Visit to Milange, Mozambique, 9 - 18 September 2014

The visit was three days shorter than originally planned due to electrical problems on our outgoing flight, and we eventually arrived in Milange on 12 September. The purpose was to re-establish St Nicholas’ connection with Milange under its new priest, Archdeacon Diniz Mbenuca, and to see what developments had taken place since the last visit from Shepperton in 2008.

The form of the visit began with worship with the people of St Simon of Cyrene, Milange, on the Sunday, at which Chris preached, followed by time spent visiting members of the congregation who were sick. On Monday we began three days of visits to the now approximately 100 hubs serviced by Fr. Diniz and eight other priests (some of whom are community ministers). On Monday we went to Tamanda and Mutaparicua, on Tuesday to Chimbilo where we celebrated the Eucharist and to Muanhenje, and on Wednesday to Nchilo, Sabelua and Geral. These are all far flung communities which Fr Diniz visits by motorcycle on extremely poor roads. At each place there was time for greeting, worship and teaching - the theme of the latter generally being on the need for the local congregation to see themselves as responsible co-workers with God. There was always some kind of meal associated with the visits, and a powerful sense of welcome. Only in one community was the delay in the visit - due to the problems with the aircraft - felt as an insult, but in this case the feeling was strong.

We also visited the local hospital in Milange, having been made aware twice this visit that people still look to Malawi for health care and that the hospital is not held in high regard. We visited the school built with help from ALMA behind the site of the church. It consists of four classrooms presently being used by secondary students with a school population of around 1,200 in three “shifts”, with over 40 specialist teaching staff. We talked to students in all four classrooms and met with the deputy Headteacher. In two years’ time the buildings are due to revert to the church when the new government secondary school is opened. We also visited the kindergarten that is now being run, very professionally, in the church on weekday mornings. On our last afternoon we led a teaching session with the clergy and their partners on marriage - focussing on preparing couples to marry, and on the issues of domestic violence and the abuse of alcohol. We spent time with Jo and Andy Beale, learning something of the community project on sanitation and personal hygiene that they are establishing.

It was a very positive experience to be with the communities in and around Milange again. Fr. Diniz is clearly an exceedingly capable leader with particular gifts in administration and teaching.

Possibilities for further development and consideration in the Milange hub include:

The use of the school buildings in two years’ time, about which there is some thought of developing church-led primary education. The feasibility of this will need exploring, but could form some aspect of our on-going partnership, with St Nicholas’ long experience of church school primary education.

In Diniz Mbenuca the church has an outstanding leader in mind and heart. Clearly his own development must be given some kind of priority. (There must also be a fear that he could burn out without sufficient care.)

Healthcare remains a concern in Milange, but how much this is highlighted by the close proximity of the Malawian border in comparison with other parts of Mozambique needs to be born in mind. It might form part of some future project, following on from the work of Jo and Andy Beale. Likewise transport remains a concern for Fr. Diniz, given the growth and spread of the church communities.

There is a Link Profile for the link between St Nicholas, Shepperton and St Simon of Cyrene, Milange