We went to Tamale today. We had hoped to be able to pick up the certificates from the Registrar General’s office but the computer system was down and had been down for several days. Mr. Mahama, the guy that is helping us, gave us a glimmer of hope that we might be able to get it on Tuesday or Wednesday of next week if the computers are up and running. There were tons of people at the Registrar General’s office today because they are helping people fill out the documents they need for the Ghana Cards. The Ghana government has decided that all citizens need to have an official Ghana Card national identification system. Imagine the task of registering everyone in Ghana from the oldest to the youngest. To help the people they want to register their cell phone SIM cards to the Ghana Cards. All cell phones have to be reregistered by March 31st of next year. They started the registration last year but many did not get registered; there is now a mad scramble to get registered so they can keep their cell phones active. Steve tried to re- register ours but the system is not ready to accept non- Ghanaians.
While we were in Tamale we picked up a used chain stitch sewing machine. I have wanted one ever since the first time I came to Ghana with my parents in 1970. It is not a name brand machine but it will give me something to experiment with and if I really like it I can always upgrade. A young man that knows how to operate the machine works at the shop where we bought it; he gave me a lesson on how to thread and operate the machine before we left Tamale. It took a bit of time to get the machine set up and running after we got back to the mission house.
We went back to the Vodafone office about that desk cell phone that we cannot use. The tech said that he was going to try something different. He is going to try to abort the old number; get a new number. If that works he is then going to try to retrieve our original number. I asked him if it was successful would it also transfer the balance of the money that is on the chip. He said that I should not worry about the money because he was trying to solve my problem. Please! Give me strength!
We also picked up a new oxygen meter while we were in Tamale. Last week we ordered one and were pleasantly surprised when we were able to get it today. Speaking of surprises; I forgot to tell you that at the naming ceremony we went to last Saturday they allowed us to pick a Bible name for the child. We chose the name Eve. The family picked a traditional name for the baby; the name they chose translates to “Surprise”. We have known children that the name Surprise would have fit very well! I married one; Steve was a surprise.
Take care and have a great day!
In His Service,
Steve and Kandie
