The weather was strange today. We woke up to sunny skies. After our walk the dark clouds rolled in and it sprinkled for a few minutes then the sun popped back out and for a while the sun was shining and it was raining at the same time. About 45 minutes later the bottom fell out and the rain poured. It rained for several hours.
We were in the market when the heavy rain started. We were sitting at the metal workers shop waiting on him to fix the lock on an old metal box. We stopped to see if he could make us metal boxes for the churches to keep their documents and attendance books in. The churches have no way to protect their important things from rain, rats and mice. The metal worker assured us that he could make them for us but we wanted him to make one first to be sure that it looked good. While we were there I spied an old metal box that he was using as a tool box. Naturally I wanted to buy it. The lock was broken; I told him I did not care I still wanted it. He said he would fix it for me. He knocked a lock off another container and fixed it onto the box we were buying. It was amazing to watch him work. He broke the head off a large nail and used it as a brad to hold the lock in place; after he got the nail in place he hammered the other end of the nail and flattened it to secure it. The Ghanaians are masters at making do with what they have. They take recycling to new heights.
Red finished the metal door for Mr. Iddrisu’s office this afternoon. He experimented and made a solid door and screen door combination. He even made the screen door so the screening can be replaced when it wears out. Dawda, the mason is coming tomorrow to install the door. Nazo is going to take his holiday tomorrow so Steve will have to act as the mason’s helper. Isn’t he lucky?
I forgot to tell you that yesterday was the “fire festival”. The fire festival is a traditional holiday for the people in this area. The people in Yendi have not been allowed to celebrate the fire festival for the past 18 years because 18 years ago the king of Dagbon was killed in Yendi on the night of the fire festival. Since a new king has not yet been appointed the people are not allowed to celebrate the traditional holidays. Some of the people living outside of Yendi celebrated the festival. Because of past events the security was tightened last night and we are proud that no mischief took place.
We took the truck to the mechanic this morning to have the new headlights installed. Gomda said that they would have to keep the truck until it got dark so they could adjust the lights. We could have pulled the truck in the garage and adjusted them during the day. We are waiting on him to call so we can pick it up.
The mechanic that is working on Timothy’s motorcycle said that some of the clutch parts we bought a couple days ago would not fit his motorcycle. Japan Motors told us we could bring them back if they did not work; we will see how that works out.
Take care and have a great day!
In His Service,
Steve and Kandie
