Back in 2016, our church organized a ministry trip to the Lower Watut area of Morobe Province. The journey itself was an adventure. We travelled up the mighty Markham River and then continued along the Watut River, making our way to a congregation deep in the area. I was accompanied by our pastors and two other young men from our church. It was a trip filled with excitement, fellowship, and a desire to serve God’s people.
That evening, the local church hosted a fellowship gathering. The church building was filled with worshippers from the surrounding community and villages. As the program progressed, one of the church leaders stood up to introduce our team to the congregation. My fellow young man and I were seated at the front with our guitars, ready to assist with the worship.
One by one, the leader introduced each member of our team. Then he came to me. With great confidence and enthusiasm, he pointed in my direction and announced, “This is Professor Desmond.”
For a moment, I was stunned. I looked around to see if there was another Desmond in the communal gathering area. My fellow brother sitting beside me was equally shocked. We exchanged confused looks, trying our best to keep straight faces as the congregation listened attentively. Inside, I was wondering where on earth he had gotten that title from. I was certainly not a professor.
The fellowship continued, but the introduction remained at the back of my mind. Later that night, after the program had ended and we had returned to the place where we were being accommodated, I finally caught up with the church leader. In a light-hearted manner, I said, “Ldr, why did you call me a professor? You crazy or what?”
Everyone burst into laughter.
The leader laughed as well and explained that he meant no harm. To him, it was a way of showing respect and honouring a visitor whom he believed was educated and serving in ministry. His intention was not to misrepresent me but to express appreciation in the best way he knew how.
The moment quickly became a source of jokes among our group. For the remainder of the trip, I could not completely escape the title. Every now and then, someone would mention “Professor Desmond,” and the laughter would start all over again.
Looking back today, it remains one of my fondest memories from that ministry journey. While the title was inaccurate, the respect and kindness behind it were genuine. More than the rivers we travelled, the places we visited, or even the programs we conducted, it is these simple and humorous moments of fellowship that stay with us for years. Even now, whenever I think about that trip to Lower Watut, I cannot help but smile at the memory of being unexpectedly promoted to “Professor Desmond” for one unforgettable evening.
Papua New Guinea, Morobe Province, Lae, Native Village on Watut River. (Photo by: Universal Images Group via Getty Images)
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