Cyclone Recovery in Vanuatu, Sports Club Ministry, Teacher Workshop

YWAM News Podcast

Intro: Today on the YWAM News Show we will be talking about the recovery from the dual cyclones that hit Vanuatu, a sports club ministry in Tanzania, a teacher's workshop in South Sudan, YWAM Emerge's aquaponics program, hiking retreats into the Scottish highlands, and more ... Thank you for downloading this, the 131 episode of the Youth With A Mission News Show Podcast, I’m your host, Bill Hutchison. You can contact us, subscribe to future episodes, leave comments, and find links to all the stories we talk about on the show notes for this podcast at ywampodcast.com/131 … Stories: https://youtu.be/Nfid3WIJQ1I Cyclone Damage in Vanuatu The island nation of Vanuatu was hit by 2 severe tropical cyclones in the space of 3 days, TC Judy (Category 3) on March 1st and TC Kevin (Category 4) on March 3rd 2023. The first cyclone caused severe damage to housing, community buildings, infrastructure, vegetation and crops. Then, before the community had a chance to recover, the second one hit with greater force and moved slowly, punishing an already damaged community for at least another 8 hours. The government has now declared a State of Emergency for the next 6 months. The YWAM Family Care Centre in Vanuatu suffered damage to their buildings, some flooding, and many of their trees knocked down. During the cyclone the YWAM Centre had 120 of their neighbours come and shelter with them, and they are still providing shelter for some who are still unable to return home or to other shelters. They are working with the community leaders to discuss the recovery plan, are grateful that all their members are safe, and desire prayer for everyone's health and safety, and that there would be food for everyone staying with them. (source) V2 Life Association, one of YWAM's other ministries in Vanuatu also suffered the loss of most of their trees, had flooding in some buildings, many ceilings were damaged, and they have electrical issues in a few buildings. There is significant clean up and repairs needed to their centre so that they can continue to provide primary school education in Teouma Valley. (source) Australian Mercy staff are already on the ground assessing damage, consulting with disaster management officials, village chiefs and local community organisations, assessing where best we can assist. Volunteer work teams will initially start by assisting in recovery in village and squatter areas in the Shefa province. They are asking for funds to be donated to provide for the purchase of food and water, first aid supplies, building materials, tools and the means to assist in distribution of these items. Find out more, and how you can help, on the Australian Mercy web-site, australianmercy.org. Jeffrey Woodke Released in Niger In 2016 a long time YWAM Worker, Jeff Woodke, was abducted from the town of Abalak in Northern Niger. This month he was released, after being held for six-years.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y8rATwEykus This is fantastic news, and we pray for Jeff and his family during this long awaited reunion. Since that video was released, Jeff has since been reunited with his family and is still under medical care and supervision. PNG Bible Translations Last year YWAM Ships Kona brought an oral bible translation recording unit to Papua New Guinea. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KYXfUx9T9tQ Since that video was made, the container has been delivered to Madang in PNG and they are currently working on translating the bible into 33 different dialects. (source) Women's Health Container and General Purpose Clinic The latest container that has been built to serve in PNG is a women's health container and general purpose clinic. It will provide a safe and private space to do gynecological exams, antenatal checks, health education, and can even be used to deliver babies if needed. The container is completed and is about to be shipped to PNG in the M/V YWAM Liberty. (source) Global and Community Health Seminar