Cutting the ribbon to the generator house
Sponsored students Hannah and Rita, with their mother
Pounding fufu
Melissa and baby Melissa
I won’t even begin to bore you with my Internet woes again. I wrote this last night late and just as I went to post, the modem data ran out. But enough whining. Here is yesterday:
Our days are full of variety here in Ghana. Example: today we dedicated items for the computer lab and textbooks, and then we pounded fufu for dinner. It’s made from plantains, yams, and sometimes cassava plant. Tonight, our fufu was pounded plantains and yams.
But first, an update on Kadri: The surgeon refused to operate to drain the blood from his brain, stating that he felt it was too risky. So they have decided to give him blood thinners. We’re praying that this will be the answer. He has taken a few bites of food, and has been able to talk a little bit. That is really all we know right now. Hopefully we’ll have more news tomorrow. Please pray specifically that there is no permanent damage to his mobility or speech.
This morning, we attended a celebration ceremony and dedication at SDA School. The parade met us on the main street of the village and together we walked down the hill to the beat of the drums. It wasn’t quite as dramatic as the October parade and ceremony because I knew what to expect. Still, it was quite overwhelming to once again realize how our resources are used so efficiently. Funds were sent by ACEF from generous donors, the largest of which was First Baptist Church, Tulsa. Their gift provided a generator, housing for the generator, and an electrical upgrade for the lab so that the new desktops, printers and scanners can be used. And yes, we cut the ribbon to the generator house and started up the generator to hearty applause. That was a first.
From the ceremony, we traveled on to visit two of our sponsored students, Hannah and Rita, who live in a nearby village, Mpobi. We delivered their backpacks and shared the “news from the road.” We’re getting used to this protocol, and we all decided last night that there is something comforting about always knowing how it will go: the plastic chairs, the request for the news, the response, the shaking of the hands in welcome and goodbye. We may miss all this when we return to the U.S. and have such informal visits. Or maybe not.
And then, we pounded and ate the fufu. The pounding is no easy task, yet in Ghana, children as young as five years old are taught how to pound the yams and plantains. We decided (once again), that we’re wimpy. Pounding fufu takes about 30 minutes and all the muscles in your arm. And then, we ate the fufu…with our hands. Melissa did switch to the spoon after a few bites. It’s a messy affair. Can’t blame her a bit. Oh, speaking of Melissa, she had a baby named after her today. Not kidding. I told her she would have a great experience in Ghana. Now she believes me.
So until tomorrow night, goodnight from Ankaase, Ghana.
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