Days 16 & 17: Mafia and Matthew 25

Praise the Lord! Day 16: We woke up to the Mosque blaring their prayers before 6am at St. Anthony's Parish in Akwita. Weird to have the Islamic chant broad casted over loud speakers reaching the nearby Catholic Church. Father Bright Kennedy hosted us today at his rectory and served Corn Flakes with some real milk! Milk is not a part of their diet so it was good! After celebrating morning mass (Mary Queen of Heaven), Father Kennedy took us to the local diamond dealer, Edward. We hastily drove to his layer, which was closely guarded by several men who looked to be part of an African Mafia. Father Bright is friends with Edward, who deals in diamonds that are mined in Akwita. Basically, Edward is a liaison between the rough cut of the diamond and the distribution of the product through government regulation. Thus, he can not sell directly their at his shady looking office. Upon passing the first entrance we entered into the dark air-conditioned room of the dealer. To our surprise there were three people in the room questioning Edward and they were from the United Nations. Seeing three Americans there, they got suspicious and asked us whether we were going to buy diamonds. We assured them we were not. To be questioned by the UN at a diamond dealer in North-central Ghana was interesting to say the least. We returned to the rectory and Sister Celestine, who had been traveling with us, took us down the road to see their postulancy house. This is the place where the women interested in religious life spend one year to discern their call. We then walked to yet another school that the Handmaids teach at called St. Rose Academy. We came back to St. Anthony's, ate some goat soup with fufu. Father Bright then got us in the car to head for Koforidua. We were in the country with the roads winding through the countryside. Father Bright was flying and we prayed that we wouldn't have an early death. That afternoon we were introduced to Father Bobby Benson, the founder and spiritual director of the Matthew 25 House (a mission to HIV/AIDS patients). In the evening, we spent some time with Father Bobby and spoke about Father Carr's Place 2B and about the good Padre himself and then were taken to our lodging for the evening. We are currently staying at a house that is used for CPE (Clinical Pastoral Education), a program of hospital ministry. I was excited to spend time with Father Bobby and see the similarities of the ministry he started here and the ministry at Father Carr's Place 2B...amazing to see the similarities. I was at the Place 2B, Africa. Father Bobby detailed his dreams to build a hospice and related to us just how much Father Carr had inspired him on his few visits to the states!
Day 17: Let me explain a bit of Father Bobby's mission called Matthew 25. As you may have known, the problem of HIV/AIDS in Africa is much more dire than in the states just because of the shear number of cases. Because of the lack of understanding of the disease, those infected are ostracized by their families and friends and have no where to go. Matthew 25 House soul mission to offer community, support, and hope to those who have no where to go. Wow! Powerful! Today we met with those who live in Matthew 25 house and learned their stories. We learned how they found their only hope in Father Bobby's mission. We learned how their families abandoned them and how they came to find the place and found hope to live. Father Bobby has created a community to give dignity with those infected. Dignity is the key word here. As adopted children of God, we have dignity. Later in the afternoon we did some tourist stuff like see a waterfall and a huge rock in the African country, but to be sure our definitive objective was to experience Father Bobby's mission. Strange, but in many ways I felt as if I was with Father Carr. It is amazing to fathom that two places so opposite in so many ways were so very similar. The Spirit of the new evangelization is rooted in caritas...in the love of Christ through the Church to the "least of these." Deus Caritas Est! It is through service, through us being Christ for others that individuals can find hope and peace, that communities can live in solidarity, that the world can live in love. Idealistic. Yes. Realistic. Yes. To dream and then make it a reality is the incarnation. To do the unfathomable in the face of pessimism and the "real world" is the mission of the God who became one of us out of love and did the impossible--conquer the reign of sin and death. Jesus has given me hope. He has given you hope. He has given us hope. He has given the residence of Matthew 25 House not just life, but abundant life! Please keep reading the blog if you can. In the remaining days, we hope to share with you some overall reflections on Africa, the Church, and us. SAVED TO SERVE!

Days 14 & 15: Brother and Bright

Praise the Lord! Day 14: Today was a rather relaxing day, we started with a late mass at 8 am, and took most of the morning off to regain ourselves. After lunch, Sister Brigid wanted to show us how the typical Ghanian lived, in the villages. She took us to her brother's house which is near the church that celebrated the sisters professions. The typical Ghanian lives in a very simple hut, made out of cement, sometimes steel, or even sadder, plywood. Most roofs are tin, yet sometimes there are roofs made of straw. Most likely a family will share a rather unsteady bathing facility (called a small room) with one or more neighbors. Her brother is a teacher and has been trying to start a school for sometime, he has had some set backs because of storms, funding and other various problems. This is one of the few schools in the area, the education system is very weak, and less than half actually go to school. This evening was concluded by a shopping trip to Maxi-Mart. We went to get omelet supplies to make the sisters an American breakfast the next morning. Maxi-Mart is the only store that carries American and European food, it is actually one of the few stores. Most Ghanians purchase all of their food, and other goods in the Market, it was small but it had what we needed.
Day 15: After mass we made our breakfast, we're not so sure they enjoyed the food, but we sure did. Sister took us into town to meet with the retired archbishop of Accra, Bishop Dominic Andoh. He was a talker and he certainly had questions. We talked about Father Carr's mission and why we were in Africa, he is a fascinating man with much knowledge about the church and the mission of Jesus Christ. After a quick trip back to the Generalate Fr. Bright Kennedy picked us up (or in Ghanian terms, picked us) we went to Akwitia after a brief stop at his mother's clothing store. On the way there we stopped at what is allegedly the biggest tree in all of West Africa. Upon arriving in Akwatia we took part in the Tuesday night youth mass. The trip has continued to reveal itself to us, and as we discover the country of Ghana we are discovering, each other, ourselves, and the mission on which we have been sent by God and Fr. Martin Carr.
Culture Notes with Drew
Clothing Most people, particularly youth and young adults, don't actually wear African clothes they wear jeans and American T-shirts. We've seen t-shirts that range from Batman, Leonardo Di Caprio, and Brett Favre Jerseys. Most people wear sandals and despite the heat jeans are very popular.
Language Although they speak English sometimes we need to double take on a word or phrase. Both their breviaries and their phrases are British, or Queen's English as they say. The word pants in particular means underwear, I had a close call with that one they use the word trousers here. Saved 2 Serve!

Days 11, 12, & 13: Traveling, Tours, Tamborines

Praise the Lord! Day 11: We began with a morning mass with the sisters at 8am and spent much of the day in anticipation of our time up in Agomanya with Sister Brigid. This region is located about 45 miles northeast of Accra and is the main territory where the sisters have their missions. Our goal tomorrow is to visit with Bishop Bowers, the founder of the Handmaids of the Divine Redeemer, tour St. Martin's Hospital (present our gift), and dedicate Our Lady of Fatima School. In the afternoon we left and drove for about 2 hours to make it to the Mother House. We were shown to our room after dinner and night prayers. Our room itself was on top of the original school that can no longer accommodate the children.
Day 12: After a restful night with the peace and quiet of the country, we were able to visit with Bishop Bowers. He is 97 years old and for the first time since this past Advent, he was actually able to sit up so we were very fortunate. Our conversation was cordial and it is blog worthy to mention that he knows Wisconsin Badger football and he remembers the On Wisconsin song. Apparently, while studying in the United States he would listen on the radio. He also wondered if Notre Dame was still ranked as one of the top 10 football teams in the nation! The Mother House, existing school, Bishop Bower's residence, and the hospital are all on the same campus. We were able to present our gift to Doctor Charles, the head doctor. It is amazing how much more simple the hospitals are here. This mission hospital is crucial for the area and they approach health care not as an industry (what it has become in the States in many cases), but a real ministry. We were able to help them with the initial funding to build a children's ward. Since there were patients with malaria and AIDS in close proximity to the existing cramped children's ward, Sister Brigid knew something had to be done. The hospital itself is small and their is great need here. Father Walter and myself were able to visit with some patients and blessing them during our tour. After our time at St. Martin's we headed to the new school just up the road! The school itself is very simple, but then again everything here is simple. It is much needed, however, and Our Lady of Fatima School will be a place for girl to receive an education from the sisters that will enable them to move within the culture. Bishop Bower's original dream, which is being lived out by the sisters today, was to minister to girls and young women to give them the opportunities they deserve as children of God. The school, as a boarding house will be a place for these young girls to gain an education and the formation that comes along with the Catholic faith. We have been blessed to be able to help make this dream a reality through Father Carr's Place 2B and the many people who have supported this mission must be thanked because their generosity and Father Carr's spontaneity has allowed the Handmaids to serve others and give them what we all are entitled to--an education. We were hoping to dedicate the school, but since it is not yet complete, we gave it a blessings. The students are supposed to be in this September. We visited the dam to the north that supplies the entire country with power and got to see the shacks the sisters purchased for the teachers. Tony, your room will be here! (we've got some pictures of it!) We were also able to visit the sister's vocational school located close to Our Lady of Fatima. We were able to give away some the Rosaries that were donated from many parishioners from St. Pius, St. Bernard, and St. Phillip Parishes...thank you!
Day 13: Andrew and Father Walter traveled to Sister Assumpta's family celebration and I was at St. Charles Lwanga Parish to celebrate with Sister Celestine. For all of us, it was yet another experience of celebration both liturgically and culturally. This week, we will be traveling to see Father Bobby's mission. Stay tuned! Saved 2 Serve!