In this third year of the Oblate Triennium focused on the Mission, here is the testimony of Brother Mirabeau DIATANG(Cameroonian) about his ministry at Ngovayang.
I officially began my mission at the hospital in Ngovayang in July 2013. As I was still studying in Yaoundé, I made the trip twice a month to Ngovayang.
In my letter of obedience, it is specified: “I am communicating to you your official assignment to the mission of Ngovayang in the Diocese of Kribi, where you will offer your services not only through your participation in community life but also through your missionary zeal in service to the sick at the hospital of this mission and to the faithful at the parish of St. Francis Xavier.”
From that, it was clear that my first mission must be carried out within the community, and then at the hospital, and finally, in the parish.
Within the community, I am with two confreres who have much experience in religious life. I thank God for this community where dialogue, sharing and brotherly love are right at home. As bursar of the community, it is my mission to manage our small earnings which allow us to take care of our minimal needs. On weekends and holidays, I exercise my cooking talents.
At the hospital: In August 2014, I moved to Ngovayang as Director of the hospital. I was astonished at the huge size of this hospital deep in the forest in the South.
The sick person is at the heart of our concerns. It is for this reason that in the procedural plan, we have put the accent on the doctor-patient relationship, the quality of care and the retraining of personnel. We have strengthened collaboration with community health workers in the field of education and prevention.
I would like to emphasize the importance of open collaboration between the three religious congregations present in Ngovayang, each committed to the welfare of persons, especially the littlest ones.
We have our challenges: finding partners for the funding of hospital activities; making Ngovayang hospital a place for evangelization: our treatment, our way of looking at them and our words for the sick must be imbued with love, joy and peace. The hospital’s 50 years coincide with the year of Divine Mercy. We do our best to help the patient experience a personal and familial reconciliation.
In addition to administrative and financial management, I participate in preventive and healing activities.
In the parish: Before the arrival of the pastor, I took care of organizing catechesis, the formation of catechists and ministry with youth. This year, I am in charge of the altar servers. I also animate a retreat for the students during Lent.
