As we have already told you, these days M. Rosa Kang and M. Wanilda Melo, both Counselors of the General Government of the Conceptionist Missionaries of Education Congregation, are visiting the African Delegation. We recently shared the chronicles with all of you with their impressions (http://www.concepcionistas.com/content/cronicas-donde-camerun). On this occasion we share with you some of their experiences through these photos of the communities of Evinayong and Bata (Equatorial Guinea). Conceptionists always nearby and accompanied!
January 26, 2022

As we have already told you, these days M. Rosa Kang and M. Wanilda Melo, both Counselors of the General Government of the Conceptionist Missionaries of Education Congregation, are visiting the African Delegation. We recently shared the chronicles with all of you with their impressions (http://www.concepcionistas.com/content/cronicas-donde-camerun). On this occasion we make you participate in some of their experiences through these photos (below)to the communities of Evinayong Y Child (Equatorial Guinea). Conceptionists always nearby and accompanied!

01/25/2019
We left Yaoundé in the community car at 5am accompanied by M. Goretti from Cameroon to Guinea. We arrived at the border at approximately 10am, however, we could not cross, as it was closed due to a bicycle race from Africa passing through the Guinea border. Nothing could be done. We headed to Cameroon customs and legalized our departure from the country, not knowing if we could enter Equatorial Guinea.
Our sisters from Guinea, Mari Luna, Paula and Nieves were already waiting for us on the other side of the border, but without being able to cross. We waited there until the cyclists passed by. After they passed they told us that they did not know what time they would open the border because the secretary had accompanied the cyclists to the next town where they would sleep.
We stood there for a long time, in the sun, witnessing all kinds of situations such as fights, prisons, attempts to cross the border... While we were there our sisters on the Guinean side tried everything to see if they could get us to cross at least so they could sleep. They were worried so, finally, we left our passport at the border and went to the house of Jesús Maria's sisters. They were already waiting for us and had a party when they received us.

01/26/2019
The next morning we went to collect our passport and returned to the border for the entry visa into Guinea and continue towards Evinayong. We took a highway that is wonderful, however, there were almost no cars passing by either on one side or the other. Next door only jungle. Awesome! The highway was ready with tolls (unfinished), but we really don't know why, since there is no movement at all.
On the way we entered a city built on a high-level city project with residential buildings, schools, a hotel village, convention centers, etc. We also entered the Afro-American University of Central Africa, which is not yet operational, but is wonderful. After visiting this city and the university, we continued our trip to Evinayong where the sisters: Verita, Martina and Patricia were waiting for us.

27/01/2019
This day, in the morning we participated in the Mass for Missionary Childhood presided over by the Bishop and concelebrated by the priests of the community and the national person responsible for Missionary Childhood.
At the end of the mass the national representative of Missionary Childhood spoke to the children, remembering the motto of Missionary Childhood: "Save children through children. The children of the world, all friends." He recalled the principles defined by the founder of Missionary Childhood, Monsignor Carlos Augusto Maria Forbin in Nanci (France) in 1843.
In the afternoon we accompanied Sister Paula on a visit to the elderly and sick. The reality is one of great poverty and we were impressed by how they are alone and are not cared for by their relatives who often live very close.

01/28/2019
The next day with Sister Mari Luna we went to the Institute that serves high school children. We witnessed the entrance of the students and the singing of the National Anthem and a formative moment when the children were told about Saint Thomas Aquinas, patron saint of secondary education. Then we visited all the rooms. We noticed that the students are very communicative and that there is serious and dedicated work from everyone.
We left to get to know a little more about the city. We went to the top of the city, where a hospital is located, and there we saw the sisters' first residence. We passed by the prison that is central in Guinea and is the place where political prisoners are detained.
We also visited a Convention Center built 7 years ago, to a high standard and with all the technology, amphitheater, meeting rooms, simultaneous translation rooms, restaurant, cafeteria, waiting rooms, escalator, elevators, fully equipped kitchen, etc., but which is not yet working.

29/01/2019
After the common community activities we went to the nursery and primary school to learn a little about the work that is done. We participated in the welcome moment for the preschool and primary school students and visited all the classes. We also accompanied Sister Vérita in the prayer meeting with the children and visited the computer room.
In the afternoon we saw Sister Paula's work with the students who did crochet and cross stitch.

DAY 01/30/2019 TRIP TO BATA
We left for Bata stopping in Mongomo, capital of the province, Seat of the Bishopric and place of origin of the current president. The city is small, but it has impressive works such as the Basilica of the Immaculate Conception, an architectural work that impresses with its format, size and luxury. The Basilica was built according to the style of European cathedrals, with all luxury and detail and the place reserved for the president and his wife stands out. It looks like a mini Vatican with its colonnades. In addition to the sanctuary there is a marvelous work that is the See of the bishopric with its gardens and rooms.
Behind it is another work, the Episcopal Residence. The bishop is a Claretian, Juan Domingo, former chaplain of our community of Bata. We continued our trip going to Nkué where we learned about one of the first works of the Claretians for children and young people. In the town, students from various schools were taking a walk for peace and non-violence. We also visited the chapel of the Salesian Sisters.

01/31/2019
In the morning, we witnessed a reception by the students who also celebrated the day of Peace and non-violence. We attended various presentations from children from 3 years old to those older than 6 years, including traditional dance and others that the students presented very well. We took the opportunity to walk around and get to know a little more about the city along the promenade and in the afternoon we participated in Mass in the cathedral.

02/01/2019
We dedicated this day to learning more about the school and its facilities. We went through all the classes to learn more about how the school works and how it is organized. We had the opportunity to see the resources they use for education. We learned about the telephone project: PRO FUTURO, which we thought could help a lot in the training of children and in fact they use it.

Day 02/02/2019
It was the day of consecrated life and we celebrated it with all the religious at the 12 noon mass in the cathedral presided over by the Bishop. As soon as it finished we went, with the entire community, to a restaurant on the edge of the beach and we ate a tasty paella. We took advantage of the entire afternoon in that wonderful place. We really enjoyed the company of our three sisters from the community: Esperanza (Nsimba), Nieves and Lucrecia. On the way back home we took a walk to see the city.

M. Rosa Kang y M. Wanilda Melo Barbara.

January 26, 2022

January 26, 2022