Comboni Lay Missionaries

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Missionary Experiences

First Days of Marisa in Mozambique

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Marisa MozambiqueThursday, August 10, 2017

It’s 5:00 in the morning and the movement inside the plane suggests that the landing in Mozambique is near. Some people, however, are still sleeping. It’s turning out to be a quiet trip with time for everything: resting, watching movies, getting bored, wishing you could stretch your legs… It’s all happening! The gentleman in the window seat at my left opens the curtain. Wow! It is dawn, a real blessing: the first miracle I am witnessing in this new land is the dawn. Magnificent. I can only see a framed painting in vivid colors. It is impossible to remain indifferent to so much beauty, and the colors fill me with joy and warmth. I would love to be landing already.

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I am in Mozambique! I reached Maputo. It is hot and the smells are more noticeable due to the heat. The colors clash, while the blue of the bay seems to blend with the sky. There is a new soul here and life seems to run at a singular speed. People are smiling and inquisitive. Fr. Pabro, a Comboni Missionary was waiting for me at the airport. He was holding a copy of Audacia, and laughed readily at how I recognized this “code of localization/identification.” “less is more” and “for a good observer, few words are needed.” He took me to the provincial residence and showed me a few things along the way. I stayed the morning in that community of Maputo. After lunch I went to the airport and, God willing, by late afternoon I will be in Nampula with Kasia.

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We were about half way to Nampula when six-year old Samuel started running back and forth from one end of the plane to the other. The cushion he was playing with fell near my seat. I picked it up and stretched my arm to give it back to him.

  • English? He turned his head to the left. Portuguese? He tuned his head to the right.
  • Portuguese it was, as I nodded in agreement. We laughed and exchanged a High Five.

We played and talked for a while about a lot of things. Then he volunteered: “I am going to see my brothers and my family. And you?”

“So am I,” I answered without thinking.

I realized later that I had answered, “so am I…” May God will it and help me to make it so.

I landed in Nampula in the late afternoon and it was already dark. I was still waiting for my luggage when Kasia entered the hall… How nice to be welcomed and received with such enthusiasm that made her “invade” this area to come meet me!

From there we went to the Sisters’ house. We ate, talked and rested. On the way to my room I fully realized the novelty of what was happening: there was a mosquito net over my bed. No doubt, it was really happening!

I dropped in bed happy and grateful to God for all the graces he has granted me so far, at least until today. For the rest, let it be as he wants.

Friday, August 11, 2017

This afternoon Kasia and I resumed our journey to Carapira, our mission and our home. During the trip I enjoyed the scenery. My first, or ‘major’, impression of Africa, of Mozambique, is space – space as far as the eye can see, where all the journeys are long, where there is a silence that enters into you. It is a scenery without end which requires patience and gives time for contemplation. I think it is impossible not to be lifted up by this poetry pervading the world with its immensity, God’s horizon.

In the evening, after supper, we welcomed into our home a couple of local lay people, the teachers Martinho and Margarita, the Comboni Sisters Clarinda, Eleonora, María José and Teresinha, Brother Luigi and Fr. Firmino. It was a joyous and beautiful time of getting together that affirmed, once more and above all, the meaning of the hospitality we practice here.

Marisa Mozambique

Wednesday, August 16, 2017

I woke up last night thinking that it was almost time to get up. The lack of light, both outside and inside was telling me otherwise. I took the lamp, shone it on the clock next to my bed and the hands confirmed that it was night time, deep night time. There were still three hours before the first signs of day. I couldn’t sleep. I sat up in bed with my back to the wall and rested in the special stillness that we experience in those hours. “What peace!” I though, while I remembered that beautiful thought of St. John of the Cross – “the night is the time of the silent house.”

Thursday, August 17, 2017

This morning for the first time I walked through the neighborhood, visiting the community. On the way back, my heart was full of joy. I played with the children. I could not understand those who were talking to me in Makua and they could not understand me. But we laughed and played, and with this childish joy we were able to establish some non-verbal communication in spirit. So far it has worked with the children… As I was walking by the door of the school there was a woman talking with Sergio. We exchanged greetings:

  • Salama! Ihàli?
  • Salama! Khinyuwo?

Nothing more. If it had not been for Sergio’s help, I would not have understood what she wanted to tell me. On the one hand, I was grateful: for the woman who, while she understood that I needed a word-by-word translation, did not desist from talking to me and ask me about my health and my family; for the person who stuck by me and patiently translated the conversation. On the other hand, I was embarrassed because I could not understand what she was saying (this happened not only in this case, but during the entire morning and at other times during the week like, for example, during Sunday Mass celebrated in Makua).

“To depend on translations requires patience and humility… kneel down, Marisa, become little and grateful,” I consoled myself.

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I returned home. I was putting some things in order when I heard a young voice:

  • Hoti? (Hello?)
  • Hotìni (Please) I answered.

I opened the door and a young woman was waiting for me with a smile. Darn it! I am alone in the house… if she is asking for my help for anything, I do not know how I will answer because I know nothing…” I was thinking while walking outside…

  • I am Ancha. Have you heard about me? I have come to introduce myself and welcome you…

Then we talked for a while. “Time…” Here people converse and “spend” time with each other – without worrying. This introduction was another lesson. Marisa, learn. As she left she said something in Makua. I did not understand and I could not answer. “I must learn something in Makua… I feel it is the least I can do for the time being, to show my gratitude for the hospitality of the people,” I told myself as I reentered the house.

And so it is… despite the discomfort we feel when we do not know something, knowing “nothing” also involves some inner health and creativity.

Marisa MozambiqueMarisa Almeida, CLM in Mozambique

News from the CLM Liliana and Flávio – The Harvest Festival in Piquiá, Brazil

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LMC PiquiaLast Sunday, June 9, the Harvest Festival was held in the community of San José of the settlement of João do Vale part of the parish of Santa Luzía de Piquiá, Brazil. It was attended by more than a thousand people from the various parishes of the city of Acailândia and by Bishop Vilson Basso of Emperatriz.

The goal of this celebration, already in its 10th edition, is to celebrate the gift of the harvest and to reflect on the earth as the venue of work and means of subsistence for the family, to remember the struggles and demand justice in the right to own land and in respecting creation.

LMC Piquia

This year’s theme was “Family agriculture in defense of life” and the motto was “Cultivation and the care of creation” as per Genesis 2:15.

The celebration opened with a welcome in the local sports center and with a breakfast prepared with the local products of the earth (manioc, pumpkin and a variety of fruit) coming from the sharing of the various communities in attendance. The Eucharist followed, during wich Bishop Vilson Basso spoke of the importance of family agriculture and of the duty to fight for ownership of the land and to denounce the oppressors. He stressed the importance of not giving up, because it is a just struggle, and also of the need for unity. He also remembered the 10 farmers who were murdered in a ranch in the State of Pará (https://www.cptnacional.org.br/index.php/publicacoes-2/destaque/3794-chacina-em-redenca-pa-deixa-pelo-menos -10-posseiros muertos) and all those who are persecuted or coerced to leave their land.

At the offertory, the various communities presented at the Lord’s altar some of their agricultural products as a sign of gratitude and of hope in a more respectful relationship between humankind and creation.

After lunch, there were many cultural shows in the form of theatre, dances and games, ending with the handing over to each community of a sapling of Ipê and with the announcement of the community that will hold the festival next year.
LMC PiquiaLiliana Ferreira and Flávio Schmidt, CLM in Brazil

Visit of the Superior General of the Comboni Missionaries at Piquiá, Brazil

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LMC BrasilOn July 31 here in the mission of Piquiá, in Maranhão, we received the visit of the superior general of the Comboni Missionaries, Fr. Tesfaye Tadesse, accompanied by the provincial superior of Brazil, Fr. Dario Bossi. For the occasion we were joined by the community of Balsas, also located in Maranhão.

I feel that for the general it was an important moment to see first hand the reality of this mission, especially of the people of Piquiá de Baixo, who are asking for the resettlement of the neighborhood.

It was also an important moment of togetherness and sharing as a Comboni family! We had the opportunity to share our activities and perspectives.

The visit ended the evening of August 2 with a solemn Mass, well attended by the communities, not only from the parish of Santa Lucía, but also from St. John the Baptist, an old Comboni parish. The Mass was followed by a reception.

It was beautiful to see the affection of the people for the presence and the history of the Comboni Missionaries in this mission.

Let us pray always for vocations, both for the Comboni family and for the entire Church!

LMC BrasilFlávio Schmidt, CLM Brazil

Summer school in Ethiopia

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CLM EthiopiaWhat is the best way of spending holiday? This question was not in the mind of children living in the neighborhood of the clinic I work in. They mostly come from poor, large families and their parents cannot afford any holiday activities for them. Time just passes while they get bored. We decided to take them out of this summer idleness.

Using their time, which they have in overabundance and financial means received by the group of Polish Comboni Lay Missionaries, we tried to make for them something pleasant and useful at the same time. We organized the summer school. 80 boys and girls of age from 12 to 18 took part in that. Children were divided into three groups: older boys and girls separately and youngest students –together. Each group attended in 1-week program.

We started each day with a prayer “Our Father”. During the classes they were taught about nutritious food, hygiene, environment protection, family planning method and first aid. They were taught about problems facing teenagers ie. addictions, AIDS, sexually transmitted diseases, abortions, female genital mutilation and forced early marriages.

CLM EthiopiaFor the purpose of better perceiving of the knowledge many of the lessons were conducted as  outdoor activities: practical exercises or games. After the classes about nutritious food children went to do some gardening, when they learnt how to make patches and plant vegetables. At the end of the hygiene lesson toothbrushes and toothpastes were distributed and all children brushed their teeth. Lecture of the first aid, when short “what-to-do” movies were shown, was followed by practical exercises, where young students played roles of fainted, burnt and choked people as well as their lifesavers. During one of the games they learnt how to behave in a good manner – for example when seeing white person better to greet him instead of calling “youyouyou”. What they learnt during all the week they painted during the last lesson.

CLM EthiopiaOne of the classes concerned the creation of the world. There were shown pictures proving beauty of the world created by God, ie. wonderful landscapes of Ethiopia, beautiful sunset at the Awassa lake, at the side they live. Just after that there were presented photos of the rubbish scattered in their neighborhood. After this short lecture we went with zeal to pick-up the rubbish from the clinic compound.

During the school break each student received a pack of biscuits. Every child received daily nutritious lunch: injera with different vegetables, what could be consider as a good example of nutritious food they learnt about during their classes. The school has ended with official graduation ceremony, where certificates of attendance were distributed. Every student as a gift received a school set, consisting of exercise books, a pen, a pencil, and a sharpener, what for many families was a significant reduction of the household expenses. Additionally, twelve the most active students received an extra math’s set (compass, ruler, setsquare).

Everyone like the school so much. Teachers were happy that students were interested in all the subjects. Children are already waiting for another summer school next year.

CLM EthiopiaTobiasz Lemański, CLM Etiophia