After the Hurricane

March 18, 2023

Where to even begin?

I visited a few of my kids Friday after Bible study. The roof caved in on some, but the house was still standing. One of them has 7 children and her husband is up in Blantyre. The part of the village closest to us had less flooding. All the houses within 3 kilometers of the river were flooded. One of the men in our church decided not to leave his home because he said the river had never flooded near his home, but it did this time. Thankfully, he is safe.

Walking through the village, people were still smiling and greeting us. We were walking to sit with them, and smiled and talked – even with their homes falling apart in the background. I have so much to learn about contentment from them!

Today we went to the nearby village, Phokera. I almost didn’t go because I was exhausted, a kid had a minute meltdown, I needed to wash several loads of laundry, put together my Bible lesson for tomorrow…but I decided that, even if I don’t get anything else done, I would go. I always feel encouraged after witnessing and my life feels like it has more purpose. So we went.

We walked by one house completely gone. We were told that the lady who lived there was safe. We have visited with her twice and she has made a profession.

The first house we came to shared with us about a lady who tried to cross some water at a certain spot with her two children tied to her back. Both children were swept away by the waters. I did not think I would be able to refrain from weeping! The lady has been coming to our Bible lessons on Sundays and her kids come to my children’s lesson. She says she has trusted Christ. My heart just breaks and my mind began picturing all the kids that come out. Oh! We truly don’t know what tomorrow holds! May we use every opportunity the Lord gives us to be a witness!

Pastor Nelson’s wife went to the other side of the street. There was a lady who had asked her to come back and talk with her. All those houses were gone.

Everything looks so beautiful now! It’s hard to imagine all that has taken place. Roads are still washed out in many places though.

We were sent a video of a pastor using a boat through a little city about 30 minutes from us. It has dried down now and Eric was able to go there today to buy some drinking water, a little plastic for roofs, and one bag of corn meal for us to give out. He said he could only find one bag, and it was very expensive because the trucks are cut off and can’t get to us. He was able to get some diesel there too, but they said it would be gone within a week. We are also cut off from the bank. But the Lord knows all of this! He sees every sparrow that falls! He knew before we came everything that would happen and has us here for such a time as this! Pray that we will use every opportunity He gives us and that people would come to Christ before it is too late!

The first picture is of our village. You can see the mountains of Mozambique and it is gorgeous! The rest are in Phokera today. We always have a group of kids who tag along. Brother Shadrick had Anna and Lydia pull them aside and sing with them while we witnessed.

I am going to try to post videos of our village in the comments.