For five years we have passed
the reservoir for the city of São Mamede and it has been
dry. We have walked down into the dry bed of the reservoir and
looked up at the 15-foot high dirt dam. We have been told that
the water has flowed over this dam in the past, but it was hard
to imagine. As a matter a fact, the last time the dam overflowed
was in 1985. But São Mamede can now say that its reservoir
“sangrou,” overflowed, in January 2004.
The city of São Mamede is very happy to see the reservoir
full of water, but at the same time, it introduces a water problem.
In 2002 the city began receiving water from the Coremas Reservoir.
With the local reservoir full, the water from Coremas has been
stopped and the water from the local reservoir is flowing from
the taps in São Mamede homes, schools and the health station.
The problem is that the area of the São Mamede Reservoir
has not been maintained in preparation for just such a happy event
as these recent rains; the trees and brush were allowed to grow
up and animal carcasses and trash were not removed. The water
from the reservoir is being treated with chlorine, but it is arriving
in homes too polluted to drink or use for cooking. Dona Diva,
a member of the São Mamede Presbyterian Church, told us
that the local health station is everyday full of people with
stomach problems. She said it is likely water will have to once
again come from the Coremas Reservoir. It is a blessing that the
city has this option, but it is a shame that the São Mamede
water cannot be utilized to its full capacity. We believe this
situation emphasizes the complexity and difficulty of life in
the sertão. Please pray for the people of São
Mamede, and for the men, women and children of all the thousands
of small cities in the sertão, like São
Mamede. Especially pray that the transformation and liberation
that the gospel brings to their individual lives will also result
in transforming and liberating the social and economic structures
that enslave and impoverish.
We always enjoy hearing about the things that are happening in
your lives. Let us know how we might pray for you.
A graça e paz do Senhor Jesus Cristo,
Paul and Linda
The 2004 Mission Yearbook for Prayer & Study, p.
146
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