One Year Later, Flood Relief Workers Find Evangelism Seed in Full Bloom
	MAPUTO, Mozambique (EP) - Almost one year ago last month, the world watched in amazement as Mozambicans, clinging to trees they shared with snakes, were rescued one-by-one from Mozambique's worst flood in 50 years.     Today, rebuilding efforts are continuing in a country that, 13 months ago, appeared to be lifting itself out of poverty. Development programs by World Relief and other aid agencies were significantly improving the social and economic quality of life of Mozambicans. That work was brought to a halt in February 2000 when unusually heavy rains caused massive flooding in the southern Gaza province. Over 700 people died and more than 500,000 were left homeless. The floods destroyed entire harvests and threatened the area with famine.     All of World Relief's on-going programs in southern Mozambique were disrupted by the flood. But instead of shutting down, World Relief moved its programs into the camps. Later, as people began returning to their villages, they requested that the programs follow them home.     Aid workers with World Relief considered the flooding a "temporary setback" to the extensive work they were pursuing in Gaza. After the water receded, seeds, tools and building materials were distributed to help in home rebuilding efforts. Local World Relief workers, many themselves homeless, taught their communities about sanitation practices that would help minimize disease in the many camps populated by the homeless. Overall, building materials were given to 8,570 families, and seeds were quickly distributed. Farmers were able to reclaim almost 35 percent of the lost harvest.     Besides handing out practical advice and relief aid, workers also had the chance to share the gospel in these camps. The combined response from people in one particular area has been amazing, say witnesses. The area had been given the name "Scrap" by workers because they had given up hope for the area. The majority of the people there had rejected previous evangelism attempts.     "All they were interested in was alcohol, fighting and parties. Even funerals were supposed to be quick so that there would be no time for preaching," said Antonieta Hlongo, a World Relief staffer. "They had no time for God or church."     However, after a showing of the JESUS video in the area, families of Christian converts came to volunteers and requested a church in their area. After a pastor in a neighboring village volunteered to hold services, almost 40 new Christians in Scrap gathered to welcome him.     Today, some rebuilding continues but World Relief is once again focusing on long-term programs to reduce high child death rates, and increase families' capacities to sustain themselves economically.
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