Dear Friends, here we are today
45 years of my first missionary with the Comboni . I have no regrets. The mission is my vocation and fills my life, even if here in Mungbere, that was my first love (I arrived on January 3 '73), I find it a bit 'limited. We live in isolation: in the car I can do 20 km on the right and left, to meet a few pygmies and most of them located in the forest, which is not reachable by car, although there is the road.
This calls for the need to repair a hole and some thirty large deck 
tree trunks, to make it possible to travel by car, since my back made me no longer possible to travel by motorcycle. You can not do a ministry among the pygmies by telegraph or radio: you meet people personally. Certainly there are some helpers (Basaleli ya Bambote) for this service ... but the current long-distance does not reach there with the same power! We trust that the Lord will grow, what we sow, and we will release the "road" also is physically able to "live with the pygmies" as a neighbor and brother. (first project road).
The 26/08/10 I arrived by plane (a small wheel: we two passengers and two pilots + 400 kg of medicines for the hospital) on track Mungbere. As once a mass of people to the streets to see the train coming (Mungbere is called " nsuka na rail " = end of rail - no longer exists!), So now, just heard the sound of ' air flows on either side of the small track to see the show. A car of the mission ahead, and of course the immigration officials. We will warm your heart by putting your feet on the ground: home at last! But then I saw you shaking the poverty of those, great and small, that come to embrace you with a smile. We're glad you're back and you'll be among us.
Even before the Provincial, with whom I traveled, has the last word on my change of venue, from Maboma to Mungbere , the tam-tam of the forest has already announced that "Frank is a Mungbere. Pygmies are happy. How I have succeeded in the commitment (since 1998 I left to go to M'bere Wamba) continued a good job: so many pygmies working in the mission, other buildings were added to an organization ... "industrial" lock-out, driving all activities ... . I feel a bit 'confused, compared to the way I do, almost in the manner of pygmies, one day after another! I find a mechanism that forces you to pull or push on and on. It is not that Wamba as head of the diocesan pygmies and a territory three times the size of Sicily! I was not accustomed to these revolutions forced, for which the program was the Lord, saying: "in recent months banned sick!" not for nothing that I had stuck the name "Rambo." But now I have calmed down the "rage" and makes you Other programs, has made his will.
Meanwhile in recent days have passed since the young students of the school M'bere Secondary Bayenga: in droves. A first group of 14, then a loner, then seven other students lagging behind. Some have already done 150 km on foot to M'bere, and they still remain a further 140 km Bayenga, we gave him a ride in the car to where you could reach (15 km just to Maboma) - was only for encouragement! I do not know who in Italy is able to "try it" to go to school.
Two finalists pygmies graduates: a young ( EKAKA ) wants to continue his studies (Law-Law) University; a girl ( CHANTAL ) wants to deal with the ITM (advanced course for nurses-e).
First to Kisangani, the other at Pawa. How to do without the economic resources to support? 
I would like you to launch the initiative ADOPTION for these two "universities" are not with me. Must attend and live in cities (Kisangani-Isiro-Butembo or Pawa), very far from their villages. Should dress them, feed them and supporting the taxes / etc and the home school books. Roughly $ 200 per month and $ 600 of annual fees, plus travel, therefore a total of about 3,000 € for one year for the young man who goes to Kisangani and 2,000 € for the girl to Pawa ($ 250 and $ 180 per month).
- (Second project: universities for the pygmies) - These young people are the fruits of 25 years of work, we can not leave them half way! I trust in your generosity. Soon after, here comes the pygmy children of the College of Bakanja Mungbere ("Campus Bakanja"): a group attends a new elementary school (EPComboni) created as an alternative to public school, which no longer works (in minimum wages and delay exploitation of children with farm work and other, little effort in teaching). The second largest group enrolled in primary school Bakanja created for the Pygmies (but frequented by pygmies and Bantu, to accustom them from childhood to the brotherhood and mutual respect). In all, 57 pupils pygmies interior, but in the parish, with classes in the forest, we reach over 350 students in 16 classes pygmies. Certainly in the years ahead, we will increase the number of pupils pygmies interiors, because for the moment does not satisfy me the result of the beginning year (2010/11) with just 2 in the sixth, 6 fifth and fourth in the fourth, the others being third and second grade. Too few like progress! you have to be more close to them to accompany them, I would say, en masse, to the success, at least for the Certificate of Primary. Whereas before the beginning of this activity among the pygmies, to recover, we had boys and girls "big" in the second and third, now in sixth are still "small"! because their parents have become aware of the pygmies of the school. Sometimes what is missing is the discipline and perseverance ... but keep it in mind this aspect to enhance the results and training. I think this is possible.
(third project: taking a student at the Campus Bakanja , € 20 per month). The parish of Mungbere has grown, not only residents but also as a quality Christian commitment: The first time I celebrated Mass there - during the week - there were hundreds of catechists in session for ten days and at least 400 people , and communion at least two hundred people! You open your heart. Thanks to a family of Monreale (PA) and with his help has allowed us to expand the church. The situation is "desperate" in the country is unable to turn off the "hope" in WHO "has overcome the world."
That 's what sustains us to continue our missionary work among the poorest.
Thank you for your sharing and solidarity so that we can strengthen this "hope" in the poor.
your p. Franko
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