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A Report to the
Companion Diocese Relationship Committee
by The Reverend Canon David Hamilton
Date: April 28, 2000
On the plane headed for South Africa, Dr. Richard Shim-Chim and I were in a very reflective mood. It's a long
flight and we had a long time to think and talk about our hopes and fears about making this trip to Maputo at this
time. The news reports were frightening and we were wondering what use we would be to the Diocese of Lebombo and
its people.
After an 18-hour flight and one day and night in Johannesburg, we boarded SA 144 for Mavalane Airport in Maputo.
As we left the aircraft, it became very obvious that people from all over the world were taking this crisis seriously.
There were planes from the Ukraine, The United States, South Africa, Portugal, Russia, Turkey and others, obviously
bringing relief supplies for the people of Mozambique. We also saw a number of active helicopters coming to and
leaving the airfield, carrying supplies to the north. Much of this effort has been dramatically covered by CNN
and other news agencies. The flooding caused by Typhoon Eline and the subsequent flooding of the Limpopo River,
has been well covered by the world press.
What has not been reported , and Richard and I were able to witness, was the devastation of the urban flooding
of Maputo, Matola, and the area immediately around the capital. All bridges to both communities have been cut,
and the roadways approaching those communities were completely eroded by the flooding. Paulo, one of our drivers,
lives in Matola and as recently as a week before, had to take a raft across flood waters in order to move between
the Diocesan Headquarters and his home. "Things are better now, when I go home, I roll up my pants, put my
shoes on my head and go over seas."
In fact, I saw the area where he crossed and the water there was at least one and a half meters deep. The road
approaching the crossing was congested with vans carrying people needing to cross.
Commerce, of course, goes on, and on the sides of the broken roads people have created small commercial areas selling
fruits, vegetables and many other commodities. There are a number of refugees in the city at this point, either
stranded by the flooding or having been transported from outlying areas to the safety and relatively higher ground
surrounding Maputo. Needless to say, there is no electricity, water pipes are broken, and all other services almost
totally disrupted. In low lying areas there is water everywhere, and anopheles mosquitoes are breeding. Malaria,
which is always a problem, will be even greater now, cholera is on the increase, dysentery and meningitis are rampant.
Potable water, as always, is a problem, and with further destruction of an already decaying infrastructure, the
immediate prospects are not good. The city of Maputo is isolated and at this point, other than news reports on
CNN, Skynews and The BBC, it is difficult to obtain accurate information. Bishop Sengulane has had sporadic contact
with some of his clergy including Dean Carlos at the Cathedral in Xai-Xai. All those at the cathedral are well
and doing a lot of relief work, though it is impossible to get to the main road from the Cathedral because of the
flooding in the Province of Gaza.
On Sunday, March 19th, Bishop Sengulane gave us the opportunity to visit an urban mission, St. Benedict's, on the
edge of the city. I had the opportunity to preach to a congregation that had experienced first hand, the problems
created in the last month. The service celebrated in Ronga (one of the local tribal languages) by Fr. Isaiah, was
truly a moment of light in the darkness. It was raining, the streets were flooded, the little church made of reeds
was dark and yet the congregation was alive, warm, very receptive, and filled with the power of Christ. It was
an oasis of joy in a sea of pain.
I have been privileged to preach to people in Mozambique on many occasions, most of which were happy events, and
the fact that this was not made the experience even more profound. They very much appreciate our efforts on their
behalf, and they know that the people of the Diocese of Newark and The American Episcopal Church really care about
them. The love that was shown to Richard and I that morning by itself made the trip worthwhile.
Following the service, Dr. Shim-Chim, Fr. Isaiah and I went to visit a part of the parish that had been devastated
by the flooding. The name of the area is Polana Canis. What we saw there was the most unbelievable destruction
that Richard and I had ever seen in our lives. Enormous portions of the earth had given away creating deep fissures
in the earth about 200 feet deep and 150 feet across. They were at least ¼ of a mile long. They were created
by rushing water through the community, and they occurred fully in a 3-hour period. Fortunately, the people were
able to escape with their lives, but everything that was above the crater, homes, possessions, were totally destroyed,
and now at the bottom of these deep ravines. Bishop Sengulane asked the question, "With destruction like this,
where does one begin to repair the damage?" Truthfully, lives may have been lost in this deluge and until
the fissure is excavated it will be impossible to know. The reality is, of course, most probably, that such an
excavation will never occur. As for the people who escaped, they have lost everything, and indeed, have nowhere
to build new homes. What a horrendous loss! What a feeling of helplessness on the part of Richard and myself! And
yet, what hope and profound faith we found in the people in the little church and in the community of Polana Canis.
As to the project of pump installation, we were surprisingly able to accomplish a great deal. Dr. Shim-Chim was
able to make additional connections with technical people (drillers, pump suppliers and hydrogeologists available
in the area. We had several meetings with Bento, Bishop Sengulane, and the Archdeacon of Maputo concerning the
future of the project. Richard was able to conduct aquifer tests on wells in Maxaquene and Albasine and obtain
invaluable hydrogeologic data. The proposed priority well-sites have been identified and approved, the resources
are there, the commitment on the part of both our Diocese and the Diocese of Lebombo is secure and, when the flood-waters
subside, the wells will be drilled and Living Water will flow for the people of Mozambique.
In the meantime, we can all help, by continuing to support the project of the Diocese known as Living Water, and
even more specifically, making donations to the Presiding Bishop's Fund for World Relief for food relief. At this
writing, I am aware of the numerous parishes in our Diocese that have made flood relief the focus of their Lenten
Offering. I believe that our companion relationship with the people of the Diocese of Lebombo is one of the most
positive and growthful in the life and history of our Diocese. Please support all projects that bring life, water
and hope to the people of Mozambique.
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