Yesterday we went to town to look for a new belt for my sewing machine. We had to ask several people before we found one. Talk about “language barrier”! One guy tried to tell us where to go and this is what we heard as he was pointing, “It is not far; it is just there! See, just there! See the short-short knickers? It is just there next to the jacket covers for the moto tires. Pass there; the third kiosk; count 1, 2, 3 kiosks; it is a lady; she is there, you go.” It is no wonder we walk around in a state of confusion. By way of interpretation short-short knickers are “shorts”, jackets covers for moto tires is just “tires”, kiosk is “a small metal or wooden structure” where goods are sold.
Yesterday someone killed one of the butchers in town. He was on his way to buy cattle which meant he was carrying a large sum of money. It is presumed that he was robbed. It was rumored that the Falani killed him. The Falani are the nomadic tribe that herd cattle. In retaliation some of the town’s people attacked some of the Falanis. At this point it is unclear as to whether or not any of the Falanis that were attack died. The police are out in their numbers, they were even moving around town firing warning shots to let everyone know that they were ready to make arrests if necessary. None of the Falani women who normally come to the Child Center on Monday came today. I don’t blame them in the least. We are a little worried about the babies that are orphans and on formula. If any show up tomorrow we might have to give them extra formula so they don’t have to be out and about until everything settles down.
Divine just left. He went to Tamale today. He was successfully registered his motorcycle and got it transferred into his name. He wanted us to make copies of the documents. He also needed Steve to attach his new number plate to his motorcycle. It is very strange that no one has their own tools. They are lucky if there is even a hammer in the village.
Mr. Iddrisu did not come to work today; he had to shell his corn. Steve tried to call him to make sure he was not sick but never got hold of him. Come to find out his electricity had been disconnected and he left his cell phone at the mosque to be charged.
This afternoon we took a large area rug that was in the apartment to the local car wash to be washed. There are no carpet cleaning machines here. Now this car wash consists of a 4ft cube to hold water and a small power washer about the size of a push lawnmower. The man that owns the machine had never cleaned a carpet before. His business is outside his house with only dirt for a floor. We did not want the carpet to get in the dirt so we draped it over the bed of the truck. It worked like a charm! Of course it will take several days to dry but at least it will be clean.
Have a great day!
In His Service,
Steve and Kandie
