Zambeze River flood zone.
Mozambique (MNN) ― Flooding in Mozambique could worsen as the rainy season gets under way.
Several weeks of flooding displaced more than 87,000 people in the Zambezi river valley. In the more remote areas, there are thousands who have not received food aid or clean drinking water. There's now a concern that waterborne diseases such as malaria and cholera are looming, especially with the lack of sanitation.
With a humanitarian crisis brewing, many mission aviation groups have diverted their efforts to the emergency. As a number of evacuation centers were not accessible by road, the only way to get food and other supplies to the refugees was by air.
Audio Scripture Ministries' Tom Dudenhofer says it has affected them indirectly, as well. "Our international technical project coordinator was supposed to fly into Mozambique and the airplanes that he was to use, operated by Mercy Air, had been set aside because they were involved in doing survey work and relief work for the flooding in the northern part of Mozambique."
Dudenhofer says their project will face slight delays. Their coordinator will have to find his way to his destination by roadway. So far, most of that area is untouched by flooding. However, depending on the dialect they are trying to record Scripture in, the readers may be hampered by impassable, flooded roads.
Even so, ASM could be one of the fortunate ministries, able to pack a portable studio, if needed. But, not everyone comes through a major crisis like this unscathed. Dudenhofer, again: "I think people should pray for the work that's going on in the flooded areas. Something like this always is a disruption to a very fragile infrastructure. Just pray for safety and wisdom as those involved in sharing God's good news try to sort out what their next step has to be."
ASM is partnering with missionaries and a national Bible College in Mozambique to help build a recording studio that will help with future evangelistic work. They've decided to train a technical team able to record more Scriptures, Bible stories, and other tools that can be used by the Bible school graduates.
