Cyclone Freddy brings death and destruction to saints AGAIN!

 

From: Randy Vick 122.16ab.17ab@gmail.com Cyclone Freddy brings death and destruction to saints AGAIN! Dear Brothers and Sisters of the Restoration, It matters not what branch of the Restoration you are part of. We are all brothers and sisters in the faith and thankfully we realize that, when we see brothers and sisters suffering. We are appealing to your compassion once again, as our brothers and sisters in Mozambique and Malawi have again experienced disaster, death and destruction, this time at the hands of Cyclone Freddy. Most of you are aware of the 2019 disaster of Cyclone Idai that took the lives of 12 saints in Mozambique and destroyed dozens of the saints’ homes, while flooding many more, taking away all their possessions. Scientists said it was a 1 in 300 years flood. Your response then was phenomenal as love poured in from many parts of the Restoration and your $20,000 in offerings helped to greatly ease their suffering. Saints in Matema, Betsaida, Chingodzi and Chissomo Restoration Branches suffered greatly, but your gifts of love lifted them up in ways we wish you could have seen in person. Only 3 years after the "1 in 300 years flood" of Cyclone Idai, came Cyclone Ana in 2022, resulting in a greater flood with more widespread destruction in Mozambique and Malawi. Sadly, the same four branches in Tete, Mozambique again fell victim, but also the saints of Kapirisongue, Nkhulunje, Gurumba Bawe and Mango Restoration Branches in Mozambique and Chimembe, Donken, Nsakambewa and Blantyre Restoration Branches in Malawi also suffered great destruction. We were so blessed this time that there was no loss of life among the saints in either country. Again you responded with a great outpouring of love and compassion and we were able to provide more than $40,000 of disaster relief to ease their suffering. On the day that our Cyclone Ana disaster relief team was leaving the area, Cyclone Gambi struck Mozambique and 2 of our sister saints, age 9 and 65 of the Milange Restoration Branch, lost their lives while others had their homes severely damaged. Because we received late arriving offerings from the Cyclone Ana relief effort, we were able to provide emergency food and household items to those suffering saints. Now, tragically comes Cyclone Freddy, striking Mozambique and Malawi again, with ravaging floods. We have confirmed that one saint in the Murrumbala Restoration Branch in Mozambique perished in the flood, but several saints in that branch and the Milange Restoration Branch are still missing. Dozens of families in those two branches and Bangula and John Restoration Branches in Malawi have lost their homes and some who’s homes survived have lost all their possessions. Again we are asking that you respond with love and compassion for our brothers and sisters who live in poverty daily, and now have lost all of their meager possessions. Fortunately, at the 2022 General Conference, a Disaster Relief Program and Team were created. We will provide disaster relief to help as much as your offerings will allow. We can assure you that whatever you give will go directly to those in need. We would like to ask every Restoration Branch, Congregation, Church to take up a special disaster relief offering for the saints of Mozambique and Malawi on Sunday, March 26, or on communion and oblation Sunday, April 2nd. Please make checks and money orders payable to “JCRB” and note Disaster Relief in the memo portion of your check or money order. Your offering can be mailed to, or dropped off at: Conference of Restoration Branches 411 East 23 Street S Suite C Independence MO 64055 THANK YOU for whatever you feel led to give! Disaster Relief Team Larry McHargue Rex Curtis Jason Landess Randy Vick