LCC Shares Mozambique Cyclone Relief Stories On Sept. 15

The physical devastation caused by a powerful cyclone and subsequent flooding is enough for the citizens of any country to deal with once in a lifetime, let alone twice within six weeks.

In Mozambique, that’s exactly what happened. Different regions of the African country were hit with Cyclones Idai and Kenneth, torrential rainfalls and flooding in mid-March and late April, an unprecedented occurrence. 

As reports from the United Nations noted, because Mozambique is downstream of nine major river basins, it’s prone to devastating floods. The pair of cyclones tipped the proverbial scale, with April’s Cyclone Kenneth ranking as the worst storm on record in the already-devastated country.

Together, these deadly storms destroyed homes, schools, crops, health facilities and even crucial water tanks, among other infrastructure damage. Residents have struggled with food and water shortages and public health issues, such as cholera and malaria, not to mention the loss of loved ones and their homes in the aftermath of these massive storms. 

The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs estimates more than 2.2 million people now require humanitarian aid at a cost of at least $386 million. 

As Mozambique struggles to rebuild four month later, various relief groups have assisted the government and its citizens with these efforts. This includes the United Church of Christ (UCC), of which Lakewood Congregational Church (LCC) is a member congregation.

LCC is pleased to welcome Rev. Marco Cable, Global Ministries Africa Executive, and Rev. Jane Sullivan-Davis, Executive for Resource Development with the United Church of Christ Global Ministries, during worship on Sunday, September 15, at 10 a.m. in the church sanctuary, 1375 W. Clifton Blvd in Lakewood.

Cable has just returned from Mozambique. He, along with Sullivan-Davis, will share insight into the relief efforts by the United Church of Christ of Mozambique and other organizations following the cyclones. Both pastors will offer a more in-depth presentation at 11:15 a.m. in the LCC Fellowship Hall on the church’s lower level.

All are welcome to attend the 10 a.m. worship service and/or the 11:30 a.m. discussion to learn about the United Church of Christ's work in Mozambique and how the country is recovering from the two recent cyclones. 

For more information, call the church office at 216.221.9555.

Robin Suttell is a 24-year Lakewood resident and 12-year member of Lakewood Congregational Church. In 2017, she left her PR job in downtown Cleveland to work in Lakewood as a content marketer at Onix on Detroit Avenue.