Something was wrong with the horn on the old van. You cannot drive in Ghana if you do not have a horn! You need one to get the sheep, goats and chickens to move out of the road and to warn pedestrians, bicycle, motorcycles and other vehicles that you are behind them. While Gomda, the mechanic, was working on the horn and the dimmer switch he found out that the power steering pump was no longer working. We don’t care if it works or it does not work but Gomda wants it to be easier for us to drive. I told him that we needed the exercise! He fixed it for us which was sweet but unnecessary. When we went to pick up the van we reminded him that we still wanted the old engine block that was discarded a couple years ago when we had the motor replaced in the truck. He assured us that it was locked in the shed and we could get it anytime we wanted it. Engine blocks make great anvils and the various holes are perfect for bending rebar.
When Zorash came to work this morning she had lots of information about the new UNICEF program to reduce the amount of malaria in Ghana. She said that this program is targeted at the small children from age 6 months to 5 years. She showed us the medicine packets. It is given by age. The children are given the medicine for 3 days and they are supposed to be protected for 1 month. Next month the volunteers will distribute another batch of medicine. They are going to give out the medicine for 3 months and then the program will be over until our next rainy season. The children are actually getting 2 different medicines. One of the medicines is to treat active malaria and the other is a prophylaxis to prevent malaria. The prophylaxis is the same medicine we take weekly to prevent malaria. Zorash said that already there have been a few problems with the dosage the children are getting. Some of the mothers have children that are young and get the smaller dose and also older children that get the larger dose. There have been a few problems with getting the medicines mixed up and overdosing the younger child. We hope to see the number of cases of malaria go down. Malaria is the number one killer of children in Ghana.
We went to town this afternoon and bought the supplies that we need to re-plumb the big water tank. We were pleasantly surprised that we found everything we needed at one shop and they actually had a real receipt for us!
My sister went to visit my brother this weekend; she said that he is not doing very well. We would appreciate your prayers for Buz and his family; they are having a tough time. Thank you for all you do for us and for the work.
In His Service,
Steve and Kandie
