By Fr. Efren de Guzman SVD

March 21

I was awakened late at night by a desperate call: “Mano, Mano, (meaning brother). Come and help Devota.” The caller said their relative, an eighteen-year-old girl was thrashing about so violently like an animal. She seemed to be possessed by an evil spirit. Reaching the house, she growled at me like one possessed: “I know you and you don’t know what you are doing.” (The voice was like a hyena) a thought struck me: “Look at her eyes” The ‘demon’ would not look back but said: “She’s mine!” I said, “Leave her now, for I will call on the name of Jesus and the forces of heaven to overcome you.”

A foul odor was coming out of her mouth and her eyes were rolling around. She was shouting out blasphemies; it took four men to control her. We were all afraid, but we kept praying the rosary and singing: “Lord Jesus, only your love can liberate our sister! Save her Lord Jesus!”

Finally, I noticed light invading the house; the sun was already rising. And then suddenly the ‘demon’ left her. Through our prayers and through the name of Jesus, the spirit was overcome!

March 22-23

Casas Novas (near Funda Leper Colony). Preparation and formation of the Youth from different villages. We have 80 participants and 20 observers. Last year we gave the following courses: Bible, Electrical and Mechanical Course, Para-Medicine, Portuguese, English, Economics. For now we continue this project wit ha good team of well-paid teachers.

Angola Flag

March 24, last Sunday of Lent

Our leper catechist shared with us this text: from Psalm 119: “It is good I’d been afflicted; that I might learn your will, O Lord!” this psalm was written by a man who learned that difficulties are part of the Lord’s gracious plan to keep us on the pathway of truth.

March 28, Thursday

Some UN observers were ambushed in the southern part of Luanda, two were killed, three were wounded. Later we also heard the news that our old Capuchin friend was killed by bandits near Huambo. He was trying to bring food for the sick and the displaced people.

Recently two main electric lines broke down; this will cause great crisis of water and electricity for some weeks or months in the capital and in the provinces. And suddenly the price of water and other basic commodities will jump.

March 30, Saturday

The car of our Mexican confrere, Fr Gustavo, was stolen. This was the 49th missionary car lost in Luanda.

April 4, Thursday

Meeting of Commission of the Refugees of Africa. They requested me to represent Angola for another meeting in Karare, Zimbabwe. Today we remembered and prayed for the innocent people who wee massacred in Rwanda and Burundi. One million people were killed, mostly Tutsis. More than two million refugees in Zaire and neighboring countries. One of the delegates said: “God develops our spiritual power through the pressure of difficult situations and places. And failure is not defeat until you stop trying.”

P.S. Here’s a song for you

Slavery

An evil of the distant past;
Millions of people are still in bondage
A startling underworld of hunger and torture
Deep-rooted systems of servitude
That even the victims don’t question.

Human bondage still holds millions in grip
Tell me how this ancient evil survives? (2x)
The exploited are always faceless
Set apart by race, caste and religion

Those who profit from slavery
Have money and political clout
And world doesn’t mind, so why should the powerful change.
How long must the slaves wait?

Is this a bleak thought: nothing gets done?
What’s your response to the world’s tyrannies?