Muslims all over the world started the Ramadan fasting today except a small pocket of those that live in this area. They said that they will start tomorrow because the time in Mecca is not the same time as it is in Ghana so they will start tomorrow. The fasting is supposed to go on for 30 days; now I wonder if they will stop fasting at the same time most of the people in the world stop fasting or if they will carry on one more day to pay back the day they missed. I know what I would do; I would start late and finish early. Ha!
The bulk of the mangoes have fallen off the tree. We got up early this morning to pick up the ones that fell from the time the watchmen left and Mr. Iddrisu came. We got 1 ½ buckets and shared them with the ladies that work in the Child Center. We don’t allow the workers to beat the mango trees because they knock off the green mangos and the leaves but sometimes they do it anyway. There were so many green mangos down yesterday that I knew Mr. Iddrisu had been beating the tree because he was the only one working yesterday so this morning I went around and picked up all the sticks, broom handles, long pieces of wood, mops and anything I thought they could use to beat the tree or throw up in the tree. As soon as the workers got here this morning I let them know that I had taken all the sticks. We are always happy when mango season is over.
We have spent the bulk of the day trying to fill out and file the employees’ annual returns. This is something the employees are supposed to do but please! Several of the workers cannot read or write; how in the world are they supposed to do it themselves? Today’s problem was that we have 4 employees that make exactly the same amount of money and pay the exact same amount of tax but when we filled out the spread sheets everyone’s total came up with a different amount. Some owed money while others had a credit! The amounts were not even close; one was to get a credit of .10 pesawas (pesawas are sort of like pennies) while another owed 32 Cedis which is equivalent to about 3 dollars. We made copies of what the computer generated and Steve is going to the tax office tomorrow to see if they can figure out what is wrong. This whole thing makes my eye twitch!
The very small baby that is 1 year 5 months and only weighed 5 kilos has not come back to the Center. We are worried about the child; he lives in Zorash’s neighborhood. She said that she had not seen him in a few days but she would check on him. She said that she is afraid to check on him for fear he is no more. Maybe she will know something tomorrow.
Thank you for all you do for us and for the work.
In HIS Service,
Steve and Kandie
