One Month In

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!

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)