Bonne année ! Happy New Year!

 

Bonne année ! Happy New Year!


In Central Africa, New Year's greetings last for at least 3 months! It starts around Christmas, and goes on until March. Luckily Easter is coming early this year, to change things up a bit!

After Christmas and the days spent in the villages, I had a few relatively quiet days.

Sunday, December 31st I went to Dobere, we had 50 km of semi-asphalted road. The chapel here is dedicated to Saint Stephen, who we celebrate today together along with the Holy Family.

On December 31st we usually organize a prayer vigil at night.

But this year it was not possible to do it, because there were fears of Wagner's Russian mercenaries making an unwelcome visit: for a few days they have imposed a curfew, and from 7pm onwards they go around, sending people home, and arresting anyone who they deem "suspicious"...

We then decided to bring everything up to 5pm, in order to allow people to return home safely.

It was a moment of prayer, thanksgiving and supplication for a new year in this world that is so tense and in crisis.

Monday morning, January 1st, I left for Bangui. All week I will be working on the construction site of the new convent, to complete the electrical system.

So, Happy New Year! Bonne année !

Dobere