The Mystery Of Manna: Angola's Scientific Exploration

In the Namba Adventist Mission in Angola, it is believed that manna – a substance with nutritional value – has fallen from the sky on several occasions. This phenomenon has been reported by several eyewitnesses and has been a topic of interest for scientists and religious scholars alike. The manna is described as a white, sweet substance, resembling coriander-like seeds, and is said to fall mainly on Wednesdays and Fridays, providing food for the local community. Laboratory tests have been conducted on the substance, with results indicating that it consists mostly of sugars and small amounts of nitrogen compounds and metallic elements. While some may attribute the manna to divine intervention, scientists continue to study and seek explanations for its appearance, with some suggesting natural phenomena such as whirlwinds or tornados as potential causes.

The Namba Mission in Angola is known for its falling of manna

The Namba Mission in Angola is one of the pioneering mission stations of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. It is situated 180 kilometres north of Huambo city, in the Kuanza-Sul Province. The mission was founded in 1928 by James Delmes Baker, an American Adventist missionary to Africa.

The Namba Mission is known for its falling of manna, which is said to have first occurred in 1939. According to reports, the area experienced a severe drought that year, and the inhabitants began to suffer from famine. The native mission director's wife gathered the community in prayer and reminded them of God's promise to send manna, as He had done for the Israelites in the time of Moses. At the end of their prayer, her five-year-old daughter went outside and found a substance that looked like popcorn. The girl told her mother that six European men had told her it was manna sent by God, and that she could eat it. The community members then went out and gathered large quantities of this substance, which tasted like wafers and honey. Laboratory tests later confirmed that the substance consisted mostly of sugars and could be a source of nutrients for the human diet.

The falling of manna at the Namba Mission is said to continue to this day, occurring on Wednesdays and Fridays. The phenomenon has been a source of wonder and faith for many, and it stands as a testament to the power of prayer and God's willingness to provide for His people.

The manna is believed to be sent by God in answer to the prayers of a community

The Namba Mission in Angola is a Seventh-day Adventist Church in the central region of Angola, known for its falling of manna. The mission was founded in 1928 by James Delmes Baker, an American Adventist missionary to Africa.

In 1939, the Namba area experienced a severe drought, and the inhabitants of that area began to suffer from famine. The native mission director's wife called the community to join her in prayer for a solution. She read from the Bible about the manna which God sent to the Israelites in the time of Moses and assured them that God could send them food in the same way.

After the prayer, her five-year-old daughter went outside and saw a white substance that looked like popcorn. She ate some of it and brought it back into the house. Her mother asked what she was eating, and the girl replied that she had seen six European men who told her, "The Lord has answered your prayer and has sent you manna; take it up and eat it." When the mother and the other community members went outside, the men had disappeared, but they found the ground covered with the white substance. They gathered large quantities of this food, which tasted like wafers and honey, and their lives were sustained until other food could be obtained.

Laboratory tests were carried out on a sample of the substance, and it was found to consist mostly of sugars, as well as small amounts of nitrogen compounds and oxides of metallic elements suitable for food. The study concluded that the food could be a source of nutrients for the human diet.

To this day, it is reported that manna continues to fall on Wednesdays and Fridays, and people gather and eat it. The falling of manna at the Namba Mission is seen as a miracle and a sign of God's providence and answer to the prayers of the community.

The manna is described as a white substance, tasting like wafers and honey

The manna that fell in Angola in 1939 is described as a white substance, tasting like wafers and honey. It is said to have resembled coriander seeds and was found scattered across many acres of land. The taste has been described as "remarkable sweetness" and a "complete food in itself". Laboratory tests carried out on a sample of the substance at Unicamp revealed that it consisted mostly of sugars, as well as small amounts of nitrogen compounds and oxides of metallic elements suitable for food.

The description of the manna in Angola aligns with the biblical description of manna in Exodus 16:31, which states that manna was "white like coriander seed, and it tasted like honey wafers." Manna is also described in the Bible as a fine, flaky substance that covered the ground like frost.

The manna in Angola is believed to be a divine miracle, sent by God in answer to the prayers of a Christian community facing famine. This event is seen as evidence of God's willingness and ability to answer prayers and provide for His people, just as He did for the Israelites in the wilderness.

The phenomenon of manna falling from the sky is not unique to Angola and has been reported in other parts of the world, including the Middle East and Turkey. Scientists have offered various natural explanations for the occurrence of manna, including excretions of insects living on desert shrubs and lichen transported by tornados.

It is said that the manna does not fall on Sabbath days

The Bible states that manna, a bread-like substance that fell from heaven, was not to be gathered on the Sabbath day. In Exodus 16:26-27, it is written: "Six days you shall gather it; but on the seventh day, which is the sabbath, in it there shall be none". This rule was also reiterated by Torrey's Topical Textbook.

The story of the manna and the Sabbath is also mentioned in the context of the Namba Mission in Angola, a pioneering mission station of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. In 1939, the area experienced a severe drought, and the inhabitants began to suffer from famine. The community gathered in prayer, led by the director's wife, who told them about the manna that God sent to His people in the time of Moses. After the prayer, the director's young daughter went outside and found a white substance that looked like popcorn. She said that six European men had told her that God had answered their prayers and sent them manna to eat. The community gathered and ate the manna, and it continued to fall on Wednesdays and Fridays.

The story of the manna at Namba Mission is similar to the Biblical account of the Israelites in the wilderness. In both cases, the manna was provided by God as a way to meet a physical need and to teach the people to trust and obey Him. The Israelites were instructed to gather twice as much manna on the sixth day so that they would not have to work for their food on the Sabbath. This rule about gathering manna also taught the Israelites to respect the Sabbath and to understand that God's blessing rests upon those who keep it.

The manna is believed to turn bitter if someone in the village commits a sin

The belief that manna turns bitter when someone in the village commits a sin is a long-held tradition among the people of the Namba Adventist Mission in Angola. This belief is based on the biblical story of manna, an edible substance provided by God to the Israelites during their travels in the desert. According to the Book of Exodus, manna is described as a "fine, flake-like thing" that had to be collected before it melted in the heat of the sun. It is said to taste like wafers made with honey.

In the case of the Namba Adventist Mission, the story of manna is intertwined with the history of the mission itself. Founded in 1928 by an American Adventist missionary, James Delmes Baker, the mission includes a school, a church, and a medical dispensary. The mission has experienced periods of destruction and renewal due to the Angolan civil war. One of the interesting phenomena associated with the mission is the story of falling manna.

The first reported occurrence of manna falling at the Namba Adventist Mission took place in 1939 during a severe drought that led to famine in the area. The wife of the native mission director gathered the community in prayer and reminded them of the biblical story of manna. After their prayer, her young daughter went outside and returned with her hands filled with a white substance that she was eating. The girl reported seeing six European men who told her that God had answered their prayers and sent them manna to eat. When the community members went out, they found many acres of the ground covered with this white substance, which they gathered and ate.

Since this initial occurrence, manna has continued to fall at the Namba Adventist Mission, particularly on Wednesdays and Fridays. It is believed that the manna turns bitter if someone in the village commits a sin. This belief is based on the idea that the manna is a gift from God and that it reflects the spiritual state of the community. If there is sin or spiritual discord within the congregation, the manna is believed to turn bitter as a sign of God's displeasure.

This belief in the connection between the manna and the spiritual standing of the community is a strong part of the faith and traditions of the Namba Adventist Mission. It serves as a reminder of the biblical story of manna and the importance of maintaining a righteous relationship with God.

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