By Fr. Joseph D. Panabang SVD

Unworthy Vehicles

In Ghana you have to register your car every year at the Ministry of Transportation for road worthiness. After I registered they asked me to pay four thousand “cedis” (local money). I complained that it was too expensive. But they assured me the money was for road repair, to which I replied, “The road may soon be worthy but the cars would not.” At this the fierce looking face of the registrar melted into a smile like clouds giving way to the rising sun.

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Amen Amen

Portor is one of my Konkomba villages. After Mass one New Year, I instructed my congregation, “Bow down your heads for God’s blessings. For every blessing, you say Amen. Now I am giving you the New Year’s Blessing.”

“Amen,” came the immediate response, before I could even start.

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Healing the Physician

At the consultation room in Nkawkaw Hospital run by the Holy Spirit Sisters I ran into a Ghanaian Brother. “Why are you here Father?” he asked surprised.

“I am checking if the doctor is well,” I answered as the Brother rocked with laughter and made his way to the end of the waiting line.

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Japanese Lanterns

My laboratory test showed I had worms scientifically called Trichuris trichiurae, commonly known as Japanese lanterns. “But I’ve never been to Japan,” I told myself.

Studying my symptoms, the doctor was surprised, “Such worms can cause vomiting in children,” he mused, “but for adults, I doubt...”

“Perhaps it is possible, doctor,” I whimpered. “You see, I am very childlike.” The doctor smiled but nodded dubiously.

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 If Looks Could Kill

At the Holy Family Hospital ran by the Medical Missions Sisters, the doctors was questioning me in the presence of my Sister nurse.

Doctor: Do you eat?

Fr. Joeker: Yes because the sisters are forcing me.

Doctor: How often do you cough?

Fr. Joeker: Between very much and very often.

At this point the Sister wanted to get out. When the doctor and I left, the sister threw me some dagger looks which I tried very hard to avoid.

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Vows of Poverty

And there was Sr. Ann SSpS who upon hearing I vomited up my medicine rushed upstairs and scolded, “Don’t do that, Father. It is against the vow of poverty.”