By: Sr. Ma. Therecilla, RVM

The RVM sister uses skills learned working in Mindanao to enhance family life in Brong Ahafo, Ghana

Friend of Joeker
Father Joe Panabang, the Joker has said much about many happenings, funny as well as sad experiences in his mission work here in Ghana. I am in the same Diocese with Fr. Joe but we are far from each other. I’m sure this Chrism Mass he’ll come as all he priests are expected to come.

Greeting are Important
People here in Brong Ahafo Region, 500 miles from Accra-the capital of Ghana, are generally friendly, simple and respectful. For them greeting are important in their life. It is an offense for them when fails to greet them even one is passing by far away from that person.

Learning from Mindanao
My apostolate is geared to the family when in fact I have none of my own. It sounds ridiculous! I guess you are familiar with Family Life Education and Counseling Programme. I am the Diocesan Coordinator of the Proramme. I started this in 1985. The Programme is similar to that of Mindanao with some modifications according to the situation here. In 1987, one full-time worker joined me, who is a nurse midwife and who has been a trained worker also in Billings Ovulation Method of NFP in Rome. She is married and has been practicing NFP as a way of life. She too is very much convinced and so committed to the work.

Ecumenism
People are very receptive to the teachings. They are very interested to learn. Our seminar lasts for three days preferably with husband and wife. Many come and other small churches are also welcome. Her, there is openness and friendliness with other churches.

Baby Sitting
It is common for women to carry their babies at their back when they go to work or come to the services. During our seminars babies all around. They can’t leave them at home since there is no one to take care. Sometimes I do baby setting when my team workers do the sessions. I just wonder with awe looking at the children left crawling on the dirty floors and feeling happy and free. God is so wonderful!

Holding Ball pen for First Time
Most of our participants are illiterate, “no read, no write.” Very few of the women have gone to school, so it’s a new experience for the couples- sitting together, eating together and learning together. Some women thrill with joy as they come to hold the ball pen for the first time. I really admire their openness and simplicity.
Husbands Guide the Wives
When we come to the marking of their ovulation charts its here that most of the husbands have to guide their wives in making the symbol, such as X, I,. It is just like teaching a small child in the kindergarten how to do A B C. Its so interesting to observe the couples initiative and interest to learn.

All Volunteers
After this three days seminar, we have to make a weekly follow up to see their homework practice. We usually find out that they were able to make the correct markings. Hence, it is necessary to make a thorough follow up until they can really mark correctly their daily observation about their cycle. After three months times of constant follow up, they can usually do it by themselves with the help of the hired teachers in the local parish. By then we meet them rarely, but their local team leaders in the parish take over the responsibility of meeting them once a month. All our family life workers in the parish are volunteers, except that their training and updating every year are all free. The Diocese takes care of their board and lodging expenses and the local parishes take care of their travel expenses.

All Men Catechists
Most of our priests in the Diocese are young Ghanaian and they are very supportive to the programmme. Out of the 20 parishes only 5 parishes are still under the foreign missionaries. Our programme as of now has reached out to many of the sub-stations of the parishes with the help of the local trained Family life Educators. As our trained leaders in the parishes are Volunteers, they conduct their seminars on weekends. Most of them are teachers and some are just ordinary farmers but they are very dedicated to the apostolate. Can you believe that the catechists here are all men? It’s only in the family Life that both the husband and wife are involved.

Struggling with Languages
My only frustration here is that, I cannot yet speak their two language. When I give lecture, then it has to be translated by my co-worker. Aside from this I am very happy and fulfilled in my missionary endeavor here, thank God!

No Rice
Since 1989 I have not been attacked by “malaria.” I tried my best to bring water with me during our trips to the villages, a mosquito net and drinking water. As of the food I can take their food, like fried plantain (a kind of banana) boiled yam, cassava or gabi. They have also rice here coming from outside the country. Here in Brong Ahafo, there is no rice plantation at all. Their products here are plantain, yams, cassava and gabi.
This is all for now Father. I love the mission life Father. It is so challenging in every way and it gives and offers me new perspective in my religious life.