The damage is extensive. Many, many houses have fallen. It’s a bit overwhelming.
“And, yet, what we are facing here is nothing compared to other parts of the country – where entire villages were swept away by mud slides.
“Please pray for wisdom to know how to help when the need is so overwhelming.”
Many, many houses have fallen. It’s a bit overwhelming.
Anna
In Blantyre, the situation is particularly bad in some of the very overcrowded townships. Blantyre is surrounded by mountains, and many of the townships are built on lower foothills, making them susceptible to mudslides. Homes are typically built with mud-brick, often with only mud for mortar, and building standards in the townships are not enforced. A recipe for disaster.
In the immediate aftermath of this disaster the needs are:
In the longer term there will a lot of reconstruction to do.
We have begun a process of talking to the local village chiefs to see who the most needy and vulnerable are.
Here is a selection of heart-breaking news pieces from reliable sources:
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The following page give a good assessment of the humantitarian impact, and is updated regularly: https://reliefweb.int/disaster/tc-2023-000023-mdg#updates
As heavy rain continues to fall, the situation continues to develop. It’s still too early to say what the scale of the disaster is – but it is a disaster! The death toll from Cyclone Freddy Malawi has already exceeded 100, and some people have been in touch to ask what they can do as part of the relief effort.
