By Fr Joseph Panabang SVD

We have here at our mission two big mangoes tree outside our mission fence. But half of the branches hand over our land. One afternoon, I saw James, our mission helper gathering some ripe mangoes from the tree. Afraid I asked him why. He said, “don’t worry Father, the mangoes belong to us because the branches are over our land.” he left me wondering under what category of justice I should classify this.
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Sometime at the middle of this year, the doctor diagnosed me with an ulcer. I was advised to drink plenty of milk regularly. Two weeks after, I reported and the same doctor whose expression seemed not serious inquired, “so what have you discovered? Feeling he was kidding, I replied, “Doc, I discovered that when I started taking milk I have developed a childlike faith.” Keep up the good humor, its good for an ulcer” he emphatically advised.
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Sr. Ann MMS, stopped at Kintampo and speaking with enraptured enthusiasm, started sharing how she liked the last retreat she attended. The retreat was all about the new spirituality which they call “phychosynthesis.” In this process, one is taught how to channel all human negatives like hatred, anger, envy into assets. Uninterested, I stood up, went straight to the kitchen, took some fresh cucumbers gathered from the backyard garden, and here are some of my products.” Laughter turned her frustration to gratitude and joy, Psychosynthesis at work!
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Drowsiness in driving can be anyone’s problem. One afternoon at about five, on a beautifully tarred road, I simply dosed off and hit the newly erected Monastery signboard sparkling in its red color. The post was broken and my right side mirror went off in exchange. Advised by a passer-by, I went to report to the monks who owned the signboard. At the monastery, I was about to get out of the car when Fr. Bede, one of the monks, noticed the red paint all over the side of my car. Before he could check out his suspicion I blurted, “Sorry Bede, I hit your signboard.” You are not alone,” he said with a mixture of excitement and anxiety. Fr. Bede, a few days before had hit the signboard, and had his car overturned but came out miraculously safe. Hearing his words, I could not help but recall “hindi ka nag-iisa.”
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Just after our Sunday Mass at Ntankoro, my biggest bush village, a group of our men came running aghast and reported they had caught a their stealing yam tubers of a neighbor. It is their custom to beat any thief caught red handed. But since they are also Christian they asked. “Shall we join in the beating or not? Torn between Christian love and forgiveness, I did not know what to answer. Later they came back and told me, “we beat him but softly.” The people have their own way of solving their problems.
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Kuwumpe is one of my poor villages. Because of dirty water, guinea worm is common. One night while checking the attendance of catechumens, every time an absentee was mentioned, those present would say, “guinea worm” which means, he would not come because he is down with guinea worm. The opposite his name, I would mark, G.W. guinea worm) to remind me of his condition. And when a name was mentioned and was present. I would mark him. R.G.W. which means, remnant of guinea worm.”