after Bozoum, news from Bangassou: Peace on earth ...

Sr Solange e i preparativi del Natale
Sr Solange et les travaux de Noel

Peace on earth ...

Christmas has finally arrived! Even here in Central Africa, in spite of everything.

There were no comets or flashing lights, but a lot of tension because the country is heading, once again, towards civil war.

For a few weeks no cars or trucks have been able to pass, because the road (the only one that connects the capital Bangui with the port of Douala in Cameroon) has been blocked by rebel groups who try, if not to take the capital, at least to block the arrival of goods.

This has been to block the presidential and legislative elections, which were scheduled for December 27th.

Many cities have been invaded by rebel groups. Among these, also Bozoum, Bouar, Bossemptele, Bossembele, Yaloke, Boali, Mbaiki, Bocaranga, Baboua. I have to stop because the list is too long!

Despite the tension, we managed to prepare for Christmas. On the 24th and 25th, together with Fr Michael, we left for the most distant villages, hoping not to have any disastrous meeting along the way!

On December 24th we left around 6.30, arriving in Igwe around 8.30. it is a small village 50 km from Baoro, but we covered the last 15 kilometers in first and second gear.

The arrival was a feast, and after confessions we celebrated Christmas Mass, that of midnight, but at 9.30 in the morning! The chapel is made of straw, low, and perhaps for this reason it seems a lot like Christmas. After Mass I gave some candies to the children and a balloon, which was very much appreciated!

We left around 11.30, but we had to go back and walk another 50 km to get to the next village, which was only 15 km from Igwe (but the road was blocked by some fallen trees, and we could not walk it).

Around 2 pm we arrived at the second village, Bayanga Didi. We calmly prepared for Mass, during which we celebrated 13 baptisms of small children!

It was dark when we left. We arrived at around 9 pm in Yoro, another large village. The program was to finally go to rest, but the people had been waiting for us, and at 10 pm we began the third Mass of the day. We ended the day with songs, dances and games. We were so tired that we fell asleep immediately!

On Christmas day we celebrated Mass in 2 villages. Father Michael stayed in Yoro, while I went to Sinaforo. There were 7 km of road, and this time I covered them in less than half an hour!

Sinaforo is a small village. The church, covered with metal sheets obtained from bins, was full, and here too it was nice to see and touch the feast that God, made Man, brings.

In the afternoon we returned to Baoro, where the situation seemed calm.

Sunday 27, the day of the vote, was announced badly. In many cities, no one was able to go vote because the rebels started shooting and boycotting the elections. In Baoro we voted but few dared to do so. What's worse, the rebels arrived during the night and burned most of the ballots!

At 5.30 on Monday 28 December, the gunshots were our wake-up call! For an hour you heard shooting all over the place (and I assure you it's not a nice alarm clock!). Around 8, everything calmed down. The rebels seemed to have headed south, and the rest of the day went by quietly.

Of course, there was no protection for the people. The local police and officers have long since fled, while the Blue Helmets pass by in the afternoon, when everything seems calm ...

At 6.30 pm, 2 armed rebels arrived, who climbed over the Mission wall and forced the sentry to call us. I left the room, and found them in front of me ... I asked them "kindly" to leave our house. They were looking for the motorbikes of the ruling party. I told him we don't have them. They threatened the sentry, they also threatened me, but then I managed to take them to see some classrooms, where there were only school desks ...

Since the motorbikes were not there, they continued to threaten us, but I slowly got them out of our concession without theft or shooting ...for the time being!

Thinking back to Christmas, it was nice to hear the song of the angels: "Peace on earth ...".

We prayed and had hope, because without the help from above and a little good will from below, there will be no Peace. Maybe it's time to figure it out. Especially here in Central Africa. Where the prayer for Peace never fails. Too often, the will not to give in to violence, the will to fight against corruption, the will to refuse shortcuts, the will to put the common good and others first, requires courage!

Courage!

Happy New Year!