Missouri Gifts Provide Food and Supplies During COVID-19 Crisis

On June 9, 2020, Mozambique Conference received a $54,700 gift from Missouri partners who responded to the crisis created by COVID-19.

As more infections are being reported daily, similar to what continues to happen around the world, the Mozambican government announced a state of emergency on March 22, closing borders and cancelling many social activities, and closing down significant economic practices, including churches and schools, among others. This closure caused chaotic financial crisis for the United Methodist Church in Mozambique as well as other similar institutions because staying home and social distancing health protocols hindered communities from producing, farming and developing other income-generating activities to sustain their own families and the Church. Pastors were left without food, and people were engulfed in hunger and starvation.

Social media was a limited alternative for church services, only utilized by those with means to pay Internet services. The Church “died” in the rural setting as a result, and pastors and other church officials were left without wages. The church was left without resources for its normal functions.

With the Missouri relief response, church leaders worked quickly to respond to the immediate needs of starving families, including provision of sanitation materials to prevent COVID-19.

There were other challenges, like the difficulty to physically acquire and distribute food to beneficiaries outside Maputo, due to health restrictions. The Conference then decided to do wire transfers so that these items could be purchased in local communities.

As we are all aware, parts of northern and central Mozambique are suffering doubly from COVID-19 and the military instability. Because of this, there was an urgent need to respond to war-displaced people in Cabo Delgado and the central region of the country. The Mozambique Conferences decided to provide funds for pastors, workers and the community as well as provide funds for pastors and workers who have no alternative means of income, especially those who depend on church funds for their livelihood.

Funds were deployed in districts across the country. The most significant amounts were allocated where people solely depend on church support. Additional support aided UMC schools, and $9,000 of the gift helped those affected by the crisis in Cabo Delgado.

Together we decided with the beneficiaries that the support would be financial and not in-kind because it would be difficult to buy food and health prevention products and distribute them to different areas of the country. Additionally, transportation costs, other distribution difficulties and the state of emergency restrictions led us to believe financial gifts would be the best method of support. With financial support, the beneficiaries purchased food products and prevented the spread of COVID-19 since March.

Meanwhile, our church communities are being encouraged to face challenges, work hard and seek means to cover pastor's salary support, once the annual conference is unable to do so.

• In sum, food products and articles purchased with these gifts include sugar, rice, corn flour, cooking oil, beans, among others, soap, buckets, alcohol and gel, masks, among others, supporting about 2,300 families with more than 13,200 people.

We would like to express our profound gratitude to the Missouri Conference for this kind support, which helped alleviate the suffering of your siblings in Christ. In the midst of future uncertainties, with continuous and increasing cases of COVID-19 throughout the country, the outcry continues and we will always be seeking your prayers and support.