[Susanna]

My sister was in Mozambique when the communists took over. The local people were elated that they were being released from the oppressive Portuguese rule, and they didn't understand why the missionaries were so concerned about the communist takeover. Some of the communist leaders came to their community to "organize" them. My sister went to the organization meeting in response to the pleadings of some of her local friends. One of the things they were required to do was to elect a community "political officer." They elected my sister! She declined, saying that the mission organization she was under did not permit the missionaries to become involved in local politics. When they kept insisting, that she was not even a citizen of the country. The official response was, "In the Frelimo, it is not permitted to refuse." I can't remember what "Frelimo" means, I think it's a contraction of 3 words, and I've heard it, but don't remember.

Well, within a day or two, she and the other missionaries still left there were evacuated from the country, so it became moot. One missionary family was out of the country at the time (having a baby), and they couldn't go back and retrieve their belongings.