We were seriously short-handed at the Child Center this morning. Meri was the first to let us know she would not be coming to work at all today; 2 of her children were sick; the youngest one had a fever and one of her daughters could not swallow because her throat was sore; she was taking them to the doctor. Then Zorash called to tell us she was going to be late because she had to go to a neighboring village so the company that gave her a motor king could put the decals on it to complete the registration. Then Mr. Iddrisu called to tell us he was going to be late because he was going to an out-dooring for one of his friends who had a new baby. Amama is a good interpreter but she cannot write. She has filled in for us in the past. Donkey was around but he is the worst interpreter ever. When we ask the mother a question, he answers it for her without even asking her the question. One day he was interpreting for me and I asked the mother if she used enemas on the baby and Donkey blurted out, “No, she does not.” I then looked at him and asked, “Do you live in the house with this woman?” Of course, he said no. I then asked, “If you don’t live with her how do you know what she is doing to her baby?” Ha!
This afternoon Meri came back to the mission house with receipts for the medicine and tests they had done on the children. She needed help paying for the treatments. She said that the doctor wanted her daughter to have a sputum culture done; her husband gave her the money for that test. She was happy when Steve gave her the extra money she needed. Our thanks go out to those of you who help with the babies and “whatever comes up”.
This afternoon the head officer from the Social Welfare department in Yendi came out to the mission house. Steve needs a letter from her office to attach to the Social Welfare report he will turn in at the beginning of next month. Her name is Antoinette; she is a very pleasant lady. She has been out of the office on maternity leave; she said she has to go back in a few weeks. The baby is a little girl. She is 3 months old. We gave her baby clothes for the baby; she was very excited about the clothes. She will write the letter in a few days.
Zorash and Amama said that the officers from District Assemble were going from house to house collecting house taxes; they wanted to know if they had come to our house yet; they have not. We want to pay our taxes; Zorash has to go to the office to pay her taxes. We are planning on going together so we can pay ours at the same time.
Thank you for all you do for us!
In HIS Service,
Steve, Kandie and Skeeter
The Monkeyshines
Dad cleaned my cage this afternoon with the power washer; it took him forever to do it because the machine kept getting hot and going off. When I saw the power washer, I knew that a bath was in my future but I dodged a bullet today because it took him too long to clean the cage. Mom did not want to put my freshly washed body in a wet cage; she said I would smell like a wet dog! How insulting! I think she uses the word “Dog” just to upset me!
We played outside this afternoon; the parents were busy gathering up the dried field corn that they put out this morning to finish drying. I have decided that I like dried field corn! Mom says that it is not good for my teeth because it is so hard but I have strong teeth! I have decided that I like canned sweet corn too! The problem with the sweet corn is that it is hard to peel! Yes, I have to peel it! I can’t just eat it whole; that would be far too much roughage for my delicate system!
I am a prophet! I can see into the future! I know that there is a bath in my future and I know it is coming tomorrow!
Love, Skeeter
