Urgent need in Malawi: Floods devastate 11.03.15

By: Kaitlyn Miller

For weeks, we have been telling you about the extreme weather that has hit Malawi this year devastating crops and homes. Sadly, while we slept last night, Malawi was hit with another massive storm. Torrential rains and flash floods destroyed homes, damaged already insufficient and dwindling food storage, and impaired water systems and facilities on the Grace Center campus.

We are saddened to see our staff, children, and friends suffering at the hands of the weather yet again. For a country already suffering great need and desperate hunger this is catastrophic.

Praise God, none of our children were hurt but all are shaken and affected deeply. When the storm hit, the preschool children had finished lunch and were home with their families. Our primary school children were done with lunch and back in class for their afternoon lessons and were able to stay safe on our campus until the storm subsided. Our older children were walking home from Kapita schools and were caught in the storm. One of our sweet girls, Gloria, was caught in floodwater and washed with the current for a bit before she was able to grab a tree and hold on until the water subsided.

Gloria was caught in the floodwaters and almost swept away; but Praise Jesus she is alright!

Damage on our campus is extensive. We are still assessing the full extent as the staff members were sent home to care for their families and properties as soon as the storm lessened. Here is what we know at this time:

·      We currently have no water at the Grace Center due to broken pipes. All of our water tanks were blown off their stands but none were broken.

·      Our library was affected with rain pouring in and damaging many of the books.

·      Pastor Phiri’s home was flooded with water coming in the living room and traveling down the hall into the bedrooms affecting furniture.

·      We had begun construction on our much needed and anticipated church roof and one of our newly assembled trusses flew and broke.

The local villages were also greatly affected including our staff’s homes and property. At this time, here is what we know about the effect on our staff and community:

·      Textile center staff member, Mayi Lumbe, lost her house when it was knocked down completely and destroyed.

·      Our tailor at the textile center, Mr. James, also had his home entirely destroyed with his belongings spread all over the country-side.

Mr. James and Mayi Lumbe, both textile center employees, both lost their homes to the floods.

·      Lots of homes were leveled and roofs were ripped off exposing belongings and minimal food supplies to the elements.

·      A smaller Grace Alliance Church, planted by one of our pastors, lost it’s roof.

·      Kapita school, where many of our children attend daily, had the roof blown off of two blocks of the school.

As dismal as this sounds, we believe in God’s provision and sovereignty. We are blessed to have clothes to distribute to those who lost their belongings but as you can see the need is much greater than those alone. Click the button below to donate to our recovery efforts for our campus, our community, and our friends.

We will continue to assess the damage and adjust our action plan as we know more. Join us in praying and lifting all this up to our Heavenly Father. We are deeply hurt by the pain and loss in Malawi but so thankful for God's protection, keeping everyone safe.