February 25, 2004

Too Much of a Good Thing

Usually, the northeastern region of Brazil cries out for rain. Their history and folklore are filled with great people migrations as people try to escape the pandemic droughts which usually inflict the region.

This year, however, has been different. Take the city of Várzea Alegre, for example. In the last two months they have received more rain than they did during all of last year. This has caused somewhat of a crisis in the city, as local dams and waterways are not equiped to deal with so much water. The result is mass flooding, which has pretty much isolated the city. According to this article in the Globo newspaper (in Portuguese), they have declared a state of "public calamity" in the city, due to the lack of potable drinking water and supplies.

Other cities in the region are experiencing the same thing. What made this one stand out to me was the fact that one of our churches in the region is located in this city.

Please pray for the believers of the First Regular Baptist Church of Várzea Alegre, that they will be able to demonstrate the Grace of God as they suffer these hardships.

Below is a map of the showing the location of Várzea Alegre, courtesy of Expedia.com. One interesting fact: the name Várzea Alegre literally means "holy swamp".

Posted by Andrew on February 25, 2004 10:20 AM.