Supporting firefighters and first responders is what AFM is all about – right now firefighters and other first responders along with medical personnel around the world are on the front lines ready and responding to COVID-19 like never before in most of our lifetimes. There are many fears and anxieties that exist for firefighters and other first responders around the world as the respond or prepare to respond to COVID-19. AFM putting out information to our networking groups to help keep firefighters safe and making recommendations based on resources that might be available to firefighters.
This article from a Fire Chief at FDNY ( New York City) helps describe the experience free a firefighter perspective: Article
Firefighters in Africa are helping to fumigate streets (hoping that the chemicals used doesn’t damage their fire trucks for future responses). This has the potential to bring more respect and understanding to the role the firefighters can have in communities – please pray for the safety of the firefighters and other first responders.
Pray for the family of firefighter Adams Gichohi. There was a vehicle accident involving a fire truck last week where a firefighter Gichohi from Kajiado county, Kenya was killed and another seriously injured. Recently the firefighters have taken to coming together to honor their fallen comrades - we pray firefighter Gichohi’s family will feel the love of the firefighter community.
Pray for José Ngunjiri, our fire safety advocate in Kenya. He is getting creative with putting out fire safety materials via social media groups in Kenya (people are at home so risk of fires there is even higher than usual) and is also helping with food distribution. Kenya has had a stay at home order and nightly curfew in place.
Cases of COVID-19 are increasing in Kenya and responders hospitals may be overwhelmed quickly. Medical care generally required that you have cash to pay for services prior to care and the poor will be impacted quickly. Many of you are familiar with our partner, Missions of Hope International. They are serving the poorest of the poor in Kenya. They are working to respond to meet the physical needs of the communities where they serve with food relief. The communities where MOHI serves could see a quick spread of COVID-19 there. Please pray for protection for the communities and the MOHI staff serving them.
Our container to Ukraine should arrive in the next 2 weeks. Please pray that the equipment is able to be safety delivered and the that firefighting equipment is able to be put into service quickly!
AFM has delayed team trips to Sierra Leone and to Ukraine. Nancy was scheduled to go to Kenya in May and that will also be delayed. Please pray that will be able to reschedule these missions soon and that we will be able to execute our planned work in Kenya and Zambia in the fall.
We are praying that firefighters and other first responders will not be anxious but that they will see God at work through his people during this time and that they will be able to stay healthy and serve their communities well. Will you pray that prayer with us?
Dave and Nancy Moore
Co-Founders, Africa Fire Mission