Papua New Guinea: Across the highlands of Papua New Guinea, the story is the same, “Rain is desperately needed!”
For several weeks now, the normally wet, fertile, rainforest of the highlands has been without life-giving rain.
Drought Impacts Papua New Guinea – August 14 Report
Melanesia South Pacific Field Strategy Coordinator, Harmon Schmelzenbach, sent in this update on September 3rd:
“Melanesian Nazarene Bible College (MNBC), with its 128 resident students, and their spouses and children as well as staff and faculty, combined with Melanesia Nazarene Teacher’s College (MNTC), collectively make for more than 600 residents on campus who are currently being severely affected by an unusual drought in Papua New Guinea. Gardens, which are the main source of food on campus, are mostly destroyed by the drought. Water is at critical levels.”
Simbu / Eastern Highlands District Council brings food to MNBC.
On September 1st, the Simbu / Eastern Highlands District Nazarene Missions International (NMI) council arrived with many 10kg rice bags and cases of noodles, to be rationed out to students over the next two weeks.
MNBC students thanking the NMI Council!
Gardens are completely finished. Students do not have funds to purchase food (they normally depend on their gardens) so the food disbursements have truly been a perfectly timed provision from the Lord.
The river that normally flows abundantly over the hydroelectric dam, has been reduced to a small stream.
Just fifteen minutes up the road, the Nazarene Hospital has also been affected by the drought. The river level is extremely low, affecting the normal operation of the hydroelectric plant for the hospital. Water for drinking, washing, cooking and hospital functioning is at a minimum.
The hospital staff was praising the Lord as they did receive a small amount of rain. Not nearly enough, but at least it has provided some water in their rain catchments.
Give to the food relief distributions by clicking on the above link.
Here are some very specific prayer requests:
- Of course – RAIN!
- Health issues of students and staff.
- Proper management of the limited water and food.
— Thank you to contributors: Michael & Diane Chapman, Erin Meier, Susan Myers, Harmon Schmelzenbach.
