Mary writing this from Mexico City. At our church here in Mexico we have a friend from Beira, Mozambique. Her name is Cici and she is in Mexico as a part of a Mennonite service program. She recently shared at church how her family and everyone she knows have lost basically everything in Cyclone Idai... roofs ripped off buildings, really bad flooding... it's devastating.

They estimate that 90% of Cici's home city has been destroyed. Not sure how much this natural disaster was covered in US news, but the horrific cyclone ripped through Mozambique last week killing hundreds of people. Here is a link to a quick news summary: Cyclone Idai: Death toll rises to 750 as Mozambique city of Beira begins long road to recovery. As of today (March 24) 1000s of people are still missing and many more are without clean water or shelter. There is also high risk of disease breaking out (malaria, typhoid, cholera).

These funds will go to help Cici's family, home church and the Mennonite program she is a part of which is helping offer relief in Beria. Please pray for Cici, her family and the many countless people that are experiencing extreme loss and trauma.

Last: Here's another good news piece about the storm: Cyclone Idai: Scores more deaths reported in Mozambique