The Road to Mangango....Part 1

Two days ago, I left Lusaka with Brother's Adrian and Trensio for Mangango. Mangango is one of the oldest Capuchin Missions in Zambia dating back to 1938 and is now a bustling village situated in the Western Province of Zambia. The area is a farming one and the village is surrounded by maize fields..the staple food here. The Capuchin Friars built the friary, schools (primary and secondary), hospital and Lepersarium and a strong community has ground around the Friars over the years.

We eventually got going after a 2 hour breakdown and a car change and when we arrived (after 6  hours of driving) we were warmly welcomed by our brothers, James Connolly (from Cavan) and Zambians, Matthew and Ackim. We may be 8,000 km from Ireland but our time in Mangango began with the kettle going on!! James took us on a tour of the village beginning with the water and electricity supplies. Water comes from an underground spring and its provision is a credited to friar Bruno McKnight, who sourced it over 30 years ago. Today it still supplies the fresh drinking water to the entire village. Next we were shown how water was used in a different way, to generate electricity. The friars commissioned the building of a hydro-electric generator over twenty years ago and today it supplies electricity, not alone to the Friary, but to the Parish Church, Halls, Community of Sisters who run the Hospital, the Hospital itself as well as many other local families who have the facility to receive it.

Walking from the 'hydro', as it is know locally, we met a number of locals who welcomed us warmly. Zambians hold themselves with great confidence and style ... standing straight, they look right at you and then comes the famous smile. Locals here clap hands when the meet you and for anything else that they are pleased with...they have a very humble and gentle way about them. Greeting is very important in Zambian culture, especially out in the bush villages, so we continued on our way greeting all we met.

Our next stop was to the Hansen's Village (or Leper Village as it was once known). There we met a group of the most wonderful and warm people all Hansen's sufferers, and resident in this village for many years. They exchanged stories of friars they had known over the years Br's Owen, Ronan, Edwin and Bruno to name but a few. They also took time out to give Br James Connolly some slagging about being an 'old man' as he brought a walking stick with him. After some photographs and some prayers with them we headed off.

On the way back to the friary we met three young men who had killed a black Mamba snake. Black Mamba's are highly venomous and kill many people each year. A young boy we were told was bitten by a snake in the fields last week and ended up in a coma. This kind of danger is a reality for people living here.

The day ended with a fraternal meal, and for me, a very early night.... the 5am start had caught up with me.