On August 14, 2017, after having received three times the normal rainfall of the wet season in Sierra Leone (totaling over 41 inches in July and August), the inhabited mountainside community of Regent just outside Freetown (mostly tin lean-to’s) gave way, causing the largest mudslide disaster in Sierra Leone history. Over 500 were confirmed dead and over 800 have remained unaccounted for, with reports of 3,000-6,000 homes having been swept away down the deforested hillside, including at least one church of one of our ministry partners.
Government and international relief agencies were immediately activated for housing and food support, however the resettlement areas have since been closed. We at SAVE were burdened to assist those affected. Mostly through the help of one of our supporting churches (Eastbrook Church, Milwaukee) we raised $12,000 for relief efforts. We spoke to our ministry partners on the ground, and found three with active disaster relief programs – EFSL, DISCET, and Bethel World Outreach. We have now funded $3,000 to each of these partners for ongoing relief efforts, meeting physical, spiritual, and emotional needs including counseling. We are further developing plans for funding an effort to assist in the training for Post Traumatic Stress counseling. Please pray for the thousands of households affected, and those ministering to them through holistic assistance, balancing physical and emotional trauma along with the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Of course, your investments in SAVE to meet these and other enormous needs are so appreciated!