Yesterday 163 children came to the Center; most of them got a set of clothes but some of them were too big for the clothes that we had so we gave them bracelets that were left over from the previous VBSs; 87 mothers came to the Center and many of them had 1 or 2 additional children with them. Tuesday is always our biggest day because Tuesday is the day that the clinic near us gives the vaccinations. Word spreads quickly when we are giving out clothes. I was excited that I found another bag of boy clothes; they are the small sizes but at least that will get us through tomorrow and possible Monday.
This morning a very small baby girl came to the Center. She was born at 7 months because the mother had eclampsia and they had to take the baby early. The baby was in the hospital for about a month; she was born weighing 1.5 kilos; today she weighed 2 kilos. She looks strong. Most of the baby girls’ ears are pierced when they are born but they had not pierced this baby’s ears because she was too small. The baby was wearing clothes that swallowed her. The mother and her aunt were so happy with the tiny preemie clothes that we gave her. We gave her several outfits, socks and tiny hats. It is important that they keep a hat on the baby at all times because the little ones have a hard time regulating their body temperature.
A mother with a set of twins came today; she was carrying both children by herself, usually the mothers of twins will solicit the help of a friend or teenage girl to help them carry the children. This mother had one of the babies tied to her back in the traditional fashion and she had the other baby on her stomach in an American type baby carrier. What a load! The babies were fine; the mother just came to get liquid vitamins and clothes.
Steve had to make several trips to town today. The old van had a flat tire; when he went to change the tire, he noticed that the spare was also flat. The tire rides in the back of the van; sometimes when there are lots of people in the van and all of their luggage they put stuff on top of the tire. We hauled a bunch of people a couple weeks ago when we had the evangelist /church leaders’ class. I said all that to say that the valve stem was broken. Steve could not get the tire fixed today because there were no inner tubes in Yendi. Gomda, the mechanic, said that he was going to contact his friend in Tamale and see if he could find one and send it by market car to Yendi. It sure would be nice if he could find one; that would save us a trip to Tamale. He also had to make a trip to town to buy a piece of re-bar. When he buys rebar, he ties the 20-foot piece that is folded in half to the hitch of the truck and pulls it to the house. It drags along the ground all the way and no one seems to care!
Thank you for all you do for us and for the work! We really appreciate the help!
In HIS Service,
Steve, Kandie and Skeeter
The Monkeyshines
The monkey Condo now has the first layer of chain link fencing around it. It also has a roof that is made of burglar mesh. Mom had Red cover the burglar mesh with vinyl canopy fabric so it will help keep me dry when it rains. It is a beautiful blue color and I love it! I want my Condo to be the best one in the country!
Red’s helper is still trying really hard to be my friend. When the parents are not around, I try to tolerate him but as soon as the parents come out of the house, I have to start acting aggressive to him. I sound warning sounds to let the whole world know that I do not approve of him being in the yard! He thinks that if he hangs around long enough, we will become friends but I doubt it!
I am a bit sad; I did not have bananas to eat today; if this was the first time this has happened, I would not think too much about it but this is not the first time! I have had to fill my tummy with pineapple, yellow melon, papaya, mango, watermelon, cucumber, cauliflower, peanuts, raisins, bell pepper, tangerines, cabbage and milk and cereal but I still miss the bananas!
Yes, we have no bananas, today!
Love, Skeeter
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