GMI missionary Ted Rabenold informs us that there has been a cholera outbreak in Tanzania in a village where he had some of his men working. Here is a quote from Ted:

“Due to a Rukwa valley Cholera outbreak in which hundreds have been infected the TZ government has set up an emergency Cholera treatment clinic in Lumbesa village, located in the mud flats not far from our Nsanga station.

“Lumbesa is the actual site of the first few cases and heart of the outbreak. They hope that it will subside through education (boil drinking water-wash hands etc) and eradication of garbage. I was there when it started and had to evacuate my builders. It will probably take at least 1-2 weeks to get my construction crew back on site again.

“Outbreaks like this occur every few years. Usually when there is a long rainy season during the rice harvest in May-early June. Tons of laborers pour into the valley to help the locals harvest their rice and due to poor planning they go out to harvest without taking drinking water. Under duress they drink standing rice paddy water which has all sorts of fun microbes in it. This and the Rukwa heat can be a breeding ground for these kinds of problems.

Thanks for praying!

I expect my guys back at it again in two weeks tops.”

Please pray for those who have been affected by the outbreak and also pray that the cholera will be contained and not spread.