The
Catholic University of Cameroon, Bamenda (CATUC) has never had a campus
minister and I have never been a campus minster at a university so we both are
learning. The university is in its fourth year which means it has dealt with
a lot of the initial growing pains but still faces the joys and challenges of
an educational institution that is expanding. I was able to attend the
first graduation of CATUC students in December. Every day at the
university is one of continued learning from the new opportunities that are
constantly popping up.
My
role of Campus Minister was not clearly defined to allow for ultimate
flexibility for my gifts and the needs of CATUC. I am grateful for this
flexibility. Much of my time thus far has been trying to get in touch
with the culture of CATUC and student life. The students are impressive
in their drive to acquire knowledge and be innovative. Living in a place
with limited access to books and unreliable internet, I am impressed how the
students are able to be kept up to date on information. They are aware of
the disadvantage they have to a lot of the world so it seems they work that
much harder to keep up. There is very little taken for granted by the
students due to their hard work and determination.
The
privilege I have as Campus Minister is to provide a place for students to speak
to someone who may be able to provide a new perspective to their life
situation, a spiritual perspective. It seems each time a student walks
into my office I learn more than he/she learns from me. My most important
role is being a listener so it is natural I learn from them because often I
find myself saying very little. The faith life of the students is rich
and comprehensive. Many have been on a dedicated faith journey for
several years. The most common request I get is for something to help
them through their current situation; scripture, prayer or advice. My
response is simple, for them to ask for help each morning to do the will of God
and to review their day with gratitude before going to bed. I believe it
is too easy to complicate our prayer lives looking for the ultimate
answer. God just wants us to be in dialogue with us.
The
biggest challenge I face is listening to the pain and suffering the students
have endured in their short lives. Navigating between cultural
differences and being a source of support can easily get confusing. In
these times I reach way down to seek the most compassionate and loving thing I
can do, be present to the child of God before me. This is not easy for
someone that has little patience and likes to avoid pain. I must
constantly remind myself I am here to be a servant.
This
blog has turned into something different than I anticipated. I had
planned to write about my work in a more general form. The gift in
writing blogs is it can quickly turn into time to reflect. The wonderful
blessing and an absolute need for me being a missionary is reflection.
The goal of my simple guidance to the students of asking to do God’s will and
expressing gratitude is to provide a moment in their busy lives to see the
greatness of God’s love and mercy, something I need to do more often.
-Ryan
