A road is a piece of land, smoothed, paved, or other wise prepared to allow easy travel. A road connects two cities or villages or towns with one or more other destinations. Some roads are passages through villages in rural communities.   These are our kinds of roads or routes of evangelization in the Western Province of Zambia where the Oblates minister. Most of the roads connecting districts in the Western Province have kept, for the past fifty years,their original appearance as simply a pathway. Trucks transporting goods share the passage with pedestrians, ox-drawn wheeled or skid carts, herds of goats or pigs, chicken and wild animals.

These are the roads the Missionary Oblates use to reach out to local communities for evangelization.

As a reminder, the Oblates in the Western      Province are based in the Lukulu district, the kalabo district and Limulunga township. These are areas where the road network is non-existent or exist by name only. There are few paths connecting these districts to Mongu, Headquarters of the Province.

A journey from one district to another is always a nightmare. One has to make sure that the vehicle is thoroughly checked before departure. Containers of water, in case the sand is too deep, the engine overheats and the radiator needs to be refilled to cool it with additional fresh water; shovels are needed, in case you get stuck.

 However in spite of all the precautions you take, the conditions of the roads or paths cannot guarantee you a smooth ride and a timely arrival.  During the rainy season, long portions of the roads become like lakes, and there is no way around. The vehicle has to find a way in the pool. The muddy and dirty water always poses a serious threat to the safety of the vehicle and passengers.

A 4 X 4 vehicle is no guarantee for safety. No matter how strong a land cruiser may be, the life span is always reduced due to the rough and difficult terrains and many obstacles it faces on these Western Province roads.

You may spend 8 hours to cover 100 km from one district to an other. When you are on a journey on these roads, you should be ready to “bathe” in muddy water in case you get stuck or in case you need to check the depth of water trying to find a better path to direct the wheels. Most times, after each trip, the vehicle requires a full service.

While traveling within the district for example, in Kalabo for visiting Out-stations, it is not surprising that you take 5 hours to cover 50km. The land cruiser has to go through deep sand (during the dry season), hitting stones, stumps, poles; or it has to dig a way through muddy soil (during the rain season).

Missionary Oblates as experts of difficult missions, are serving some of the most difficult missions in the Diocese of Mongu.  On a Palm Sunday, Fr Vincent Sakala, after rehearsing his Lozi language for a week, well dressed and very enthusiastic to visit the communities of Namatindi and Lukona, to share with them the message of Christ’s Passion, found himself stuck in mud before reaching the first destination.   He, the altar servers and pastoral team members, had worked from 7hours to 11hrs, to dig around and free the tyres from mud and move the vehicle.

Their efforts did not pay off. As hard as they tried, the mighty mud continued to swallow the tyres. They, then, decided to send for help. To their satisfaction, the mission tractor arrived at the scene. They tied the chain at the rear of the tractor to tow the land cruiser. They checked everything and the tractor driver started his manoeuvre. As he pressed the accelerator to insure that the tractor engine gains all its power to tow the poor land cruiser, the unexpected happened. The chain broke in two pieces; the tractor slipped, rotated with incredible force, facing the stuck cruiser, leaving it intact on its bed of mud. The tractor was deep in the muddy pool. The rescuer needed to be rescued.

After the entire day, they eventually got out and reached the first village. The priest resembled a ghost. His face disfigured by the muddy “make up” and his clothes, all muddy, a true phantom. It was Palm Sunday well celebrated, in a very special way.On our Roads for evangelization, each trip has a story. It is a story about the vehicle; a story about the road; a story about the people visited.

Most of the time, all stories are of difficulties and sufferings. In some occasions, despite letters and radio messages, the communities to be visited are not present at the church; they are out for fishing or collecting mushrooms or wild fruits.

When they are present, what a joy to be with them, some of them have walked for days. In such an atmosphere, the Missionaries throw in the back of their minds the stories of getting stuck and having breakdowns. They are happy on these roads of evangelization, leaving their fate in God’s hands.

The government could do a lot to improve the status of these rural roads; it is possible. The international community may also assist the Government in supporting the social-economic development of the Western Province in Zambia. This includes an adequate road network as a necessity for development.

Thanks to our Benefactors for helping us with strong vehicles on these routes of evangelization filled with dangers. You help! We serve! ( By Fr  Cyril Keba)

   

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