Liyoyelo, Zambia. Liyoyelo lies on the Zambezi River around 600 kilometres west of Lusaka, the capital of Zambia. On 24 August the entire bush village burned to the ground - all 34 houses. The president of the New Apostolic Church in Zambia, District Apostle Charles Ndandula, travelled to the affected region in order to personally direct the relief effort to help those in need (see our report).
The journey to Liyoyelo is an arduous one. From Lusaka it is necessary to travel 600 kilometres westward via Mongu, the centre of the country's Western Province. From Mongu it is another 24 kilometres along the Zambezi before you get to Liyoyelo, which is a typical bush village like many in the region. The majority of its inhabitants are New Apostolic Christians. That is why it was the special wish of the responsible District Apostle Charles Ndandula to visit the people there. Together with eight apostles and two bishops he toured the completely destroyed village and personally took over the relief effort to help those affected.
To begin with, each family received blankets and cloth, drinking water, cutlery, and cash. District Apostle Ndandula was also able to extend the greetings of Chief Apostle Wilhelm Leber. In a special service of comfort, the Bible passage from John 14:27 took on a practical meaning all of its own: "Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid."
In the meantime, the provincial government has also intervened and will see to the reconstruction of the village.
(Photos: Debora Kangende Kadango)
13 September 2005