Scriptures Reach Mozambique
Flood Victims

MAPUTO, Mozambique; December 2000 — Hundreds of thousands of Scriptures have been distributed to Mozambicans who lost everything in the floods that devastated parts of the country earlier this year. In a recent report, Agastão José Zitha, Distribution and Fundraising Officer of the Bible Society in Mozambique (BSM), described the joy of the flood victims at receiving God’s Word and the difficulties they face as they rebuild their lives.

“Over the last six months, we have distributed Scriptures to flood victims in the provinces of Sofala, Inhambane, Manica, Gaza and Maputo, and discovered that our people are thirsty for the Word of God,” said Mr Zitha.

Poignant

“It was particularly poignant to take Scriptures to people in the Machanga district of Sofala province where everything – including houses, trees and crops – was destroyed by the cyclone that followed the main flooding. People are really suffering there.

“In the Chokwe, Chibuto and Xai-Xai districts of Gaza province, people have very little and are in desperate need of material aid, especially food and clothing,” he continued. “Through my work among them, I discovered that they are also desperate for God’s Word. They praised God and thanked the Bible Society when we gave them their own Scriptures.

“This distribution program was an opportunity to show the power of God on earth. The people of Mozambique are enthusiastically ready to follow the Word of God because they see in it an everlasting life.”

Co-operated

To distribute the Scriptures as effectively as possible, the BSM co-operated with World Vision and the Christian Council of Mozambique. By October, 21,926 Bibles, 23,287 New Testaments, 26,268 Portions, 279,789 New Reader Portions and 10,360 Selections had been distributed. Five thousand more Tsonga Bibles, which arrived in the country earlier this month, will be distributed early next year. (WR 357/31 - 1/2.01) [PHOTOS] e-123