Angolans welcome historic delegation visit
Nov. 8, 2006
NOTE: Photographs are available at http://umns.umc.org.
A UMNS Feature By Kathy L. Gilbert*
When the Rev. R. Randy Day stepped foot on Angolan soil, it was cause for celebration across thousands of miles.
Day, top executive of the United Methodist Board of Global Ministries, made an historic visit to this southwest African country Sept. 24-Oct. 2. Folks noticed.
Bishop Jose Quipungo, East Angola Annual (regional) Conference, and Bishop Gaspar Joao Domingos, West Angola Annual Conference, shared their joy about his visit with pastors, district superintendents, choir members, nurses, doctors, lawyers, cooks, government officials, laity and lots of children.
"This is the first time the top executive from the Board of Global Ministries has ever been to our country," both bishops said over and over, as they took the delegation on a tour of United Methodist churches, schools and mission centers from Luanda to Malanje.
The delegation from the Board of Global Ministries included Day, the Rev. Morais Quissico of the Global Ministries' Africa Office, Donald Reasoner, language interpretation coordinator, and Linda Savarese, speech language pathologist. United Methodist Communications news writer Kathy L. Gilbert and photographer Mike DuBose were also part of the group.
Malanje
Before the 10-seat airplane had even landed at the hot, dusty Malanje airstrip, more than 100 people dressed in warm outfits, ranging from long choir robes to matching red-polka dotted dresses to full suits and ties, started singing.
Led by Bishop Quipungo and his wife, Dr. Laurinda Vidal Quipungo, delegation members were greeted, hugged and welcomed by enthusiastic United Methodists. Dancing, clapping and singing, young and old let the team know this visit was special.
There to see and places to visit that from the minute the team members arrived, they were running late.
A meeting at Escola Esperanca de Africa school was delayed by a day. Children sat in their schoolrooms after hours two days waiting for the strangers from the United States.
"This school is the fruit of the bishop's efforts," a beaming school director, Abrao Jose Narciso, told the team. "A lot of love and care is carried out here."
The school was constructed with funds from the Council of Bishops' Hope for the Children of Africa appeal.
Fifteen teachers teach more than 900 children in three shifts. "Do you think you could build another school just like this one next door?" a young boy asked, when the children were given a chance to ask questions.
"We have a great avalanche of children in this neighborhood, and the need is great," Narciso said.
The tour of Malanje also included the historic reopening of Quéssua Theological College, a visit to Malanje Provincial Hospital, a tour of the United Methodist orphanage and clinic for East Angola, and a private audience with the governor of Malanje Province, Cristovão da Cunha.
Luanda
Transportation became more complicated once back in the capital city of Luanda. The absence of signs, signals and apparently even rules means everyone makes a mad dash for the same few feet of open roadway at the same time.
A trip to Catete, a school outside the city, was a long drive. Women who had traveled for many kilometers were patiently awaiting the delegation. As soon as the bus rolled up, they started singing, and they were still singing three hours later, when the group was served dinner in the dark countryside.
Catete was also built with funds from the Hope for the Children of Africa Appeal, and future plans for the complex include dormitories and a health unit. Clay and sandy soil have disfigured all the classrooms at this school, with large ugly cracks randomly crawling across the floors, walls and ceilings. School officials say the cracks continue to show up as the new buildings settle.
The school, started for homeless street children, was built under the leadership of retired Bishop Emilio DeCarvalho. More than 1,000 students attend classes in two shifts.
The national radio station heard about the delegation's visit and wanted an interview to air along with other top stories of the day. Day spoke to on-air personalities while the rest of the team met members of the news team - many of whom were United Methodists. Fauarso De Sousa Ta Gachaes, director of information for the station, said he has dreams of a United Methodist radio station, newspaper and Web site.
"The United Methodist Church has a lot of political leadership," he said. "We are the sons and daughters of Methodist pastors."
The day also included a visit with the Angolan government's vice minister of health and with the Rev. Luis Nguimbi, general secretary of the Angola Christian Council. After the "politicians" came the children.
At Centro Social Alegria Posoca (School of Happiness), a room bursting with wiggling 5-year-olds exploded into excited chatter when the delegation arrived. The tour included a visit with Domingos Congo, a former street child educated at the school, who is now teaching computer skills to others. "They are learning to use the keyboard," he said. "Right now they can use six fingers; when we finish they will be able to use all of them."
Down the road was Galilea School. Rooms full of sixth-graders in neat white cotton coats waited to see and talk to the United Methodists from so far away. Shyness faded when asked what they wanted to be when they grew up. Answers ranged from "journalists" to "doctors" to "president." As the day faded and time grew shorter for the visit, three classes poured out into the schoolyard and sang Angola's national anthem.
Annual conference
The reception by West Angola Annual Conference members was no less overwhelming than the airport chorus in Malanje. The 22nd session of the conference was under way at Igreja Metodista Unida.
Places of honor in the front row awaited delegation members. Women who had been cooking night and day for the hundreds of delegates sang and danced the team to the front of the church. More than 300 pastors are part of the West Angola conference. The church was filled with happy, smiling people, excited to see the Day delegation.
On the final day of the conference, delegation members were once again brought to the front of the church and "dressed" in traditional African garments.
Day preached on the passage from John 21:15-17, in which Jesus asks Simon Peter three times, "Do you love me?" When Peter says yes, Jesus replies, "Feed my lambs."
This passage is a mission mandate from Jesus, Day said. "We will continue to look for ways to be in mission with you."
A donation of $10,000 was given to the conference from the board to buy mosquito nets from every local pastor and their family.
"Only love in God and action in justice will keep us together," Day said at the closing. "We need the African church."
*Gilbert is a United Methodist News Service news writer based in Nashville, Tenn.
News media contact: Kathy L. Gilbert, Nashville, Tenn., (615) 742-5470 or newsdesk@umcom.org.
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United Methodist News Service Photos and stories also available at: http://umns.umc.org
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