We planned to get back to work as usual today but that is not the way our day turned out. Steve had been working at the Child Center for about an hour when he got a phone call from Accra. It was from the Social Welfare office concerning the Child’s Center’s license renewal. The officer told him that the Center’s license renewal had been put on suspension because not all of the documentation was in order. Please! She went on to say that the problem was with the auditor and his report. When he filled out the audit, he had used an out-of-date data code that said his audit license expired in 2022 instead of 2025. Because of the auditor’s mistake we had to resubmit the audit signature page, code, company stamp and signature. None of which could be done from Yendi. Aren’t we the lucky ones? An unexpected trip to Tamale! What could be more exciting? We rushed around trying to grab everything that we thought that we might need. On our way to Tamale, we called the officer in Accra to get more of the specifics about how we were going to correct the problem. We had to go to the auditor and have them reprint the audit with the new information; pay 100 Cedis (about 10 dollars) for a remittance fee; 50 Cedis to mail the document to Accra and the fee to bring it back to the Tamale office. It cost us more in diesel than anything.
Our day was not completely wasted. While we were at the auditor’s office, we checked on the 2 audits he was doing for 2025. We had turned in the receipts before we left Ghana in December. We were pleased that they had worked up both audits and they were ready to be filed. We paid the filing fee and tried to pick up the originals but the auditor asked if we would go to town and make copies for them to keep in our file. Can you imagine? The office has its own copy machine but I guess it is for official use only.
When we left for Tamale Amama was in the midst of washing all the pots, pans and dishes. She had started the job yesterday before we turned the water off. We did not want to hinder her work so we left her here to carry on with that job. When the ladies left at 1:00 they locked up the house. Everything was looking much nicer and less dusty when we got back from Tamale.
We stopped at Kentucky Fried Chicken before we headed back to Yendi. No cooking for me tonight!
Enjoy your day!
In HIS Service,
Steve, Kandie and Skeeter
The Monkeyshines
I was not out of my jail cell long enough today to get in trouble! But even without getting in trouble, I still had a mostly lousy day! I was outside playing on the veranda, minding my own business; enjoying my breakfast when Dad came rushing up from the Child Center, he was a flurry of activity! They started packing that van and I knew things were not looking good for my day! I was right! Mom plucked me up, grabbed a banana, a couple of cashew fruits and carried me back to jail. I was a bit indignant to have to go back to solitary confinement so early in the day! When Mom put me in the cell, I grabbed her arm and gave her a little nip to let her know that I did not approve of this unfair treatment! She shook her finger at me and said in that awful mother’s voice, “Stop that nonsense right now!” I immediately started making little monkey noises so she would think that I was apologizing but really my feelings were still hurt!
At least this time they brought me some treats. Dad bought me grapes; he really loves me to buy imported red grapes! Mom bought oranges and bananas; those things are a dime a dozen and come from nowhere special. Dad is the winner today in the gift department!
While I was helping unload the van, I saw syringes and needles! Oh! No! No one ever wants to see syringes and needles! That can only mean one thing and it is not a good thing for a little monkey! Mom also bought injectable Ivermectin and bought the bottle that has a full-grown cow on the package! How much are they planning on giving me? Even Dad was surprised at how big the bottle was. He said, “That is enough medicine to last 50 years!” Mom went to the vet in Tamale to make sure of the dosage and the dosing schedule. I can assure you 1 dose is too much!
Could someone please send a “REAL” doctor to treat me?
Love, Skeeter
