They sit, poring over their bibles, like figures from the past. But today's missionaries have had to move with times - adapting to the immense dangers in war-ravaged modern Africa. What motivates these quiet, ageing folk to travel to some of the most inhospitable parts of the globe, to treat terrible diseases like leprosy, to help those most in need? Is there an argument for "civilising" Africans? Do they really need to live in brick houses? Whatever your religion, it's hard not to be impressed by these brave foot-soldiers of God.

Meet three Portuguese missionaries who took up the challenge. Father Alfredo lives in Dondo, a village in the north of the Democratic Republic of Congo. The village has seen attack from all sides - from anti-Mobuto and anti-Kabila guerrillas. Today, it's rebel territory, under the command of Jean-Pierre Bemba, an eloquent businessman who voices the concerns of many Congolese. "Kabila´s regime was supposed to replace an unjust dictatorial regime, but the people still have nothing. This is a failure of the system and gave me the willpower to create a revolution". In Bemba's territory they have done away with curfews, roadblocks and stealing. 61 year old Alfredo has heard it all before, from leaders who promised democracy, but delivered oppression.

Father Claudino also lives in the DRC, in the eastern village of Bambilo. He and his colleagues are the first white men ever to inhabit the region. Like every missionary arriving in a new place, he built a basic medical centre and school. In his health centre injections, tooth extractions and circumcisions are the main sources of income for the two nurses. In his pharmacy, Claudino laments the dwindling stocks of medicine left by Medecins Sans Frontiers. "Funnily enough there are a lot of condoms", he quips, "people don't like them much". The missionaries unravel the day to day problems of a people scarred by war, showing remarkable kindness and patience. One boy is terminally ill and was rejected by his family. Claudino wipes away his tears and carries him to shelter. The roads and bridges built in colonial times have been destroyed by time and war. But the irony is that DRC is not a poor country. In the markets sit dealers of gold and diamonds, next to their scales. They say there's plenty around.

Sister Dorinda lives in Marial Lou, a village in Southern Sudan, under the control of the Christian SPLA rebels. The village is a safe haven for those who have fled forced conversion to Islam in the north. Here there is no gold, no diamonds. Why does this grey-haired 50 year -old woman do it? "Happiness is when we feel that someone needs us and that we can help them. So, it's not to run away from problems but to face life with other people." But with no other healthcare provision in the region Dorinda's medical centre soon became a large hospital, flooded with terminally ill TB sufferers. On the brighter side, her little school is now crammed with 650 eager pupils, mostly boys. "Educate your girls", she beseeches them, "it will be best for your families". She rations salt, soap and Kerosene and understands the delicate tribal structure, where the starving Dinka would rather keep their cattle for trading in marriage, than eat them. It's difficult to break these traditions, she says.

The missionaries know there are plenty of reasons why people are coming to mass, almost all of them legitimate although not necessarily Catholic. It's more likely the food and medical attention they offer which is their appeal, rather than their religious and moral teaching. But theirs is a calling. Father Claudino recalls acting as a human shield for two refugees who were to be killed by an angry mob. "It was when my blood was pouring over them that I realised, it was the highest point of my vocation, of my missionary life, and I had a blood alliance with this land".

Produced by SIC TV