Thousands are displaced by the flooding.
On Tuesday, I went to Pemba on business, and realized as we drove into town, there was no electricity. Never a good sign!
I knew southern Mozambique was being hit by heavy rains (as we had received heavy storms for the last 4 days), with some central and southern areas of the country flooding with major housing losses.
What I didn’t know, thanks to an almost none existent news service up here, I had no idea that a CYCLONE (hurricane) had hit the Beira area, leaving over 9 million people in northern Mozambique without electric power! (We hadn’t even noticed the lack of power, since electric is more “off” than “on” in the Balama area.)
The flooding in the central part of the country toppled 10 ELECTRIC PILONS, destroying all power to the entire northern part of Mozambique.
It has been 5 days now, and a 2nd cyclone is about to hit that same area in the next few days.
Repairs will be impossible until flood waters recede.
| Note: Rainy season’s heavy rains do not end till end of Feb., meaning repairs could be seriously delayed, crippling this entire part of Moz.Two bridges are out of service in the Mocuba area (central Zambeze River area) on the ONLY road down the Moz. coast (road that leads to South Africa, which is our supply route.)
High water has caused major wash outs at the entrance to one bridge and damage to another bridge. No electricity in government offices, means no service to the public. Did get the banking done, PTL, cause they have a generator back up! But that was all we got done. Cold food in the grocery stores was defrosting fast. I grabbed 2 frozen chickens, a block of butter, and some cheese, knowing there would be no more “safe cold foods” to eat until power was restored. BUSH BUNNY IS PREPARED! Since we are remote, and have NEVER depended on local utilities, we are set up for survival without electricity. Solar fridges, powered by 6 solar panels and 4 large tractor batteries, keep food fresh for several days to a month, depending on what it is. We cook on a gas stove from bottled gas, and I keep a 4 month supply of gas bottles for just such emergencies as this. Our water comes from a hand pumped water well, similar to the ones you see on old westerns. Nothing but muscle power needed there! BEING PREPARED AND HAVING ADEQUATE FOOD AND FUEL SUPPLIES ON HAND are essential to survival in remote Africa. I was once cut off for 7 weeks from civilization by 12 miles of washed out road and 5 fallen bridges. Didn’t suffer a bit, since I had 3 months of food supplies tucked away. God expects all of us to BE PREPARED for the unexpected. Whether it comes in the form of a spiritual battle and/or a physical disaster. KNOWING GOD’S WORD, and USING IT in the proper way, will always be the #1 TOOL I have in my heart. Are you prepared for what might be about to happen in this YEAR OF MANY CHANGES? GET READY, FOR GOD’S SON IS COMING SOON! GOAT WARS OF BALAMA Might seem like a minor thing after what you just read about the cyclones. However, our children’s meat source is very important, as it is the only fresh meat available in this area. With outsiders coming into Balama, and offering high prices for any edible animal on 4 feet, it puts our goats at high risk to thieves. Goat supplies are almost non-existent as most of the local growers have been forced to sell off their herds or have them stolen in the night. We keep 3 strong men with machetes and powerful flashlights at our goat pens each night, and have 3 men watching the herds graze during the day. Otherwise, your goats will disappear. The thieves have even been so bold as to approach my herdsmen and try to BUY the goats direct from them in our own pastures! Blessings, Bush Bunny Brenda Lange Balama Blazers: Katie Polcyn Ashlynn Grabill |