The masons have more than half of the wall around Kulkpeni church building finished. I was a little disappointed when we went to check on the work today because they have raised the wall several courses. When we questioned them as to why the wall was so tall in that area John and Kwabena said that it was because they did not want the children to climb over into the church’s property. We have news for them; the kids are still going to crawl over the wall; they have no problem scaling a cement wall! I asked John when he was going to start digging the pits for the toilets. He said that the gravel had not arrived yet; it would be Saturday before they could bring it because of the rain. I suggested that he dig the pits right now, reclaim the gravel and mold blocks as they were emptying the pits. All that land around there is nothing but gravel. John thought it was a grand idea! If he does not mold blocks with the gravel he digs from the pit, we will have mountains of gravel piled up behind the toilets. He said we might even be able to tell the driver that we no longer need a load of gravel. We will see how it works out.
Zorash and I left Steve and Meri to run the Child Center for a while this morning so we could go to the market; Zorash needed to buy 400 pounds of shelled field corn and asked if we would help her get it from the market to her house. The lady that sells the fabric seconds called and said that she had gotten a new shipment of cloth. I still need a few pieces for the project Timothy is working on so after we finished in the market, we went to look at the new fabric. I found several pieces that would work for the project and Zorash even found a piece that she liked too.
While we were waiting for the lady to measure the corn I noticed a lady selling balls of something that were wrapped in banana leaves. I asked Zorash about it; she said that it was finely ground field corn that she added sugar too and cooked until it formed a dough; she wrapped the dough in banana leaves and steamed it until it turned into a very firm ball. It is eaten with freshly roasted peanuts. I bought a ball just to see how it tasted; it was good but nothing I would want to eat again. Zorash was more than happy to finish it off for me! Ha!
Zorash also bought tapioca today. I have never seen the tapioca either; this was dry and ready to cook. Zorash said that it is just new to this area. I asked her how she cooked it. She said that some people add milk to theirs and sugar but she only likes it with the milk. She did not know that it comes from cassava. I told her that we add eggs to ours; she was confused at first; she thought that we added boiled eggs! Now that would be disgusting!!!
Thank you for the love, prayers and support!
In HIS Service,
Steve, Kandie and Skeeter
The Monkeyshines
I am not shining very brightly today! Red, the guy that is supposed to build my new residence, came to the mission house 2 times today; first to take measurements and the second time with a list of supplies and the cost of the new enclosure. When Dad saw how much it was going to cost, he said that we did not have enough money to build it right now. I was sad! Mom told me not to worry too much; that maybe next year I could get a new jail cell! All good things come to those that wait! I don’t like waiting very much! But it is supposed to build “character”; well, I have enough “CHARACTER” for 2 or 3 people!
I got tangled high enough in a tree this morning that Dad had to get a step ladder to rescue me! Every time he gets on a ladder his Plantar Fasciitis acts up and he crips around for a couple days! Poor guy! But I don’t have too much pity for him because I am still sad about not getting a new residence!
Monkeys never forget! Oh! I think it is elephants that never forget! Let me rephrase that “Monkeys hold grudges!”
Love, Skeeter
