reetings to all of you, and a Big Thank You because you continue to accompany me with your friendship and your precious help. Congo is preparing for the great event of the first free political elections: will we succeed, or shall we end up in another war? There is fear because we don’t have adequate political leaders.
Here we are constantly struggling with the people’s hunger due mainly to three major causes: we did not have rain after the sowing, and the sun burned it all up; the soldiers, unpaid and in great numbers, fend for themselves by stealing from the people the little they have; insects have appeared in the fields that damage the roots of the manioca, the staple food for these people.
The episodes that I report here can help you understand our situation, and how these people live in precarious situations. A pregnant lady next to giving birth came to me for help (for about $5.00) so that she could go to the maternity ward. She said to me: “If I am successful at giving birth to a child, I’ll call him ‘Sombe’, that is ‘veggie, grass,’ because at this time in our family we eat only manioca leaves.”
A young lady approached me for advice and said: “My mother wants to give me in marriage to a man of the village, whom I do not love. I’m 17, and he is old, and has already two wives and children.” I called the mother and asked her if the story was true. She confessed everything in tears, and told me “I have nothing left in the house; I am sick and must go to the hospital. If this man gives us some money, that would provide for our needs…” What could I do, challenged by this situation? And so I helped both daughter and mother in their needs.
As we celebrated Woman’s Day, I had the girls as altar servers, and a lady spoke about the dignity of women. As a preparation for this special World Day, there also was a conference on the equality of women. Here we are faced with the realities of dire need and the difficulty of changing their mentality, because even our Christians, more often than ever, do not accept the fact that both men and women have equal rights, even though there are laws for that matter.
Every day I hear of family tragedies: women who have been battered, cheated, abandoned by their husbands, women who prostitute themselves to get some money to feed their children. Just last month, a mother of four children, abandoned by her husband, was taken by four soldiers and raped. I took her to the clinic near-by, and they provided medical care for her. But who is going to help her in her psychological trauma?
As a preparation for this special World Day, there also was a conference on the equality of women. Here we are faced with the realities of dire need and the difficulty of changing their mentality, because even our Christians, more often than ever, do not accept the fact that both men and women have equal rights, even though there are laws for that matter
We started harvesting corn and peanuts. Our hope is that the problem of hunger, which was truly heavy during these last few months, will be somewhat alleviated. That is why we have started a project for the aqueduct, together with “Manos Unidas” (United Hands), and we really hope to finish it soon, for it all depends on our fundraising efforts and local permits. It will provide clean running water in the village of Luvungi, and water for the fields.
Personally, I feel for these people, and I often experience depression in seeing their desperate situations. I call them my brothers and sisters. Yet many sleep on the ground in huts that I would call “pigpens.” Often they go to sleep hungry, while we have everything, a bed, a house, and some food.
There is a constant procession of people coming to ask for help, for a listening ear, and oftentimes I do not know where to find the answers for them. I empty my pockets with the little that I have, but the deep problems remain. I welcome them, I listen to their stories, and I find consolation in the fact that when I give something, there is always a providential help that reaches me through channels I’ve never dreamed possible.
And yet, we keep on going, proclaiming Christ’s love and mercy to all. With all of you, friends from overseas at my side, may these people help us rediscover the Joy of the Risen Christ.
(From Xaverian News)