Flooding in Townsville

Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ

There are always floods in the far north of our beautiful state of Queensland. Some floods come and go with no effect on property, or on livelihoods and with no loss of human life.

February 2019 in Townsville has seen the other kind of flooding that is all those things of loss combined. Thousands of lives have been changed through this disastrous monsoon in recent days.

In our Lutheran community in Townsville, we have seen flooding in our Church and Early Learning Support Centre. Reports from the parish pastor Stephen Cronau and Service Leader, Kerry Strickland are that everyone in their communities are OK and they are now in clean up mode. However, they are aware of many people in great need, including some folk of the Early Learning Support Centre, who have seen their homes badly flooded.

On your behalf, I have asked Queensland Lutheran Giving to launch an appeal for this disaster under the oversight of our District Executive Officer, Michael Turner. Please give to this appeal as you are able.

It always helps to also send greetings and encouragement. You might consider writing to those in our two communities in Townsville. Visit the Parish website is here 

Our giving is in the name of the Lord of the Cross, who entered into the Synagogue in Nazareth and declared:

‘The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,
because he has anointed me
to bring good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives
and recovery of sight to the blind,
to let the oppressed go free,
to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour.’ (Luke 4)

In Christ
Paul

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I feel like I’m living under a waterfall….

The rain hasn’t really stopped since Saturday 26 January, a couple of small respites lasting all of half an hour and then its back again, continual rain.

I am in Townsville where we now have a State of Emergency as the dams are 100% capacity and the Ross River Dam floodgates are fully open with hundreds of thousands of megalitres spilling over into the surrounding area. 22 suburbs are being impacted, the streets are flowing and 100’s of houses are flooding.  The SES and army are helping to evacuate locals.

Today is Tuesday and we have a respite – the sun even shone through briefly, however the weather pattern is forecast to return Friday for the weekend, we still have the threat of a tornado in the mix  This monsoonal outbreak has now surpassed all records for Townsville, the ’10 day flood’ and the 1998 ‘Night of Noah’ event with record falls of 1,012mm as of Sunday morning.  Flash flooding is also likely.

Thousands of homes have been impacted with many people losing everything.  A massive cleanup operation is beginning. 2 people have lost their lives as they were last seen running into flood waters, their bodies have been recovered.

The upside, heartwarming news items of communities helping each other, bringing in their ‘tinnies’ and boats to help ferry families and pets to higher ground.  Showing the true Queensland spirit.

Please say a prayer for the resilient residents of Townsville.

Lynnette Davis
LCAQD eNewsletter Administrator
and a soggy resident of Townsville

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