A dream comes true. Father Janvier Kabeya Mbinze, a Comboni missionary from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, shares his experience in South Sudan.
When I was a Theology student, I thought every Comboni missionary should visit Sudan at least once in their lifetime, the land where our father, founder, and ancestor, Saint Daniel Comboni, lived and died. Lo and behold, once I had finished my studies, they sent me to Egypt to study Arabic. From there, I went on to Sudan, which had not yet been divided at that time.
I worked in both the North and the South, always with the joy of being among the same peoples Comboni mentions in his writings: the Nuer, Shilluk, Zande, and Dinka, with whom I now share my life.
Another joy of mine is following in the footsteps of so many Comboni missionaries who preceded us. I feel part of this fascinating story of evangelisation.
The situation in South Sudan is complicated. The country’s independence, which we welcomed with such enthusiasm, did not yield the desired results, and a few years later, we found ourselves embroiled in an internal conflict that has not yet definitively ended. Even the lives of so many missionaries have not borne the fruit they deserved, so we still find ourselves in a land of first evangelisation.
It seems that traditional values are stronger than evangelical ones. People live by turning their backs on the message of Jesus, and a Christian cultural substratum is lacking, as it exists in my country, the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
The insecurity we live in and the traumas are palpable. You can feel it when you hear people verbally abusing each other to resolve a trivial matter. The lack of constructive dialogue is evident at all levels.
Even if we live with some fear and frustration because sometimes people don’t respond to our proposals or participate in the meetings we so hopefully organise, we know we are missionaries, and we will never give up trying. We continue to focus on formation, especially among young people, offering them an education based on values such as dialogue, peace, and solidarity.
I teach catechism to elementary and middle school students, and I truly enjoy teaching them about the life of the Church, the sacraments, and the importance of prayer. I see a profound need for them to grow with clear ideas about the beauty of Christianity so that they can have a mature faith tomorrow.
Even though we lack the resources, I also focus on issues of justice and peace, because I am pained by the sight of the poverty of the people and the injustices committed. I know too many cases of innocent people being mistreated, and sometimes I can’t shake the feeling of helplessness that overwhelms me. May the Lord give us the strength not to falter and to offer hope to these people whom Comboni loved so much.
