Paul and Red got up early this morning and headed back to Tamale. The air conditioner was not working in his truck and he did not want to make that long trip down to Accra without air! They also had to finish re-registering Paul’s truck. They were successful and they got back to Yendi sooner than we thought they would. They arrived around 4:00pm.
Steve finished the annual report for the Child Center; now I have to get it edited. Steve’s work on the report is not finished. He still has to make copies of the audit, the certificates and the other documents that are required for the renewal. Of course, there is always the cover page and the application forms. It is quite the process; we sure wish that we could get it licensed for multiple years.
Steve got the tires changed on the old van; these are the same tires that we bought several weeks ago in Tamale. He checked the spare tire that the mechanics fixed Sunday morning and it is still holding air!
After our walk this morning we put on our boots, grabbed some gloves, a shovel and a pick type tool that is on a long pole and headed out to the gutter that is in front of the lane. The gutter is starting to fill up and back up from all the plastic bags, rocks, sticks, plastic bottles and old clothes that people want to get rid of. Many times, the gutters are used instead of the garbage bins. Steve does not really care if the gutters are backing up, he says that it is an exercise in futility! I just can’t stand the nastiness! And I know that if we don’t get the gutters moving soon, they will be overflowing! We are still getting heavy rains so that helps move the dirt along. We have worked on the gutters several times before and we are seeing improvements. Steve knocked the dirt and debris loose and I picked out the big stones and waste. Then I came behind Steve with a narrow shovel and scooped up the clay, gravel and sand. I flung it off to the side. The people that were traveling down the road were surprised and amazed to see two old white people working so hard to clean out the gutters. Near the end of our job a couple of young boys about 10 and 15 years old came by and offered to help us. I was more than happy to get the extra help. They helped us until we ran out of steam and called it a day! Steve paid them handsomely for the help! They were very happy with the day’s events! As we were walking back to the mission house a couple of their friends came by; you should have heard the excitement when they saw the money they had made for helping us!
I had already started a load of clothes when the sky started clouding up. I was afraid we were going to have to hang them over the furniture and dry them in the house but then the sun popped out and the clothes dried very well.
Enjoy your day!
In His Service,
Steve, Kandie, Paul and Skeeter
The Monkeyshines
Today was a very good day! Zero visitors came to the compound. The Child Center had lots of visitors and children crying but I spent my day under the mango tree and helping Mom with her chores.
At one point this morning, I got tangled up in the ribbon that Mom used to tie my stuffed elephant to the big mango tree. It took her a while to get me untangled because I was not cooperating! I could not help but jump on that elephant every time she got it almost untwisted! I thought the whole thing was one big game!
Mr. Iddrisu is not very bright! This morning he raked up all the mangos that the bats had knocked down during the night, he made 2 piles of them! I could reach both piles when I was playing in and around the mango tree. I was having a grand time jumping, throwing, and spreading the mangos around! But then Mom saw me and she came out with a bucket and started picking the mangos up to throw away; I was not happy about having my play area disturbed! I could snatch them out of the bucket about as fast as Mom could put them in. She put the bucket on the ground and started raking them in with both hands; she was not playing fair! Game Over! Mom can move fast when she wants too!
I spent the afternoon in the bedroom with the parents. We watched a western; it was an episode of Bonanza! When things get scary, I jump on Dad because I know he can protect me from those horses!
Ride-em Cowboys!
Love Skeeter
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