Red’s father died yesterday. Red is our part time driver and good friend. This morning we went to the market and bought 100 pounds of shelled field corn, 100 pounds of rice, a case of canned tomato paste, and 5 gallons of cooking oil. We could not put the grain in regular grain bags; we had to buy burlap Cocoa bags to put the grain in because it is “tradition”. We knew that the food would be the best gift we could give him because all their family and friends will descend upon them and they will stay for at least 3 days and everyone will have to have something to eat. When we took the food to Red’s father’s house it was already full of people. As soon as they took the corn in the house the women opened it and started washing it getting it ready for the noon meal. Part of the corn will be fermented and turned into porridge and the rest will be ground to make TZ (corn dough balls). The family was pleased with the gift.
The grandchildren of the deceased work the crowd of people begging for coins. They usually do not just ask for money rather they fill a gourd bowl full of water and mix hot peppers in the water. They present the bowl to the guest and say, “You have not washed your face today!” and offer you the bowl of hot pepper water. If you refuse to wash your face you have to drop coins in the bowl. Of course no one wants to wash their face in hot pepper water. It is great fun for the kids.
We were short-handed in the Child Center this morning because Zorash had one of her volunteers’ meetings in Tamale. Luckily we were not over run with mothers this morning; only 36 came today. The reason for the meeting in Tamale was to discuss “women farmers”. It will be very difficult for women to farm in this society because it is considered “men’s” work. The chiefs will not want to give land to the women to farm; the tractors are all owned by men and they will not plow the women’s fields until they have finished the men’s fields. The women want the government to supplement the cost of plowing, fertilizer, and seeds which they will not do. They will loan fertilizer against the harvest but there will not be enough yield to cover the cost. It looks like a program that is destined to fail.
Mr. Adams, the man who got the ASV for us stopped by for a visit today. He said that when he went to Accra the bus he was traveling in was the next bus the armed-robbers were going to attack. He said that the driver pulled over after they met some of the men that ran from the bus that was attacked. The men ran back down the road so they could stop all the other vehicles and warn them. They then called the police but the robbers got away.
Take care and have a great day!
In His Service,
Steve and Kandie
