Meri, Amama and I started cleaning the apartment this morning. Steve helped them get a head start on the cleaning by vacuuming the floors, window sill and doors. We will have to clean it twice; today’s cleaning was the deep cleaning but with the dust the way it is we will have to clean it again next week before Pam and Jim Clark arrive.
At this very moment it is raining; not a heavy rain; just a light one but we are happy for anything we can get. Maybe it will rain enough for us to catch some more water in the cistern.
This afternoon we worked on the calendar for May. We like to plan all the evangelistic activities a month in advance so everyone knows what we are doing. We penciled in a few of the night services; Timothy will check with the churches to make sure they will be free if we visit them. Hopefully, all the funerals will be finished by May. After the funeral season the people’s minds will turn to farming.
Tichak, one of the night watchmen called a few minutes ago and said he could not come to work tonight. The line was not very good; he said something about being in the village attending a funeral and that the rain was coming but we don’t have any of the details. At least he let us know he was not coming to work.
The formula that Steve ordered came in this morning. He ordered 20 cases with 12 in each case. If he estimated the formula correctly, we should have enough to last for the next 4 months. It is difficult to figure because we never know how many mothers will die in childbirth or be unable to breastfeed because of health issues like HIV and Hepatitis. It is like a revolving door; one baby goes off the formula and another one goes on. He also made the inventory list of the medicines the Child Center will need. He will order them tomorrow.
Donkey went to the clinic near the mission house yesterday afternoon; the doctor gave him 3 injections and more tablets. He said that he was pain free after he got the injections and he slept well but when he woke up this morning the pain was back. He was disappointed that the pain came back so quickly. We don’t know what the doctor gave him but if it was steroid shots, it might take a few days to work well. He needed help paying for the medicine. We still want him to go to the main hospital or to Tamale but he is resistant. Maybe the doctor at the clinic will get fed up with treating him and refer him to Tamale.
The rain has stopped. Maybe it will come back around but at least the temperature has dropped. The temperature right now is 75 degrees; it is bitterly cold! That is a big drop from the 100+ temperature this afternoon.
Take care,
In HIS Service,
Steve, Kandie and Skeeter
The Monkeyshines
I could hear the wind storm coming before the parents could see it! I started pacing and lost all interest in the tidbits of food Mom was offering me! I was so happy that I was inside the house. A few minutes later you could see the dust rolling in. Mom made Dad come and look at the dust storm! Soon the sky was brown with dust. They shut all the windows and doors but the dust still creeps in. It was like a horror film! The wind picked up the black plastic bags and they were swirling around in the wind! The only good thing that came out of the wind was that it blew the ripe mangos that were in the tip top of the tree down to the ground. Dad rushed out with a bucket and picked them up before the watchmen could get them. They are for me to eat! After the wind died down it started to sprinkle. We did not even get enough rain to wash off the roof so we could divert the water into the cistern. The temperature dropped and I was freezing! Thankfully, I have a fur coat to wear!
Mom forgot and left her scrap cutting containers on the dining room table. I can only reach the stuff that is on my side of the table; her mistake was setting it on my side of the table. I waited for her to leave the room before I grabbed it and pulled it off on the floor! Oh! What glorious treasure I found in her container. There were markers, ink pens, mechanical pencils, plastic rulers, pins, tailor’s chalk and fabric galore! That was the best few minutes of my life! I had so much fun! Mom did not even fuss at me very much because she knew it was her fault that I was having such a good time!
You know I am a “Tailor’s” apprentice!
Love, Skeeter Taylor
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