As soon as Zorash got to work this morning we headed to the grinding mill. She called the owner before we went to give him heads up that we were going to grind about 200 pounds of weaning mix. There were a couple ladies in front of us but they only had small batches of corn to grind. One of the ladies’ corn smelled so good; she had put in cloves and ginger. Not exactly what I like in my porridge but it smelled good all the same. The ladies will make corn porridge for the seminar; not only will it have cloves and ginger it will also be fermented for 3 days. YUM!
The lady with the swollen breast that we sent to Tamale 2 months ago finally came back to the Center this morning. We have about decided that she is not quite normal. As the Ghanaians say, “Her pot arrived without the lid!” She said that she went to Tamale and was admitted; the doctor wanted to do some sort of x-ray with contrast but she did not have the money to pay for it so she left and went back home. She said that while she was in the hospital her husband had a motorcycle accident and died. The lady that came with her to the Child Center is her neighbor and she told us that her husband was not dead; we are not sure if there was an accident or not. She had a wad of money this morning. She said the doctor told her that when she found enough money she was supposed to return to Tamale. She had no documentation from the doctor or the hospital; her breasts were still swollen. Meri said that she was confused about where she lived because Meri has been trying to help us find her. Meri found her living on the outskirts of Yendi. We are very concerned about the baby. The baby is severely malnourished. When we asked what the mother was feeding the baby she said that she was feeding her the 2 cans of formula that we gave her and someone else gave her a can; mostly she was feeding the baby warm water. The baby has taken to sucking her fingers to soothe and pacify herself. We asked if there was anyone in the house that could help feed the baby if we provided the formula. Her friend said that there were other people living in the house so maybe if they have the formula the baby will get fed. We got a phone number and Meri knows where the lady is staying so we can check on the baby’s progress. The mother is another case altogether; we suspect that she has cancer but if she refuses to go to the hospital there is little that we can do. Presently she is getting treatment from the local fetish healer (Juju).
Red stopped by this afternoon to tell us that his bean crop failed; he said that it needed another couple rains but the rain has stopped completely. We are not really in a drought because this is the dry season and we will probably not get any more rain until the end of March or the beginning of April. We had loaned him the money to plant the beans so he is going to pay us back with a load of sand which we will need the next time we come to Ghana.
Take care and enjoy your day!
In HIS Service,
Steve, Kandie and Skeeter
The Monkeyshines
I was a new monkey today after the effects of all the caffeine wore off. Mom talked to Donkey this morning and told him that I was not allowed to have Kola nuts anymore. He started laughing and asked if I could not sleep. Mom said that not only could I not sleep, I could not sit still; I was jumping all over the place. Donkey said that the Kola nuts make him do the same thing. He said that when he eats them, which is every chance he gets, he cannot go to sleep until 2:30 in the morning! Really! Why would he think I wanted to stay awake that long? I was much calmer today and could actually sit still long enough to eat my food.
The watermelons are back in Yendi. They are brought into Yendi from the Bolgatanga area. Dad cut one up for lunch and I ate so much I thought my tummy was going to explode! I love watermelon!
This afternoon I helped Mom and Dad pack their suitcases. Mom said that I was more of a hindrance than a help! The last time I helped pack they ended up going to Kumasi and staying for 3 whole days; I wonder how long they are going to be gone this time?
I hope Mom freezes watermelon for me while they are gone!
Love, Skeeter
