Fioretti from Zambia 2
Visiting a group of ‘bansansa’ = ‘Joyous’ I ask them: ” What did you do this week?” The answers are many: – We collected firewood, drew water, cleaned around the house and they named some elderly and disabled persons. – I prevented a fight. – How did you do this, it is not easy? – I told them: Where we love … God is present, if we do not love … God is not there! They stopped! These are the words of ‘ Ubi Caritas’, which is often sung during the liturgies. Recounting this fact to a very ‘pro latin’ cousin, I asked him … “Do you think if we had sung in Latin, it would have penetrated the boy’s heart ?” The answer was a great laugh, giving me reason! “If we love one another, God abides in us …” I Jn 4, 12 ________________________________…
Fioretti from Zambia 1
Often at night I would pray near a river close to the house, it flowed, sang, and jumped. One day at a crossroads, I met a boy of about six years, very cute. On his bare chest shone a medal. I said, “But I do not know you, what’s your name? ” Straightening and very proud, he said: “Nine Ibrahimu” “I am Abraham” What a great introduction to the beginning of these pages, this encounter with Abraham !!! I want to write about the Bible in the lives of Zambians. ____________________________ Another meeting: I was returning from the village, further down the road I see two men talking with a boy of 10 or 11 years who was returning from school. The men continue their way, the child arrives at my side, he is laughing. We greet and I tell him “you seem very…