From the Field: Pastor and Wife Rescued from Floodwaters

The fury of Cyclone Ditwah turned a humble community nestled by a winding river into a sea of dangerous, churning water.

Amidst the catastrophic flooding that engulfed parts of Sri Lanka in late November 2025, one family's harrowing night of clashing faith and fear played out inside the sanctuary where they served.

On November 28, 2025, the floodwaters began their relentless creep. First, they blocked the road leading to the local church, and then they swamped the residence of the church pastor, Pastor Kobe.

As the river swelled with cyclonic rains, Sister Noemi, Pastor Kobe's wife, urgently recognized the danger. "We must go to the church," she insisted. They swiftly gathered essentials and sought refuge in the church building, confident in its defense since the foundation towered eight feet above ground level.

But the storm showed no mercy. By the dawn of November 29, the unthinkable happened: The icy, polluted floodwaters breached the sanctuary, surging into the church. Trapped, and with the water rising rapidly, Sister Noemi began making frantic calls to relatives, to the Police Officer In-Charge and, crucially, to Pastor Eliam, one of their district leaders.

Every contact promised the same lifeline: A rescue boat was on its way. Pastor Eliam, demonstrating swift solidarity, promised to personally contact the officials and ensure the couple's rescue.

As they waited, a local boat passed nearby. Sister Noemi screamed for help, but the occupants did not hear her over the roar of the current. It was then she noticed a grim reality: The main gate, their only path to freedom, was secured with a heavy padlock.

"I must go and unlock it," Pastor Kobe declared, stepping into the rising flood. He took two steps, and the churning water was already hip-deep.

"Stop! Don't go any further; you'll die!" Sister Noemi cried, the terror of loss eclipsing their dire situation. He stayed. Finally, the official rescue team's boat arrived.

"The gate is locked! The keys are with us!" Sister Noemi shouted across the deluge. A brave rescuer immediately dove into the cold, swirling water, fighting the current to climb the high perimeter wall. Once inside, Sister Noemi handed him the key, explaining their desperate need for escape.

"Stop! Don't go any further; you'll die!" Sister Noemi cried, the terror of loss eclipsing their dire situation. He stayed. Finally, the official rescue team's boat arrived.

With the gate finally open, the evacuation began. In the chaotic moments of rescue, Sister Noemi focused only on her husband's welfare, quickly packing Pastor Kobe's clerical clothes but forgetting her own personal belongings.

The water was too treacherous to walk through. The rescuer, with a tenderness born of urgency, carried Sister Noemi like a child through the chest-high flood to the waiting boat.

Their journey was far from over. Dropped off near a stable road, they soon flagged down a passing army truck. An army officer, seeing their distress, immediately stopped and offered passage. An act of sheer kindness was repeated as the officer gently carried Sister Noemi into the truck bed, helping the exhausted couple escape the danger zone.

As they traveled, Pastor Eliam called, guiding them to safety. Near the police station, he was waiting. Pastor Kobe and Sister Noemi saw his familiar, reassuring presence, and he received them with overwhelming kindness, immediately taking them to the refuge of a local church.

Rescued from the raging river and held by the compassion of friends, police and the military, Pastor Kobe and Sister Noemi were blessed by the powerful, heartfelt response of their community.

Note: This field report came from one of our field correspondents in Sri Lanka. This report has been edited for clarity.

*Names of people and places may have been changed for privacy and security reasons. Images are GFA stock photos used for representation purposes and are not the actual person/location, unless otherwise noted.