After
my first month in Damongo, I feel pretty well settled in. I’m a big proponent
of factoring what you are over where you are physically in life, as WHAT we are
is an undeniable constant and places change. The transition from life in
Cleveland, Ohio to Los Angeles at the LMH Mission House was very smooth and I’m
finding that living in Damongo, Ghana is equally seamless. Sure, it’s very warm
here (most days above 100F), there are language differences (though a majority
of the people have some English), and we lack some of the US conveniences that
most of us take for granted, I did not come here for a vacation, nor, truth be
told, do I really miss any of those conveniences. I came here with a set of
goals and useful skills to assimilate myself into this culture, share ideas and
work, and, in the end, hopefully experience mutual learning and growth that
results from a shared higher purpose.
One
thing that is very different in Damongo is the pace of life. Things move very
slow here. It very well may be because of the heat. After formation in LA, the
long holiday break, the packing process and 22-hour trip over 2 days, I was
raring to go. The diocese here looks at things a little differently. To their
credit, they felt it is primary to meet me, let me learn a little about the
people and culture, and match me to the correct position based upon my skills
and their needs. At age 57, my work and life skills are as varied as the twists
and turns of life. I went to school to be a teacher, ended up owning and
managing bars and restaurants over 25 years, and most recently became a
self-taught contractor and property manager.
While
Damongo is a fairly rural area by American standards, it has a steadily growing
population and 4 years ago was named the capital of the Savannah Region of
Ghana. While the Catholic Church is one of the original stakeholders here, like
any other institution they need to be sustainable on a number of levels,
including finance and building maintenance, in order to remain viable and
spread their message. The diocese recently completed building a modern
guesthouse which is complimented by an existing restaurant/tavern which, I’m
told, is in need of a ‘bar rescue’ to provide the diocese with much needed income.
They are also in need of someone to maintain building infrastructure and/or
provide oversight to various building projects. I jokingly told Bishop Peter
Paul that they should have asked for two of me!
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFXwR8ko_WRWmLSENTjpcyzP6ItcRPa-Bhpcmzqh3PBSQUibzkHg-YGWQfEZ7ib5-94NyoYaeSXBdNwKSlY7Uzqg65IGqkwEeCmRhkG89WQt4ullb5yIa6xQpB9YdcDlyHh4sUOxc98dlcVoyaxlDzbZ2prxjY-eeqbIIU1Uyum9XsjELJ66gu_pWOBA/s320/Guest%20House.jpg)
Whatever
the decision does not matter so much to me. I am confident that I will be
prepared sufficiently for whatever comes my way. I find that if you approach
life with humility, openness and the ability to set clear goals, the rest of it
tends to take care of itself. So, for right now, I am awaiting that direction
with excitement tempered by realistic expectations. I feel quite convinced that
God has placed me where I am supposed to be and have full faith that He will
also have me do what it is I am supposed to do.
AMDG
(Ad
Majorem Dei Gloriam- For the Greater Glory of God)