We got a phone call this morning at 6:30 from the immigration officer in Tamale that is “Fast Tracking” our resident visa; we were so excited when he said that the passports had been stamped and were ready to be picked up. He said that their office opened between 9:00 and 9:30. We rushed around and left the house at 7:30. We arrived a little early so we stopped at gas station that sells groceries and bought a few canned goods. We were the first people at the immigrations office. The officer was there waiting on us. We were so happy to have the passports back in our hands. My brother Buz that has the ALS is not doing well and it is comforting to know that we could leave if we needed to. Please keep Buz, his wife Shelly and the kids in your prayers!
As we left Yendi we passed through Kulkpeni and left the pay packets with Timothy. Steve knew that we would not be back in time for the afternoon class or to pay the men. Timothy will teach all the classes today and take care of paying the men.
We took advantage of being in Tamale and bought the paper and pens we will need for the seminar. While Steve was buying popcorn (un-popped) I spied a pressure cooker. We were so surprised. It was actually new, in the box and still had the directions with it. I love a pressure cooker! Anyone that knows me knows that I am in for “speed”! Of course we bought the pressure cooker!
After we bought some fresh vegetables we headed back to Yendi. Did I tell you that there is Kentucky Fried Chicken fast food restaurant in Tamale? Can you imagine? The restaurant has a picture of Colonel Sanders and that red and white box on the sign board. The chicken is just as good as the chicken back home but there are no mashed potatoes, gravy, green beans, macaroni, biscuits or slaw. The only sides that are available are fried rice and French fries but we don’t care; it is a little taste of home! There is even a bathroom in the restaurant! We are really come up in the world.
We got back to the mission house before it got dark. We don’t like to travel after dark. Everything was peaceful when we passed through Sambu. Sambu is the village just before you get to Kulkpeni where Timothy lives. Yesterday there was some fighting in Sambu between the Dagombas (Mr. Iddrisu and Nazo’s tribe) and the Konkomba (Timothy’s tribe). The military and the police rushed to Sambu and subdued the fighting. Yesterday was Sambu’s big market day and it appears that the fighting started over who was going to sell yams in which section of the market.
Take care and keep praying for us and for the work.
In His Service,
Steve and Kandie
