Our destination today was the village of Mpeasum, south of Yendi in the Nanumba District. The road is much better but our ride was very bumpy ;because the spare tire I changed late yesterday is either out of balance or it has some belts broken in it causing it to make the pickup bounce. Tire repair or replacement will be on my list this week. Anyway, we arrived safely after traveling 1.5 hours. We were met by Brother Moses who is one of the church leaders and several other brothers. There was time to go see the Chief; we took care of that business. The chief is the father of one of the leading men of the congregation.
It has been a while since we have visited this congregation. Now the Bimbila road has bridges we can visit the Churches in the area without crossing deep streams over the road that keep us away during the rainy season. We took the Church a bench, metal communion tray, bread, juice, Bible, pen & pad, strong box, cups and crocheted hats. They were tickled to death to get everything; especially the hats for the children. Timothy Niligrini interpreted for me as I taught my “Lock and Key “lesson.
There were 17 men and 9 women present along with 39 children.
After services everyone gathered outside to have a photo. Moses asked us to come to his house to eat. Three of the ladies had prepared fufu and light soup with chicken. It was really good! After eating I gave each of the cooking ladies some money for the pot to be used when we return next time. It is against their hospitality custom for a visitor to pay for their meal because it is the duty of the household to feed visitors. We know these people struggle to prepare good food for us so it is our way of helping without insulting their custom. The ladies just laugh and thank us!
On our way to the pickup we stopped to greet the chief; he was cracking groundnuts (peanuts) with two little girls. Kandie asked him if he was telling stories to the girls as is a custom to do when shelling peanuts. The chief said that he did tell stories. One younger man jumped up and told Kandie a story about the rabbit and his friend bird.
We were shocked when we go to the pickup. The brothers gave us some yam and a laying hen as a present. Such giving people! We thanked them and headed for Yendi. After arriving back at the house we re-gifted the hen and yams to Timothy.
We only had an hour at the mission house before it was time to go out to Kulkpeni. The class went well. Kandie and I had brought some chicken bones for Timothy’s two dogs. I was glad we brought them. His female looked as skinny as a rail after weaning her pups. The dogs love getting our table scraps.
Well, that is our day for now. Hope your having a good one as well. May God bless!
In His service,
Stephen and Kandie Taylor
