MISSION POST ¾ For almost 40 years (between 1961 to 2002) Angolans were caught up in war. Some of the fiercest fighting took place around Huambo, where Victorina lives. The war killed a half million people and destroyed government buildings, hospitals, and many schools in the country. ¾ The regions closest to the fighting had no electricity, no running water, and often no food. People flocked to the churches for protection and hope; during this time the Adventist Church grew to be one of the largest denominations in the country. ¾ Pray that now that peace has come, people will continue to turn to God.
CENTRAL AND SOUTHERN ANGOLA
The Showdown My husband became distant, refusing to eat what I cooked and refusing to let me sleep in our room. I obeyed in every point I could, but I refused to give up worshipping on the Sabbath. Then one Friday evening I returned home from church to find that he had locked me out of the house. I crawled into the children’s window and slept on the floor. When he realized I was in the children’s bedroom, he beat me and sent me out of the house. “I have found another woman,” he said. “Get out.” On Sabbath morning I went to the church. I stayed all day. After sunset I returned home and slept in the children’s room. Early Sunday morning
I gathered my things and went to my husband’s brother. I told him that my husband had beaten me once too often. I was leaving for good. I stayed with my son, who by this time was living on his own. Eventually my children joined me, for they couldn’t stand living in their father’s home any longer. Now I am at peace. Three of my children have followed me into the Adventist Church. I hope that all of them will eventually become Adventists, but I know it must be their decision, just as my own faith was my decision. Please pray for my family, for my children, and even for my husband, that they will follow Jesus while they can. And this Thirteenth Sabbath I pray you will give a large offering to help our church in my country, Angola, rebuild its schools so that children can learn about God even when they are small. Thank you. à
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but he would mess it up so the children couldn’t attend church with me. One Sabbath my husband came to church and asked for me. I didn’t go out until church ended. Then he pulled out a stick and beat me. When someone rescued me, he turned the stick on the pastor. I fled to another province and stayed with my brother. My husband begged me to return home and care for him and the children. But when I returned home, people from my husband’s church began visiting. They urged me to obey my husband and return to his church. I told them, “If I obey my husband, I would have to disobey God. How can I betray God and worship on Sunday?” Some of the church members told me that if I refused to obey my husband, they would find another wife for him. This shocked me, for I realized I might have to choose between my family and God’s will.
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