By Fr Joseph Panabang SVD

When I arrived in Ghana, a veteran sister repeated the same advice I receive in the Philippines from other veteran missionary priest: “For the first three months, it is really hard. But do not worry; the coming months will be harder!”
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Ntankoro is my oldest and the biggest village but it is plagued by the idea that the priest must support the, the laity by giving them food, clothing, money and such, like with the laity with not supporting him in return. The Church President of this village unfortunately did not have a good name. He is said to have consulted a fetish priest and killed sheep for the river gods when under pressure. He was very sick then.

During my visit, he said that he had a dream and wanted me to interpret it. This was his dream; he was holding a cup of water and he wanted to give it to me. But while offering the cup he was saying, “It is good or bad?” Now, he wanted to know the answer. “This dream is interesting, “I said. Then, like Joseph the Dreamer of old, I proceed: “The meaning of your dream is this: you must support you priest materially and spiritually. The water symbolizes the blessings the priest gets from your support and also the blessing for you in return. The question, ‘Is it good or bad? Is the voice of the devil tempting you? So then, obviously the answer is, ‘Yes, it is good.’ It is good to give the cup of water to the priest, for Christ said that he who gives a cup of cold water to one of his disciples will not go unrewarded.” Whew!
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Kwasi, one of our Church members, was suffering from a big infected swollen wounds. He asked me for medicine and I said to him, “Do you know the guava tree?” “No father.” So the interpreter showed him a guava tree. I continue, “Now, take the fresh leaves, boil them, then take the water and wash the wound everyday. It well okay in time. “Shaahhh, I thought a foreigner could never be an herbalist,” Kwasi broke out.
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An old loving sister tenderly advised me: “Here in Ghana, there are only three things you need in order to be successful and happy. Number one: Patience. Number two: Patience. Number three: Patience.
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Here, they call me ‘small boy.’ I like asking them to guess my age because they always guess it is below 30. I told them that I am 35 years old; they would not accept it. They said that I was lying. One time, I was about to start the Mass when I discovered I did not bring the Mass kit containing all the paraphernalia for the Mass Putting back my vestments I drove back to the main station. During the homily, I told them, “You saw me going back to get the Mass kit. I forgot it, I forgot it. Now for those who never believed I am already old. They will not believed you because you have no authority yet, not being a member of the elders (mpanyimfo). Ang hirap, akala ninyo.