ALMA
ALMA (Angola, London and Mozambique Association) is the Diocese of London’s companion link with the Anglican Church in Angola and Mozambique, and part of the network of Companion Link Dioceses throughout the Anglican Communion.
ASH has had a linked church in Nacala-Porto since 2001, called Todos os Santos - which also means All Saints!
Communication in the early years was not easy, but we heard that the church compound needed a surrounding wall as a defence against mudslides following torrential rain. After some fundraising we were able to send a cheque for £5000 to pay for that project.
In 2007 Richard and Bobbie Ennals visited the church and its connected school. They were very encouraged by how active the life of Todos os Santos was and how engaged they were with the needs of their local community. You can read the write up of that visit on the ALMA website.
Recent update from Father Diniz Mbenuca
The Church of All Saints in Nacala is doing a lot of work: we have expanded the parish, there is a good atmosphere for prayer and visits to distant chapels; we have finished and painted the church, we have rehabilitated the pastoral house.
The plans are to raise the compound wall to protect the Church from erosion, rehabilitate the toilets and, next year we will begin the process of building our big Church.
At All Saints Anglican School of Nacala, we are implementing a payment scheme for each student to pay for water and electricity, and cleaning, but we still have difficulties due to the lack of classrooms. We also need to improve the toilets for the students and teachers, and deal with the erosion in the schoolyard which is used for the students’ recreation.