On the 23rd of January 2021 Cyclone Eloise hit Beira.  Mozambique’s second most populated city.  She dumped 250mm within 24hours drowning the regions flat plans and flooding their major rivers.  

In 2019 this same region had two devastating cyclones Idai and Kenneth, not even 2 years later, Eloise struck.   Bringing with her 100mph winds that blew down trees, power lines and homes ripping off roofs and creating extreme cautious.  At the end of the storm, when all was calm, the harsh reality set in.   More than 160,000 people in the area were directly affected with 17,000 homes severely damaged or destroyed.  

Watching the news from Jeffreys Bay, South Africa we were phoning our friend Eugenio Bolone from Young Life Mozambique.  Hearing his reports of the devastation we could only ask how we could help?

The main needs were for food and shelter.  We rallied our network channels and got a hold of our friends and partners at Groundswell Aid.  They quickly responded by launching a campaign to assist Beira residents affected by Cyclone Eloise.  Along with raising the necessary funds, a close friend and builder, Hainrick Burger and I flew to Beira  to visit the homes of the 16 Young Life leaders and their families.  We were joyfully welcomed into homes without roofs and flooded rooms and properties and neighbourhoods that looked more like swamps than streets. Despite the dire situation we saw the resilience of people and the power of hope not allowing current circumstances to defeat posterity.  

It was a great encouragement to see the Young Life crew, who are not relief workers or builders, stepping up to this challenge and practically serving one another.  Not only do they want to share the ‘Good News’  of the gospel but want to put loving your neighbour into action. 

Our role was to come alongside to encourage, pray, love and empower by placing material into willing hands.

Thank you to all who contributed financially to this campaign.