By Sr Elinda Moron SSPS
I am a missionary assigned to a village called Kindege, about 500 kms from Luanda, the capital city of Angola. Only heavy-duty vehicles can reach Kindege. Thank God, there are no land mines, only friendly people waving at us as we pass by. In war-torn Angola, I have seen and felt God’s unconditional love, which goes beyond race, culture, age and gender. The people of Kindege are very peace-loving, caring with a faith in God that can move mountains. “Deus e grande” (God is great) is what they always utter in both painful and joyful situations.
By Father Raymund J Festin SVD
Fr Festin, from Odiongan, Romblon, learns some important lessons on being a missionary. We thank The Word, www.theword.ie , published monthly by the Divine Word Missionaries in
By: Fr. Efren de Guzman, SVD
As we go to press the peace talks in Ivory Coast have broken down and civil war has broken out yet again in weary Angola. Fr. Efren de Guzman, our correspondent in Angola and our intrepid missionary writes and tells us about the hardships.
Last April 8, at 6:00 in the morning, the soldiers in the military camp in Funda, 40 kms. From our convent attacked the people near the camp. They cut off arms and legs of men and women, children were thrown violently to the ground, some of them were killed, others were maimed. The soldiers behaved as if they had lost their mind and accused the people of having killed one of their soldiers, so they could have some reasons for putting our people in prison, one of whom was out catechist. It really was a sad day.
By: Fr. Efren de Guzman
By Sr. Fidelis Jardiel OSB
This is a letter from a Filipino missionary, Sr. Fidelis Jardiel OSB, who works in Nairobi, Africa. Her picture is on the cover this month. Would you like to drop her a line?
Greetings from Nairobi, Kenya. The enclosed photo was taken in the Lerio Valley where the Pokot and Marakwet tribes live. Actually, this photo was taken when I was once for holidays in the valley. These are two Pokot women and a baby we met while visiting some of them who lived nearby. The Pokots are a nomadic tribe, who speak only their own tribal language, very poor and l live in the bush.
By Fr. Efren de Guzman, SVD
Is a Filipinos Priest in Angola
Josefa
One month after my arrival in Angola, I met a young catechist named Josefa. She was a good animator- active and joyful in the formation of the catechists.
One day she got very sick, a kind of ulcer with complications in the stomach caused by hunger. She brought to the hospital. We visited her, brought communion and prayed together.