What would you like to share about your background / history / motivation that brought you to mission in Africa?

From the very beginning my desire to come to Africa was fired by the desire and possibility to be in on the ground floor so to speak: that here there were not only countries just beginning anew as independent and sovereign from their colonial powers but also a local church was in places beginning and in places still establishing itself in its fullness and maturity.

In your own mind, what are some of the highlights of your missionary career in Africa, your successes, your adventures, your greatest joys?

a) My years working with The Agricultural Program, Shinyanga Diocese, and working with a veteran missioner Dan Ohmann who never tired to share his experience, knowledge and wisdom.
b) My short two years working to establish a new parish at Mwabusalu- in on the ground floor as mentioned in (a) above.
c) Coming to Mozambique after my years in the States to help establish a new Maryknoll presence here, in a very needy area, spiritually, economically, socially.

What are some of the insights gained through your life / perspective as an American Catholic missioner in Africa that you'd like to share with the world?

a) Take time and do not judge quickly. Many things I was told by others did indeed prove to be true but on some things I reached a new understanding as I kept listening and probing.
b) Particularly now, as an older missioner in this new place, to accept my many limitations in language ability for instance and therefore cultural understanding too and thus to be more dependent (interdependent) with the local people and community leaders.

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