Zorash was late for work this morning because her son Sherif was sick and she had to take him to the hospital. He has malaria. He usually does not respond very well to that anti-malaria medicine because it makes him itch and he usually has to take Benadryl along with the medicine.
We hired a tractor to plow the back part of the property. This is the first year we have plowed this late in the year. We decided that if we plowed under the tall grass it would deter someone from coming on the property and burning the tall grass in the dry season. They burn the grass so they can catch the rats, squirrels, rabbits and hedgehogs. Thank you very much but I don’t appreciate killing all the animals. The biggest problem with burning the grass is that they are not careful and they let the electric poles catch on fire. No one will admit to starting the fire so pole replacement falls to us. The tractor came this morning and plowed the field. It will be easier for Mr. Iddrisu and Nazo to raise cassava mounds when the rains start in April if there is no tall grass.
Dawda, the mason, also came this morning. He is going to start working on repairing the cement wall that was knocked down earlier this year when the drainage holes were plugged and the water backed up and broke the wall. It took out 46 feet on one side and 23 feet on the other. We are not going to put cement blocks up again. This time we are going to repair the wall with metal sections so the water can easily pass through. Each section will be connected with a cement pillar.
This afternoon Steve and Mr. Iddrisu went to the Social Security office to get the new figures on the increase of the minimum wage. After the first of the year the minimum wage in Ghana will go up to 9 Cedis and 63 pesewas per day; that is equivalent to $2.20 per day. That is per day not per hour! Can you imagine living on $2.20 a day?
We also went to town and bought the 1×12 boards that Dawda is going to use tomorrow to make the pillar boxes when he cast the pillars. It was late by the time we headed back to the house so Steve stopped and bought a barbecued guinea fowl for supper. Happy day for me, no cooking! Well, very little cooking anyway.
This morning 8 sets of twins visited the Child Center. We told the workers that we would not meet 8 sets of twins in the states in a whole year! There are lots of multiple births here.
Take care; keep us in your prayers.
In His Service,
Steve and Kandie
