Nazo, the day man, came to the house this morning carrying a rat still attached to the rat trap. It was a good sized rat. It was still alive because only his back leg was caught in the trap. Nazo was very excited because there would be meat in the stew pot. I quickly got my camera to document the event. First he built a small fire and burned the hair off the rat. Then he cleaned the rat and set it back on the fire to smoke. Everyone says the meat is very “sweet” which means very savory. I had an idea. I have never eaten a rat and this was my chance. I asked Nazo if his wife would share the stew with us if we provided the ingredients. He was pleased with the idea. I told him that we would fix enough food for all the workers. When the Nazo’s wife arrived she immediately started washing and picking the rest of the hair off the rat. I went in the house and got tomato paste, onion, garlic, oil, bouillon cubes, salt and curry powder, all the things we needed to make a fine stew. When Zorash and Amama came to work they too were excited about the rat. These rats probably have as much meat on them as a squirrel. While we were roasting the grain Zorash made the stew. We decided that we would eat the rat stew over rice. We cooked a huge pan of rice. Papa Zacharia, one of the watchmen stopped by for a visit just in time to enjoy some rat stew. Steve was not brave, he did not try the rat stew; he said that it was too close to time for him to go home to get sick. Besides we are not supposed to be eating wild meat because of “Ebola” which by the way never came to Ghana. The stew was delicious but the rat was rather rubbery and tasted very musky, much like an old male goat smells. Just between you and me; I could not finish the rat.
We went to town again this afternoon to buy supplies. The diaper rash ointment containers we ordered finally came in. The pharmacist told us that he could no longer get the 1,000 count containers of Vitamin C. He said they quit producing them. I guess there was not enough demand for them. Most people do not want to sit and count tablets. That was always a job we forced our visitors to do. Buying the blister packs of Vitamin C will increase the cost of running the Child Center. Anyone that knows me knows that is hurting me! I love a bargain and love to save money even if it is not my own money!
It is almost time for Bible study so I will close for now. Take care. Keep us in your prayers.
In His Service,
Steve and Kandie
