By Fr Joseph Panabang SVD
Photo Opportunity
Fr. Victor, SVD and our parish priest in Kintampo informed me that a certain Belgian, Mr. Leo took their picture to send to benefactors in Belgium. I said, “Tell Mr. Leo to send my picture instead. It will be more effective since I look thinner and more pitiful.
Which is Heavier?
We reached the Yara River and it was neck deep. Then I addressed this question to the group, “Which is lighter to carry, the car or myself?” “You, of course, Father” they replied. “Then, carry me over the river and we shall leave the car here.” I said to their chagrin Not only King Solomon is wise.
Original Ingredient
I was resting in the village after learning a new local language. at the same time, I was watching a mother with her baby on her lap stirring with her hand the fufu (boiled yam) in a mortar. Suddenly the baby boy urinated and like a fountain the urine went straight into the fufu. The mother simply removed the part which got wet with the urine and continued mixing the fufu. Since then I always have an uneasy feeling everytime I’m offered fufu.
The Danger Cap
At the palace of the chief, I was fascinated by one man belonging to the royal family who was always proudly wearing his yellow miner cap even outside the house. The chief requested him to remove it because the priest is in the group. “Precisely, it is a danger cap,” the man replied before he respectfully took it off to the laughter of the crowd.
A Tale of Parasites
Bro. John Heckel, SVD finds it always difficult to convince the village people that guinea worm are contracted by drinking dirty water. Despite his clear demonstration, the people still believe that guinea worms come from the evil spirits. Learning from the nurses’ experiences in the rural areas, he also accepted the people belief but added something which the nurses did not: that this evil spirits places the worms in the river or any stream so that when you drink the water, you take the worms. But if we dig a borehole and cover it, the evil spirit cannot go and spread the worms in the water. That settled once and for all what was once an insurmountable problem all over Ghana. With boreholes everywhere, guinea worm is indeed on the wane. Working in the mission, at times it is wise to build on people’s beliefs and convince them from within.
I Shall Retaliate!
A Holy Ghost seminarian studying in Zaire (now called democratic Republic of Congo) came home to Kintampo for his vacation. At breakfast he shared this story. Idi Amin, former president of Uganda, was invited by the Queen of England. After dinner he said. “Thank you, thank very much, indeed. When you come to my country, I shall retaliate”.