By Efren de Guzman, SVD

Dearest MISYON Friends,

May the Love be the real joy of our life. What a privilege to have time to write you through my stories are sometimes sad. Will I write what’s really happening to me or things that will not worry you? Some friends were saying: “We all have problems. But sometimes it’s good not to tell them to our loved ones and make them unhappy. “But how will they know what to pray for it if I don’t tell them our latest news. I told you already what happened last December when we got involved in a shooting incident. Thank God we survived!

February

February 19

On our way to Luanda, Fr. Raymun and I were attacked by a mob (around thirty young men). They blocked our way, started hitting and shaking the car; then one of them took the sunglasses of Raymun. They also opened the door on my side and were about to pull me out of the car. Suddenly a thought came to me: Fear not, just smile.” And they just stopped. We were surprises. Again, we thanked God for another lease of life. After the incident during thanksgiving prayer, one of our catechists who was tortured during the massacre of 1992 read the passage of 2 Corinthians 4:8-9 “We are often troubled, but not crushed; sometimes in doubt, but never in despair; there are many enemies, but we are never without a friend; and though badly hurt at times, we are not destroyed.”

February 23

Bad news form Cameroon. My eldest sister Emma with other two ICM Sister has an accident. Their car fell down on a ravine. Luckily the car got stuck between trees which served as buffer, sadly the Sister who was driving died when she was thrown out of the car. May our loving God grant her eternal rest. Meanwhile, the government teachers and health nurses and medics continue their strike against corruption. People were asking: “How long are we going to suffer for lack of security, food, medicines and other basic needs?”

February 26

Danu, 22 years old, one of our helper, who is taking care of the orphans, was assaulted in his own house. He was black and blue form the injuries he suffered. He was thrown almost naked in form o our house, we brought him to a hospital center in the capital, But he not admitted because the doctors are still on strike. Good thing we knew some First Aid.

February 28

The fourth meeting between President dos Santos and rebel leader Dr. Jonas Savimbi. Under UN supervision the two agreed to have one Armed Forces. At present the big problem we have is the control of guns. Image, for every five Angolans, three have arms.

February 29

Good news for the lepers, the orphans and the mutilated. Today we received the documents of the container of food, medicine, school materials we had purchased in South Africa. The beneficiaries are 150 lepers, 652 orphans, 80 amputees.

‘Forgotten People. If ever in the worked there are forgotten people, they are the captives lost behind the turmoil of revolution, dying of hunger, of heat or cold and filth, going insane from grief and hopelessness...’

March

March 2

Formation of the Catechists and Teachers. As we are in the season of Lent. We invited our collaborators and resource persons. Theme: “Conversion must begin now. Between a thousands yesterday and ten thousands new tomorrows there is only, and one, today.”

March 12

Meetings of missionaries in the province of Bengo, Caxito, 60 km. from Luanda. Some missionaries were complaining about their situation. One sister from Mexico had an answer: “It’s not so important where you live, but how you live.”

March 14

This is the day to check the logistics – water, food supplies. Medicines, in favor of the lepers in Funda, Menongue, and other places. March 15-16: out of 46 villages of the displaces people we were able to visit five villages in two days and brought basic help to the orphans who are living as members of the families who received them. Today was the day for the formation of the youth.

March 15-16

Passing through Kikola, I was surprised to see a man pointing a fun at me. It’s like in the Old West where guns seem to be everywhere. I didn’t react as if nothing happened. Fr. Raymun and other companions were also used to these kinds of threats. Just continue your work and leave the rest to God. One old catechist said: “Remember young man, when you lose your control, dignity and honor, you seem to lose your all. If you survive life’s eternity, our life is just a twinkle of an eye.” Dr. Juana, OSB told us that last week two convents of the Dominican’s and Salvadorian Sisters were robbed. The car of the Dominican was taken.

March 20

Today I visited the mutilated prisoners of war, the survivors of the last massacre of Luanda. My heart bleeds to see them.