Transport Strike

Today has been a strange one. One could almost feel the tension in the air when we woke up.

The weather has been up and down. Wet season has hit hard and early and already there has been flooding.
The local governments have prepared for the worse.
Wet season is both blessing and curse. The rains bring much needed water to the farmers and herders, and the flowers come out in full bloom. The dry land comes alive with radiant colors and with large areas of brown land comes to life with green lushness. But with wet season, there is a dark side, a curse some say, all the flying insects and snakes and just yucky bugs in general. In particular the mosquitos seem everywhere and so many of them. The main hospital in Maputo have set up a temporary clinic just for blood testing for malaria and a ward for those who are very ill with malaria. Our church in Maputo have lost two people from the same family who both had complications from cebral malaria.

But just as hard and fast the wet season has hit, so has the anger and frustration towards the recession. The government continues to speak positive but all around us the evidence is proof that people are struggling and suffering.
More and more people are struggling to buy the basics. The lucky ones with the salaries that stay the same while all around them the prices of food, gas, clothing, education, medicine increases in not so friendly jumps.

There have been rumors going around and today was the day. The people have had enough and the strike was on. Today people refused to use charpas which are the local public transport due to the rising cost of the fare. Two years ago the strike for the same thing turned into nasty riots which last for four days with army coming in and taking charge. People were killed and injured.
So far, today, no body has been killed but a few have been injured. The police are out with their guns, trying to calm, but people are angry.

We ask that you keep us and Mozambique in your prayers. We needs Gods peace and wisdom.