We were short-handed in the Child Center most of the morning because Mr. Iddrisu had to go to town and pay the IRS and Social Security taxes. It takes him hours to get the job done. At least he was successful and everything is paid for another month.
Nazo, the day man, did not come to work again today. He has not felt good for a couple weeks. He does not want to go to the doctor. He thought that antibiotics will make him feel better; they are available without a prescription at almost every drug store. He took far too much Cipro; he thinks that if a little is good a lot is better. It did not help him. When he went home on Saturday he told Steve that he wanted to take ibuprofen. Steve advised him to go to the doctor. He did not come to work on Sunday and he was not here again today. We had Mr. Iddrisu call and check on him this morning. He said that now he thinks he has malaria so he has taken malaria medicine. Steve once again told him to go to the doctor and if his health insurance expired Steve would pay for the medicine. He still refused to go.
Seventy-six children passed through the Child Center this morning. This number does not count the brothers and sisters of the babies. We gave the brothers and sisters flip flops and some of the larger clothes. We estimate that there were about 10 siblings today. That is a whole bunch of babies! One little girl came with a terrible umbilical hernia. The mother said that the Yendi Hospital had referred them to Tamale but they did not have the money to go. Steve gave the mother the money for the transport to Tamale and back. Later in the morning she brought her husband to the Center. He wanted to thank us for the help. They are planning on going tomorrow morning. Steve told them that we could find the money to help with the surgery but the family would have to do their part too. Wouldn’t it be terrible to have a sick child and no means of helping them?
Dawda, the mason came today and patched the wall opening where we put the stair steps. I explained exactly how I wanted the cement block steps made; I even laid the blocks out for him! Guess what? He did not follow the plan; we now have an overly large platform and an overly large step! I almost made him take it apart and start over but I knew that was going to cost more money; you know how I hate to waste money! He tried to make me feel better by saying I could stand on the platform, Bro. Steve could stand on the step; because Bro. Steve was taller than me and we would both be the same height when we were watching the yard!
Steve decided that we should cut down the tree that is blocking our view of the back part of the property from our “look out”. Late this afternoon Steve felled the tree and we got about ¾ of the branches cut and brush cleared. Steve will finish it tomorrow afternoon.
Thank you for all your help!
In His Service,
Steve and Kandie
