Three weeks ago, Cyclone Freddy hit parts of Malawi, Mozambique, and Madagascar, including the city of Blantyre where Holly and I (along with colleagues Scott and Laura) will be training a new network of pastors the end of April and beginning of May. Malawi is one of the poorest countries in the world and is not equipped to handle this sort of tragedy. There are many physical needs at this point, so in addition to bringing training in God’s Word, we hope to offer encouragement and love in the form of prayers, listening, and giving practical assistance. The death toll continues to climb beyond 500, with thousands of homes destroyed, many still buried under mudslides, and infrastructure in shambles.

Although it is a bit dated, this BBC news report gives a visual glimpse of what has happened:

I have been in communication with our southern Malawi coordinators where the cyclone hit the hardest and lasted the longest. In fact, Cyclone Freddy is on record as the longest-lived and most energetic tropical storm ever. Pastor Rabson from Blantyre with whom I work has passed along a list of items most needed. However, most can be purchased locally if money is collected. The network leadership also expressed a need for used but well-working laptops and unlocked smartphones for the coordinators and pastors. For example, Rabson’s laptop died after being submerged in water during Cyclone Freddy. Holly and I can bring a couple extra checked bags if people want to donate items. Otherwise, we can bring money for relief to buy the items and much needed food items (standard Malawian food is “nsima” made from maize meal or rice served with veggies or legumes or meat or eggs.) Most needed for cyclone survivors are:

• Food items
• Plastic sheets or tents
• Kitchen utensils
• Blankets and clothes
• Mosquito nets and mattresses or mats
• Water treatment medications
• Soaps
• Lamps or torches (flashlights)
• Laptops and smartphones for pastors

If you are interested in contributing to this relief effort, please contact me at eric.belz@efca.org or text me at 360.915.3921.

Pastor Rabson reassured me that the training must proceed as planned in Blantyre, so we appreciate your prayer for all those who will be involved, as well as the many victims of this catastrophe.