A pleasant
surprise greeted me upon my return to Damongo from my vacation. Wow! There were new babies in town.
Meet the newest additions to my Damongo Family.
Meet Terrance, the
son of Eric Dery and Benedicta and Emmanuelar, daughter of Irrenus Saana and
Mildred. Terrance was born on the 4th
of November 2023 and Emmanuellar on the 29th of December 2023. Welcome little ones!
Eric Dery is the
driver of the Secretariat. He has always
been there for me from Day 1 bringing me home from Tamale to SAGISS, my first
home. He has been a constant companion
for my work commute, travels to Tamale for my Ghana documentation requirements
and also to out-of-town travels. But
Eric is more than just a driver assigned to me.
He is my family here in Damongo.
He was with me when I moved and set up my new home in the Canteen area
of Damongo, helping me with plumbing, electrical and handy man issues I
experienced in my new home. He taught me and helped me set up my small home
farm which provided me with the lettuce, cucumbers and other vegetables for the
kitchen. Truly, Eric is family, and I am
proud to be called Grandma Josie by Terrance.
Irrenus is the
Bishop’s Driver. He was also with me
from Day 1, picking me up from the airport and bringing me to the Catholic
Guesthouse in Tamale for lunch with the Bishop.
On occasion, he would be the one to drive me around when Eric was
unavailable. Though the interactions
with Irrenus is not as often because of his work, I feel a close bond with him. He trusted me with the story of his life in
Nigeria before coming back home to Ghana.
I am most honored to have shared this with him. He too is my family in Damongo,
and it would be my pleasure to be a grandma to Emmanuellar.
But wait, don’t we
always say that the best things come in threes.
Well, we are expecting another baby by June, this time from Cynthia
Aazelinibe, our Secretariat cleaner. Last
year, in late October, I learned that Cynthia was engaged and already wearing
an engagement ring. In November, I was
told that the dowry has been paid by Bruno and that in all respects in the
Ghanaian culture this means they are already married. Cynthia’s pregnancy is a welcome news for the
couple and Cynthia’s son, Gregory. Congratulations
Cynthia, Bruno and Gregory. We can’t
wait to meet your new bundle of joy.
So, what’s
next? I’ll let you in on our secret. I am thrilled to learn that there will be a
quadruple sacramental marriage in the Catholic Church before the end of the
year. I am eagerly anticipating this
event for Evans and Vivian, Eric and Benedicta, Irrenus and Mildred and Cynthia
and Bruno. Keep them in your prayers.
