The pearl at the highest area of Inhambane

22. May 2025 at 05:39:

This Monday Gertrud, Toni, Moises, Gildo and me, originally went to Inhambane from another intuition, but this appointment was canceled. At short notice whereupon we drove to this church, parked the car and entered the cultural heritage. The church is empty, a ship in skeleton form casts new stories on.

The pungent smell indicates that people may be relieving themselves here and the only light flows through the broken roof…

Red marking: the roof devastated by the weather

Yellow marking the open door

22. May 2025 at 05:51:

In order to protect the interior of the church, an immediate need for action is required. We decide to repair the roof in two stages.

For the time being, we protect the church with a temporary protection.

After that, the roof is properly renewed

Seen from the inside, one side is already exposed to the weather

22. May 2025 at 05:57:

We find a pather who explains the next steps for our protection-Mission

The other side is damp but not open

22. May 2025 at 06:00:

Among other things, it is demanded that the church be kept in its original state and the same material should be used.

For the renew-Mission a matter of course.

For the protection-mission we have to clearify to use as well more simply material to get forward.

Not only is the wooden seats missing, but also the wood of this almost invisible ship is missing…

22. May 2025 at 06:03:

So Moises already wrote a corresponding letter the day before yesterday to protect the interior of the church to the homeland protection. So we are waiting for an answer at the moment.

The robust door makes it seem that the church is safe at night, but it is not lockable as well as the side entrance

22. May 2025 at 06:05:

Meanwhile, Gildo, our master builder, calculates the price for the temporary repair of the roof.

Whereby the protection of construction workers is in the foreground

22. May 2025 at 06:14:

At first glance, all this has little to do with sources. But on closer inspection, we also direct the water to where it belongs...

26. May 2025 at 10:58:

I get a photo with the note: „that’s the name of the church…“

Which roughly translates to:

CATHEDRAL OF OUR LADY OF CONCEPTION OF INHAMBANE

26. May 2025 at 11:05:

Meanwhile, the price for the Instand setting of the roof without scaffolding is known. We will not take our own protective measures for the time being, but will repair the roof directly…

My friend Thomas will soon announce the price for the scaffolding and the safety precautions, after which we will receive the necessary funds and finally get started. The time is ripe to keep the church dry.

We came across this picture just before our meeting at the heritage preservation office.

description left:

Church rebuilt in 1886

(note the stately building to the right of the church)

right:

Raised tower in 1930 to place the clock, offer of sara menet, widow of henri menet, of Swiss nationality

June 4, 2025, 11:54 AM – I'm sitting with Moisés at the community hall in Inhambane, waiting to present our project to the city’s president. The meeting was originally set for 9 AM, and since then, we've been led from one place to another to explain our mission. I'm tired of just talking—I'm ready to act…

We came across this picture just before our meeting at the heritage preservation office.

June 4, 2025, 11:57 AM –

I'd like to thank the local "Alice in Wonderland." She approached Moisés in Portuguese, asked about our mission, and said:

“You need documents and drawings — just talking won’t do; otherwise, the process will be delayed even further.”

Above us in the waiting room hangs a large city map showing all the sights — each one marked with a small hand-drawn sketch.

June 4, 2025, 12:04 AM –

Even though I don’t understand Portuguese — let alone speak it — I somehow feel that we need a plan. The image behind us comes to mind. I take a photo of it, draw a few red lines using my phone’s edit function, send the images to Moisés, and ask him to print them out.

And then, there was light at the end of the tunnel…

June 4, 2025, 12:55 AM –

I enter the meeting — at least ten people are seated. At the head of the table sits the president, surrounded by representatives from various departments: construction, infrastructure, military, and more.

After a brief introduction of myself and our mission, I sense resistance. Three departments attempt to impose conditions — one of them concerning the plan. When I present the document with the single drawing, they say, “That’s not enough. These are just photos.”

I respond truthfully:

**“It’s a hand-drawn plan.”**

Surprisingly, the requirements turn out to be in our favor. We're not officially responsible for the restoration of the church — meaning, if anything happens, we’re not directly accountable. However, the workers, installers, and the “plan” will be provided by us.

The other conditions always started with:

**“We appreciate your commitment, but …”**

I’ll recall the details of those later.

As we leave the meeting, my translator says:

**“You did well. I know these people — they’re just after your money. They have no real intention of restoring the church or anything else.”**

We will start tomorow 8am

Have you ever asked someone you don’t even know for 75,000 — just like that, over WhatsApp?

And so, I guess I’m the most curious of all to see what happens when this timer runs out…

It’s now at 81h…

5. June 2025:

Yes, today we finally got started. First the cleaning, then the doors…

A big bunch comes together…

...But the cleaning is worth it...!

Good mood rules

06. June 2025 07:50

In retrospect, I must say the entire approval process turned out to be quite efficient, especially considering the number of authorities and people involved.

For instance, we were able to present our case to all city officials at once within just about 15 minutes.

They could ask questions and share their requests immediately.

In Western countries, dealing with so many departments would’ve definitely taken much longer.

11. June 06:06

The countdown had expired, and last Sunday I finally received an answer to my question about whether the matter was now resolved...

I’m not to answer for the time being

11. June 06:08

Yesterday, as we were about to replace the door, the pastor showed up and was furious about our work.

He immediately demanded money from the workers...

Following his request, they removed the new door and reinstalled the old one.

I sent the confused three workers money for a beer and told them they could head home.

From bottom to top

11. June 06:12

When Moises showed up at my place last night, I could see he was deeply confused and disappointed.

I tried to explain to him that there's always a way — and that it's not his responsibility to find it alone.

Photographed last week:

The name of the new church

11. June 06:30

Last night before dinner, I found myself wondering what the purpose of this whole situation could be…

Another door of the new church with the name:

„CATEDRAL DE NOSSA SENHORA DA CONCEIÇÃO DE INHAMBANE“

11. June 06:37

During dinner, I heard the answer:

The church needs a new name — and this is the way to receive it.

Because the old and the new church have the same name…:

IGREJA VELHA Nossa Senhora da Conceição

Only difference „velha“ so „old“ what became real…

11. June 06:44

Right now, the name that comes to mind is:

"Igreja do Refresco da Alma" — which means "Church of Soul Refreshment."

Interestingly, the word *refresco* here also implies a gift, a bribe, or a form of compensation.

And so everything has a deeper meaning

11. June 13:13

Today I went to the Municipal Office to collect the meeting protocol with the president. First, however, I stopped by the Department of Heritage and Culture.

There, an employee named Moises told me right away to return tomorrow at 9:00 a.m. so we could talk with the church together.

I agreed and asked the friendly colleague if they could accompany me to the Municipal Office. They kindly accepted, and we walked there together.

On the way, they made a few phone calls and finally told me that I would also receive the documents tomorrow, when we’ll settle all the remaining details…

So Tomorrow… ☺️

In the waiting room of the cathedral’s parish house, I discover a drawing from the year 1972

12. June 25 16:16

Yes, tomorrow – at least it's next week this time…

The delay caused by our own construction work at home is yet another reminder: there's no point in rushing. Just as I leave the house, Moisés tells me he's at the hospital because his pregnant wife is having stomach problems…

And so I arrive for the first time at Inhambane's largest hospital. The building where Julia is staying was renovated in 1947.

13. June 2025 06:13

The main hospital is vast and warmly designed, with lots of greenery between the single-story buildings and small roads connecting them.

However, it's been a long time since any sustainable maintenance was done…

After nearly two hours of waiting, Moisés decides to head to the church. It's just before noon.

A city map is also displayed in the waiting room — its date remains unknown.

Fr. 13th June 2025 06:51

After our conversation with the local pastor, there’s something concrete this time:

We head to the tourism office and draft a document outlining the church work, the rights and duties of all parties involved, and of course, the confirmation — to be signed by both the president and the bishop.

We also prepare a second document answering several questions the bishop posed to Afrosource — or to me personally.

This document will be sent directly to the church and serves as a reference for the bishop ahead of the audience.

The first document is set to be signed on Monday, after the meeting with the bishop.

I'm curious to see how it unfolds.

The appointment ends at sunset, and we head back to the hospital.

+++ zoom in ---

16. June 2025 18:12

Since the bishop still hasn't responded, we visited the pastor again. He said the bishop would get in touch today or tomorrow. I told the pastor we'd stop by again tomorrow, and that we’ll start the work on Wednesday — with or without a prior meeting.

17. June 2025 15:50

I’m sitting under the big tree in front of the church and wondering if I really want to go to Pastor Hortencio again today...