Angola Diary
By Fr Efren de Guzman SVD
APRIL
April 14 Sunday
We held a meeting after the Eucharist. We had a big questions for the members of different groups of fishermen. Last year five different groups received a boat and net for fishing, but unfortunately none of the recipients want to pay back to help future members. We were so frustrated till we heard one good comment: “Failure in not defeat until you stop crying.”
April 17 Sunday
We had an evaluation of our Farmer’s Cooperative. Some farmers are already thinking of going back to their former farmlands in the Province, especially those who were formerly working at coffee production. They think they could earn more in producing coffee. Before the war of 1975, Angola was the fourth highest producer of coffee in the world, producing 240,000 tons yearly; today it’s down to 4,000 tons. Many of the farmers are hoping that the roads will be constructed in the future.
Apart from our schools and health centers, we oversee the basic needs of the 150 lepers, 625 orphans, 220 old folks, 80 amputees living among 36 villages of internal refugees in Kifangondo and Funda. We have 7 community farms of internal refugees and 6 associations of fishermen. We really need to be good managers to make this charitable institution function.
MAY
May 01 Wednesday
As expected fighting between policemen and armed civilians against government special forces broke out at 6 p.m. Some teachers wanted to protest publicly, but they were not authorized. Life is getting worse. The prices of the basic commodities are rising everyday. Assaults and robberies, bribery and corruption are everywhere.
May 10 Friday
Near the Parish of Carmo we met a young woman with her children. She helped me recall that she was the student whom we saved from the hands of drunk deserters who wanted to abuse her. Her parent were also very grateful. And I also recall that for one week my body was aching after we wrestled with the soldiers. Later some policemen arrived and placed them in prison. That was eight years ago, and it was one of the most unforgettable incidents in my life.
May 12 Sunday
At 2 am we were awakened by shooting. It was a warning that we should get out of the convento. We had guns to fight, but we of course only use them in bluffing the bandits and not to kill. I just made a quick movement of light in our backyard using the flashlight. It’s good they left. They stole two windshields: one from our ambulance and one from the car of the Franciscan Sisters.
May 18 Saturday
The Salesian Sisters requested me to pray for a sick Portuguese businessman. His name is Antonio Seguro. By the love of God he was healed. As a sign of his gratitude he was offering us one minibus and one mini truck to help our mission work in the schools and with the lepers and amputees.
May 21 Tuesday
We received the summary report of our regular reflections as missionaries: Religious life is a continues conversation, reconciliation and re-integration, concretely, in community prayer schedule and teamwork. It would be false propaganda if we showed to young people that to enter religious life is to live happily ever after. The truth is religious life is a very challenging way of life: to believe in and follow Jesus, to accept a vision which you do not see, to be humble and to offer your life with love to others.
I don’t know how to thank you, please, accept my heartfelt song for you. You may suggest a suitable title.
From birth to death, then reawakening
Like the trees lose their leaves
That we may have reason to live and die
Then live again
If you only hear this song
That comes from deep emotions
That are nor born in one’s mind
But fruit of one’s inspiration.
Now let me share a reflection from our superior: “Our spirituality should be characterized by the ability to recognize our inability to do, and the grace to accept powerlessness.” After all, mission is not just our doing; it is primarily God who sends us. St. Paul says:
“For the sake of Christ, I am content with hardships... for when I am weak, then I am strong.”
(2 Co. 12:9-10)