Sunday, October 27, 2013 6:03 AM
Subject: Greetings from Africa
Another busy week...The senior girls continue to work on their sewing and crocheting and the grade school children are working on crafts after school. Both the boys and girls like to make beaded items in addition to billfolds and purses. One of the boys asked what a billfold was. The child care director asked me to start a discussion with the senior girls on wild versus wise girls that she will continue after I am gone. The girls have had little exposure to the world outside the village gates and it will be a real awakening when they leave. I am nervous about this and hope it goes well on Wednesday night.
We celebrated a birthday this week .....Francis was 6 years old. The "mother" talks about her "son" and then the children sing Happy Birthday and ask how old he is. After the birthday child sings, the children do a rousing version of To God Be the Glory. Francis was new to Rafiki on one of my visits and all he did was cry. It was so wonderful to see the happy, smiling boy. Each child receives a book and a new outfit on his/her birthday. At Rafiki, birthdays are celebrated on the child's 6,10, 16 and 20th birthday.
Each visit to the village, I am struck by how little the Ghanian people have compared to us. Their possessions are few and their lives will not improve materially. We have been so blessed.
I am still struggling with the food. Before I came, I decided I would eat my noon and night meal in the dining hall but it has been a challenge.
Every meal is a red sauce over rice or spaghetti. This week the cooks served Palava sauce which is made with cocoyam leaves, red oil, tomatoes and onions. Every dish is very hot with pepper. I guess it is all a matter of taste. One night this week the children were given worm pills before dinner. As you would imagine, I asked the nurse if I should take some also.
And for all of you that told me my hearing aids were not visible.....Every child in the village has asked about them. They had never seen one before. I must look very old because one of the senior boys asked what war I fought in. Out of the mouths of babes.
