As soon as we got up this morning we started washing clothes. The sun was out and we wanted to get them hung on the line as early as possible. When we went out to hang up the first load of laundry we smelled the worst smell. We called Nazo, the day man over to help us locate the odor. We knew something had died. Sure enough a big fat rat had died in the over flow gutter. Nazo laughed and laughed at me because I got to gagging and had to leave! It was awful. When the Ghanaians smell something awful they say, “I could hear the smell of it!” Well this morning “I could hear the smell of it!” Steve mixed up a mixture of bleach and disinfectant and poured through the gutter.
We had Meri and Amama wash the corn and soybeans for the weaning mix this morning. The plan is to roast it tomorrow if it is not raining. We had a good bit of rain late this afternoon so maybe it will not rain tomorrow. We roast the grains outside over an open fire. After the rain this afternoon we will have a hard time getting a fire going tomorrow. Steve will douse it with diesel fuel if it gives us too much trouble.
Mr. Iddrisu started painting the shelving unit this morning but it is going to take at least 3 coats of paint if not more to cover it. The problem is that when Mr. Iddrisu and Nazo use oil paint they put so much turpentine in it that is like water. I think they think they are stretching the paint but really when you have to put on 3 and 4 coats what have you saved? We have tried to tell them but they just don’t seem to get it. We wanted to take the bookcase to Abdulai on Saturday but it might not be ready by then.
Steve and Mr. Iddrisu went to the town and country planning office this morning to make some inquires about the property but the officer had gone to work on his farm. He is supposed to call and let us know when he will be back in the office.
Steve also called immigrations in Tamale to see if our passports were ready to be picked up. We do not want to make a trip over there for nothing. No one answered the phone so he sent them a text message. If they are not ready maybe they will finish them if they know we are anxious to get them.
Meri came back to work today. They told her that the baby should be here in about 3 weeks. She was surprised that it would be coming so soon. They also told her that it was not twins. Meri and her husband are carriers for Sickle Cell Disease. Their oldest child has it and with every pregnancy there is a risk of another child having it.
Thank you for the love, prayers and support.
In His Service,
Steve and Kandie
