Memories of our trip to Angola

Our time of service as the Responsible Couple for the International Leading Team (ERI) has come to an end. Throughout all our years of service, the Lord has been very generous and we have received many gifts from Him in the form of numerous encounters with Team members from different parts of the world. We can say that these gifts are unending because we really consider our trip to Angola in late March as a great, great gift. We travelled to meet and get to know our African brothers and sisters with the Responsible Couple for the Portugal Super Region, Isabel & Paulo Amaral, the Spiritual Counsellor, Father Armindo Vaz, and those responsible for the Youth Teams of Our Lady, Martha and José.
This trip had been postponed a couple a times because of visa problems. We eventually left, but were a bit worried about the numerous and tiresome mosquitoes, who in the end were actually ‘very nice' inasmuch as they hardly showed their faces!
We visited two towns, the capital Luanda and Caxito, where the amount of Teams is the highest. We were very warmly and affectionately welcomed and were made to feel "at home" everywhere we went. Indeed, by the end of our trip we had adopted local dress!
This was the first time, since the birth of the Teams of Our Lady movement in Angola, that a couple from the International Leading Team had visited the country and for this reason, we were received officially by the bishops in place: Monsignor Franklin, Kahango, Ferreira Lopes and by Cardinal Alexandre do Nascimento. They spoke to us about the Church and the challenges it faces in Africa and in Angola. However, what we took away with us was rather the joy that the couples showed in having us amongst them. Their songs and dances that met us upon our arrival made us feel that we were expected and loved.
Our visit to the sanctuary of Mama Muxima, (means Mother Heart in Kimbundu, a Northern Angola language), was a highpoint as we all prayed and sang the Song of Mary (Magnificat) for everyone-for those present and in union with all Team members throughout the world.
One of the goals of this trip was put in place two training days for couples to learn about what the service of Sector and Regional Responsible Couples involved. We were very impressed by the commitment and enthousiasm of those couples who attended.
The extensive development of the Movement in Angola in the past few years is certainly due to the great commitment of all Team members who spread the word. It seems obvious that when someone believes in something, they communicate it with enthousiasm to others. And this is precisely what we saw in Angola. The rapid development of the Movement has also brought with it its share of disorganization and instability of the Teams, but our Angolan brothers are ironing out these challenges with passion and humility. They are also learning from the older Regions and Super Regions as well as placing their confidence in Cristina & Joao Baptista Makenengo, the Regional Couple of the Province.
Our meeting with numerous Team members and with some Spiritual Counsellors, true missionaries of the Good News, meant that this trip was became a celebration of friendship and fraternity which enriched us and for which, once again, we can say our Magnificat to the Lord.

Maria Carla e Carlo Volpini