In
his Christmas circular, Philippe ALIN tells of some of the issues the
mission is facing.
We
are challenged by Hope, in the North as well as in the South. Here in
the South, and especially in Chad, the present and the future are at
risk by so many problems.
- Trees
are being uprooted, so precious up till now, in order to extract
laterite.
- An
agreement signed with the Chinese by the Prime Minister has been
annulled by the President.
- A
presidential decree decides to suddenly increase the minimum wage by
110%: is there confusion between 10% and 110%? The employees
obviously need the 110%
- The
exercise of justice is also a big joke where money is king. How much
is a judge paid to make an unfair ruling?
- We
imprisoned innocent people who came forward to testify in the dark
tale of the murder of a village chief. Ten of them died of
asphyxiation in the small dungeon where they were locked.
- A
member of parliament protests against such acts; then he is charged
for defamation of the State, after his parliamentary immunity is
revoked. A frame-up against an opponent…
All
of this is very depressing for the Chadians since they feel that
their country is going down the drain. The rule of law is gradually
disappearing. Everyone is suspicious of everyone else. Our Justice
and Peace Committee denounces all these things in its newspaper; so
far, it has not been questioned.
At
Torrock, I just turned the parish over to two Burundian religious,
young and full of get up and go. Two Togolese nuns, active and close
to the people, just arrived as well. They have all begun to study the
Moundang language and are joyfully beginning in this world that is so
new to them.
It
was time for them to come since I could no longer provide. I have had
one bout of malaria after another. And the influx of young people and
women is constant: again more than 600 newcomers this year and 500
catechumens will be baptized at Easter. The daily Mass at 5:30 a.m.
gathers about a hundred Christians! There are not enough hosts!
The
question remains, nevertheless: how does their faith change their
behavior and their lives? And what new life style do they bring to
this “world” of generalized deception? The big concern for the
young team will be the animation of this multitude and its
accompaniment.
At
Torrock, there is a surplus of crops. Many people are getting
organized: groups and communities are stockpiling grain; they are
renting bins for it. That’s something new….bravo! (Audacieux
pour l’Évangile,
April 2012)
