The man from the Agriculture office has been coming for the past 3 weeks to spray the big mango tree. This is the 3rd year in a row he has sprayed the tree. He thinks that the problem with the tree is that it has a fungus but we think it has a scaly type pest. It is possible that it has both problems. Today we convinced him that the spots on the tree’s leaves actually have a small creature living inside them. We got out a small pocket microscope and showed him what was inside the spots. He went to Tamale to try and find an insecticide that will kill them. We also bought some liquid soap to put in the mixture to allow the pesticide to stay on the tree longer. Maybe this new approach will work because what he has been doing only slows down the problem. If he finds the pesticide he is looking for he will spray the tree tomorrow.
We spent the day unloading tubs and suitcases. We got almost everything sorted and put away. I had tons of washing to do because of all the mildewed stuff around the house. It was threatening to rain so we only washed 3 loads of clothes. We did not want to wash any more than we could hang up in the house in the event of rain.
Steve spent part of the afternoon getting the green truck ready for our trip to Jakpumba tomorrow. It takes a couple hours to get to Jakpumba. Timothy told Steve that someone at Jakpumba thinks they are a soothsayer (diviner/fortune teller). Timothy and a couple other Christians will be going with us; the details are a bit sketchy at the moment. We will let you know how it all turns out.
Late this afternoon we went to the market. We had taken a few pictures of some of the market ladies last time we were in Ghana. We made copies of their pictures and hunted them down this afternoon. Most of the ladies sit and sell in the same place each day so they were not too hard to find. They were so tickled with the pictures! Of course, lots of other women now want to have their pictures made! I forgot to take the camera with us today.
Mr. Oldman, our neighbor stopped by for a short visit this afternoon. We sent a baby doll and some small matchbox cars home with him for his children. His little boy Aslan is about 3 years old and he think Steve is his best friend. He tells everyone that his white friend gives him toffee (candy) and toys.
This morning the kitchen floor was littered with cockroaches in all stages of development. Steve is going to spray again tonight! THEY HAVE TO GO! Get them all; big and small!
Keep us in your prayers.
In His Service,
Steve and Kandie
