VIDEO: ‘Please, Lord, send us some rain’

‘WHEN you ask, you shall receive. When you seek, you shall find. When you knock, the door shall be opened.’

The words quoted by Patch Addison resonated in the hearts of congregants gathered at Addison Park on Wednesday afternoon.

Members of different churches stood united in their faith as they asked for a reprieve from the drought, and for God to open the heavens and once again bring rain to Zululand.

Grade 6 and 7 learners from Empangeni Christian School dressed in preparation for rain in waterproof ponchos and carried umbrellas as they sang ‘Open the Floodgates of Heaven’.

The learners also read a declaration, which was written in preparation for the prayer:

‘Father God. Today we your children, come before you with expectant hearts; to receive an answer to our prayer for rain. Your word says, ask and you shall receive. We ask today, for the gift of rain. We ask that you will send clouds filled with water to spill over this parched land.’

The prayer comes at a time when farmers’ irrigation rations will be cut off completely if the levels of the Goedertrouw Dam continue to drop.

As per April 20, the dam is 44.8% full, compared to 45.5% the previous week.

If the dam reaches 30%, farmers will have no more water to irrigate their crops.

A number of farm workers also attended the prayer as the lack of rain has forced many farmers to send their workers home, or work shorter weeks.

Crops planted by people living in dry rural areas also have not grown, and this in turn has created a shortage of food.

For now, members of the community can only hope their prayers will be answered.

@kcowan23