Flooding in the Solomons

Since Tuesday, we've had a continuous rain.  Often the rain has been accompanied by strong winds, but the rain hasn't let up until Friday afternoon.  We love the cooler temperatures this system has brought, but we don't love the flooding in Honiara.  Our cold showers and power outages are a minor annoyance compared to our neighbors who live close to rivers and no longer have a home.

The bridge in Chinatown has washed away, and the only other bridge connecting our side of town with the wharf (which means all of the food and supplies) has been closed because the ground is washing away underneath the side supports.

 

 

Up high on a ridge, SITAG is safe from the flooding, so we're turning our attentions to how we can help our national staff and those who live nearby.  We're helping supply food, and Sarah even made a birthday cake at the request of one of our faithful workers.  The consequences of this flood will be felt for months as gardens have been washed away. 

 

 

I went into town this afternoon with a couple of SITAG friends to try and stock up on food.  Most of the shops on our side of town were closed, and the smaller of Honiara's markets only had a few fish and a very few fruits and veggies.  One of the ladies selling food apologized to my friend for not having a large selection.  My friend asked how the lady was doing and discovered that this woman had lost her home to a river.  We would appreciate prayers for the Solomon Islands, particularly the city of Honiara.