Good News! No, we did not get the “Tax Clearance Certificate” but we got better news! Our passports came back! It is such a wonderful feeling having our passports back in our own hands instead of the passport retention receipt! The immigration officer in Tamale called at noon today to tell us that our passports had been send up from Accra and that they were ready for us to pick them up at our earliest convenience. Well our earliest convenience was immediately. I was in the process of fixing lunch so we put the cold stuff in the fridge and I put the black-eyed peas in the crock pot; we grabbed a glass of ice tea and a few snacks and headed to Tamale. The roads were muddy but at least it had stopped raining.
As soon as we got to Tamale we went to the immigrations office. We were anxious to see if we really got a 2 year visa. We were flying high when we saw that it was actually stamped for 2 years. The 2 year visa made that trip to Accra and spending 2 nights in a hotel all worthwhile. We have been renewing this resident visa for 19 years and this is the first time that we got a 2 year extension.
While we were in Tamale Steve bought a couple security lights for the mission house yard. There are a few dark spots he wants to brighten up. We had time to stop at the cultural center so I could do a little shopping before we headed back to Yendi. We were a little later getting back than we wanted to be; it had gotten dark by the time we got to Kulkpeni, the village just outside of Yendi where Timothy Niligrini lives.
We stopped to visit with Abenada, the widow of John Kanbonja. She met us at the mission gate as we were leaving but she does not speak English and no one was around to interpret for her. We asked Timothy to go with us so we could see what she wanted. She never comes to the mission house unless she needs something. She said she was planning on remodeling her house and wanted to know if we would do the work for her. We can’t do all the work for her but we will help. She has not even talked to a mason to know how much the remodel will cost. Steve gave her some money so she would be able to hire a mason to give her an estimate.
Tichak, the watchman, went to the market this afternoon and bought heavy winter coats for him and Papa, the other watchman. He was very proud of his purchases. We paid him back for the money he spent. We asked about the flashlights; he said that because of rain today he did not have time to buy flashlights but he would soon. We told him to look for new rain coats too.
It is almost time for bed so I will close for now.
In His Service,
Steve and Kandie
P.S. Please we need your prayer for my (Kandie’s) aunt. She is in assisted living and she has come down with the Covid virus; she is fighting hard and would appreciate all of your prayers. Her name is Betty Jean Pepper; she lives in Texas. Thank you!
