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Report from Morrumbala, Mozambique
Wesley Campbell and Dawn Meier
April 3, 2007

As the old saying goes, “seeing is believing.” Here in Mozambique, it’s not just the seeing, but the smelling, hearing and experiencing the desolate situation that is real life for the refugees of the Zambezi River floods. The Be A HERO team in Morrumbala spent two eye-opening days discovering the harsh realities that face both the refugees, and those trying to deliver aid to them.

The obstacles presented to the disaster relief team included a faltering clutch and failing brakes on the Camion (laden with over 2 ½ tons of food and 12 aid workers); a boat owner that reneged on his contract to rent us two boats to ferry food to marooned refugees on an island created by the floods, forcing the team to change course and take the aid to a different refugee camp; hidden stumps, massive sinkholes, and rocks threatening the vehicles; a narrow, rocky road which  eventually turned into a path that even the Land Rover couldn’t navigate; blazing sun and mosquitoes. After numerous twists and turns in the plans, the food was packed the last 7 kilometres by both bicycles and national women carrying 25 kg rice bags on their heads, as the aid workers trekked in the moonlight, carrying their camping gear. The weary, hungry team pitched a camp in the dark, and spent a night sleeping on the (very hard) ground, knowing that what was considered extreme discomfort for a North American was stark, unending reality for the refugees.

The problems facing the refugees are not so easily overcome. In a nutshell – they are virtually all sick, all malnourished, drinking filthy contaminated river water, living in flimsy straw houses with dirt floors (the story of the three little pigs has taught us from childhood how futile straw houses are), wearing rags that hang in tatters on their stick frames, enduring pounding, torrential storms, no jobs, no medical care, with no crops planted and no one who cares enough about them to deliver aid by bicycle and manpower. (Forget about electricity, roads, toilets, running water, schools, clinics, internet and other “luxuries” the Western world takes for granted) Their future is tenuous, and they have no way to improve their lot. Multiply this scenario thousands of times over, and you will begin to understand the situation in Mozambique. But these 3000 refugees received a glimmer of hope, and a glimpse of love through our efforts to provide them with a few days’ food, prayer for the sick, and the gospel of Jesus’ love. Hundreds raised their hands to receive Jesus, and many were healed including a young deaf/mute girl.

It was hard to leave, after meeting the young mothers and looking into the sweet faces of their babies not knowing if/when they might receive food again, and if/when someone will get to work on a more permanent solution to their massive problems, and if they will live long enough to enjoy a better life. It was hard, knowing I was going home to my queen-sized miracle foam bed and hot showers, in a nice, waterproof house with all the food I could ever want just down the street. It was hard, knowing that the images forever branded in my mind demand action.

Meanwhile, Iris Ministries (through the generous donations from Be A HERO supporters and other compassionate souls) has purchased 12 containers full of food, which sit at the docks awaiting the payment of exorbitant duty imposed by the Mozambican government - $80,000.00 US dollars. Please pray earnestly for the release of these containers. Iris, with their base of 7000 churches throughout the land, is uniquely poised to provide equitable, swift delivery of food and other goods. Their immediate challenges include a shortage of trucks and food, translators (Portuguese to English), and staff stretched well beyond capacity by the back-to-back crises that have hit Mozambique such as the floods, two cyclones, and the explosion of munitions in Maputo – in addition to the care for 5000 orphans and responsibility to feed over 12,000 people per day before the recent developments.  As the Bible says “money answers all things”. We may not be in a position today to fix all of the problems in Mozambique, but surely out of our abundance we can feed dying people.

The short-term plan: feed the refugees and deliver water purification to those camps in desperate need of safe water. The long-term plans under formation by Be A HERO and Iris Ministries include multiplication and development of the 7000 churches to each include a children’s home to care for the thousands of orphans, and eventually a school.  Our rough calculations have determined that just $6000.00 will build a children’s home addition onto to a church and provide one year’s food, clothing, and medical care for 12 orphans.

I know we can get sick of hearing about all the never-ending disasters throughout the world, and retreat into our own lives as it all looks so impossible.  But if each person would do any little something it would not be impossible. It is possible for you to save someone’s life even today. Even one person’s life. Will you Be A HERO?

Further reports and photos will be posted at www,beahero.org next week when the team returns to Canada. If you want to help, visit the website and click on “Mozambique Disaster Relief” on the Home Page.