Goats and others!

Monday afternoon I went to the north: Bocaranga (125 km), Ndim (40km more), Ngaundaye (40 km more), Bocaranga (75 km). all in all was about 500 km on bad roads, bridges made of fantasy (most of the time the whole path is missing), holes, stones and lots and lots of dust!

We left at 2 pm on Monday, with Karol and Ludmila, a couple from Prague. He’s an architect who planned our secondary school. He’s in Bozoum to work on the “Student House” project: a couple of houses for kids attending middle and secondary school that are coming from too far  (Ndim, 160 km, e Bossemptele, 90 km).

We got to Bocaranga at 5 pm (it took us 3 hours for 125 km). Dropped by to say hello to monks and nuns and back on the road for the last 38 km (another hour and a quarter). In Ndim we met two Rwandese sisters from the Misericordiae institute they took us in for dinner and we spent the night there, made us all better!

Tuesday morning, whilst  Karol and Ludmila were paying a visit to the schools and to the small hospital run by the nuns, i went to check on the Mutual Saving Bank Agency.

Later on I finally took care of the main reason for this trip: buying 350 goats!

Since May, last year, we decided to help out (with the financing of Finn Church Aid, an NGO of the Lutheran Church of Finland)  7 villages between  Bocaranga and Mann, where rebels and military soldiers had raged causing many people to run away. In order to help them stay and get back on track, we delivered corn, peanuts and beans seed last May. Crops have been very satisfactory, to such an extent to let them participate at the Agriculture Fair in Bozoum on the 26-27 January and gave them the chance to sell their products for a sales value of 12k.

Last part of the project includes delivering…goats! We’ll buy 350 goats to be allocated to less fortunate people, to get them started on small breeding farm.

In Ndim we got started on the purchase, will be handled by local vet. We also found a place for them to be kept on hold until he makes sure all is ok and we will deliver them in good health….

Late morning we arrived in  Ngaundaye, tha last village on the border. Here the Capuchin monks received us and we met a Polish nun’s community  one is from Italy and another one is French.

In the afternoon we went to the big Market of Mbaiboum, in Cameron, where I got the meds for the goats. Came back in the evening (just in time before curfew) had dinner with the nuns… Karol and Ludmila managed to speak with the Polish ones and i spoke to  Renata and Chantal.

Wednesday morning we went to Bocaranga, through a different route. Here are the villages we are helping out. We stopped in  Mann, then off to  Bereguili, where we met the locals and i explained the goats situation. Village chief invited us over for lunch with his family  (5 wives and 35 sons…) we had chicken and manioca. Really delicious!

Their welcome and their care for us is really moving and makes one forget the soaring back pain ….

We arrived in Bocaranga at 1pm, had a bite with the monks then off to say hi to 3 catechists.They are here with their families and are studying for their  cathechism work. Here in Central Africa, especially in these villages a catechist seen as a referring point in the Christian community, therefore is a very important figure. As a matter of fact, priest might drop by twice or three times per year in these areas.

At 2 pm we hit the road again and we finally arrived in Bozoum where our beautiful porch awaits!

Big Bozoum Fair!

Big Bozoum Fair! We just concluded the Big Agriculture Fair, an unique event in the whole of Central Africa….200 co-ops, coming from more than 200km and lots and lots of people coming to have a look, to sell, to buy…most especially it was a very tangible message of hope for this country!

It has been weeks that Central African Republic is in the news, unfortunately due to the rebellion and disasters happening with the war between rebels and government

 Before getting onto the Fair organization, we had to think things through, we had doubts and some worries. However since Tuesday trucks we sent to ensure the products delivery started to get here.

Friday evening we had a major meeting with the co-ops, gave them instructions on…marketing!

And Saturday morning we opened the fair with a small ceremony: parade of co-ops, few speeches and the opening of 50 stalls. Such a pleasant sight for the eyes and for the heart!

Paolo VI said that “development is a new name for peace”

Developing this fair Is peace, is hope. It’s pride for those who work all year long and finally see their hard work rewarded here.

Also, financially speaking, the fair went pretty well. I thought we wouldn’t do as good as last year (60k sales!) but as far as the first overview we already crossed the 85k sales line.

Congrats  for a job well done to the farmers and to all who did believe in the work of men.

And a big thank you to those who support us, particularly to the Association “friends of Central Africa” in Mozzate, Como.

And to all the simple hearted people that gave their contribution, such as the friends from Baramo’ Cafè.

Thank you all! Singila!

it's HOT in Central Africa!!

I came back just in time....for another attempt of a military coup! and with the last of the Air France flight...

Since the 10th of December there has been a series of armed groups of rebels (they named themselves AELEKA, alliance, in sango) that challenged the government and began fighting to conquer the country, In few days they managed to attack important cities, county seats, and even Bambari, that head quarter of a military area.

Few days after Christmas they got to Sibut, that is at 160 km from Bangui....

Who are these people? And what do they want?

it's rather complicated to answer these questions because nobody knows much around here....

Amongst them there are sons of the previous regime, an ex-ambassador, and amongst the troops several people dont even speak French nor Sango. (some are probably from Sudan, others are from Ciad)....

they call themselves the liberators...their goal is to have the current President resign (he was elected quite recently in 2011) and to dissolve the Parliament (thought it was not regularly created)

also they lay claim to the non respect of the treaty between the State and the Rebels and the disappearing of an ex-minister, whom was arrested from Ciadian soldiers and brought in to the Central African militaries....

We hear of plunders, sexual violence, killings....

So far the African Union deployed forces and organized a red line in Damara (70 km from the capital) in order to prevent the attack in Bangui....

the 26th of December there have been some protest in bangui against the French and the American Embassies (perhaps the Government wanted some military help??) - so now the American Embassy has been closed down, all personnel left, with the United Nations personnel too.....

earlier on the president refused any type of dialogue, but now he has proposed a coalition to govern and not to present himself as a candidate for the third mandate (even though the Constitution hinders that, however he was trying to amend that law...)

Situation now is stalling...we hope they'll manage to sit down and solve this with diplomacy and reach an agreement.....

in the meantime we live in fear ....10 years ago, in 2002, things started the same way and the rebels conquered the whole country and reached to the capital city too....

For the moment here all is quiet, but we don't know until when....

In these days we pray for Peace. But it's a gift from God AND man, and we must help Him prepare it for us....the Gospel says that "Mary kept all these things in her heart" -  and yesterday during the homily -  i thought more and more on the pondering: even though the country is in crisis, justice doesn't work, there's no welfare and education is even worse....and this is after 54 years of Independence...we need a change. which needs to happen in the conscience of the people, we need a mind opening that cares for the common good.

 

 

 

Christmas

 

Here i am again in Bozoum, after few weeks spent (again!) in Italy

I landed in Genova on the evening of the 15th of november, was a thursday, and first thing on Friday I was already in Cuneo for the pre-op examinations.
Saturday i managed to escape to Como, for a meeting with the Friends for Central Africa Association and the following Tuesday, the 20th i had my inguinal hernia surgery.

Few days of rest, then on the go again, between one thing and another....

From the 3rd and the 10th of December i visited with friends, Associations etc. In Savona (to assess the possible outcome for the surgery of Hippolyte, a palarised kid from Bozoum), then Arenzano. Following day in Milano, with friends that intend to help us with the solar panel installations, and in the afternoon i met few friends of Avvenire. The next day, eveninig with Parish of Cassina amata, which, since few years, supports faithfully the Arc en Ciel Centre (rainbow centre) for the orphans in Bozoum.

on Thursday a quick one in Rome, to meet with Caritas and Cei, and on the friday, i flew to Prague.

There i met the Carmelitans community, to the sanctuary of baby Jesus, and the Siriri association. in the evening we had a meeting and a dinner together. The following day, i met with architect Karol, to discuss the next projects ( the dormitory house for the middle and secondary school, improvement on the church). In the evening I received a beautiful present: the Aida ticket to the opera house!!!!  Celeste....

Sunday 9th we celebrated the christening of Josephina, Terezie's daughter. Terezie spent a year of volountary work here in Bozoum.

Monday morning i went to the castle uphill, where the Cathedral is. All was covered by snow...and it was 5.30! in Prague they have an ancient tradition: weeks before Christmas the celebrate mass very early in the mornings! i celbrated with Cardinal Vlk, whom very kindly translated my greetings and stayed with me.

Late morning i flew back to Bergamo, where i met Giorgio, mason, whom will come back in few weeks. In the evening i met with  Beppe e Enrica Tempesta, real good friends of Bozoum and  Maria Elena from Ferrara. 

On Tuesday the 5th on my way to Cuneo for a medical examination

I drop by to see Father Ivo and some friends of his parish and Few days after, i was in Arenzano, finally on Thursday the 20th i came back here in Bozoum, where Christmas preparations were already started.

These days passed by quickly, though i realised it's really great to meet with so many helpful and wiling people: people with jobs and families, with many difficulties to handle, though they are happy to help less fortunate people!

Even my sister's bar, called "Baramo" ( in sango means hi). they put together a ruffle and with the money we'll be able to buy few plows.

What to say? Life is beautiful!  a huge thanks....and merry Christmas!

 

 

MISSIONARY OCTOBER

 Here we are in the missionary october!

Every now and then my ears are burning….and I hope these weeks prayers were intensified for the missions and for all this amazing work that they do across the planet!

Last week, between Thursday the 18th and Saturday the 20th I was up north, visiting missions of  Bocaranga, Ndim and Ngaundaye, on horrible roads and even worse bridges, I travelled for 500km

During my trip I was on the road that goes from Bocaranga and Ngaundaye, where we gave seeds (peanuts, corn and beans) for more than 2000 families which were robbed by the rebels and were forced to leave their homes and villages. People are very happy, the crop this year was good because we had a lot of rain. Here they say NGU TI AWALI
(the year of the women)! It’s quite a rare event that presents itself and thanks to the good climatic condition gives fantastic results for the harvest!

This week I was in Bouar (another 500km) for a 3 days of training and breathing space with the parish committee from Caritas and Justice and Peace, as you can well imagine…we have a lot of work!

We focused on  “Africae Munus”, the pope letter in which he offered Africa the sythesis of the Synod of the african bishops. A very interesting and concrete letter, in which the church in Africa (and not only) is pushed towards an effort of reconciliation , justice and peace.
There were about 50 people: the representatives of 10 parishes and it was a good way to meet up and exchange ideas. There’s plenty of good will and to do attitude in order to face all the problems Africa is going through…..

YEAR OF THE FAITH

Yesterday, Sunday 14th of October 2012, we celebrated the opening of the Year of the Faith

A year to think over the great gift of Faith, as the pope suggested to the whole Church

A Faith to be rediscovered, as true deep joy for life, as meeting with God, Christ and brotherhood

A faith to be rejoined as understanding (how ignorant we are on such a reality, so important in our ilife!) and study, also as Life and coherence.

The beauty and gleam of faith!

Yesterday morning the christian community of Bozoum left from four different spots in the village and with a banner of the year of the faith, arrived together to the mission, and just before getting into the church they were given a piece of paper with the creed and few references for this special year

At 8.30 we celebrated the mass, which was particularly happy and deeply grateful for the gift of faith

Chesterton wrote this “the convertee often has the impression of looking across a side longed window on the presbytery wall, which was once for the leprous. He looks through a small window or a small hole that seems to get smaller as he gazes…only after he enters it, he finds out that the church is way bigger inside than outside. He left behind the side longed windows for leprous, and, in a way, even the cramped gothic windows, and now he stays under the wide domes as renaissance and universal as the republic of the world"

Saint Michele’s Festival 2012

Today we celebrated patron’s day, St. Michele!

This week was very busy.

 Monday we had mass with primary, middle and secondary schools (almost 1000 kids…quite impressive!)

Tuesday we had a breathing space day about the year of the faith that will begin in october

Wednesday until Friday we had 3 day course on sexuality, love and married life

Yesterday we also had planned a procession with Saint Michele Statue, however rain made it impossible….

And today  big mass at 8.30 with dances, songs, colors, prayers and involvement.

Right after that, games (running, soccer, volleyball and basketball tournament , sack race, pinatas, hair brading competition)

And a small concert with bozoum choir performing!

Happy pastoral year!