Dawda, the mason, told us that they would finish the building tomorrow. He then said that we should do something for the workers to make them “happy”. (A way of showing our appreciation for their hard work.) I asked him what he thought that we should do. He said that maybe we could buy minerals for them and something to eat along with the minerals so that they would chop well on the last day! I think he is thinking about cookies. Steve piped in and said, “Oh! If we give you something special we won’t have to pay out chop money?” Dawda was having none of that!
Simeon, Timothy Niligrini’s brother, came to work today. He still owes us from the last time that we were here when he bought a bicycle for his wife on credit; he is paying it off by working for us as a day laborer. He is such a hard worker. This morning he joined the mason’s crew and hauled gravel, cement and blocks.
Zorash left at noon today to get on a bus to go to Accra. One of her cousins is getting married in Accra. The lady lives in the UK but is coming back to Ghana to get married. I am not sure if her husband to be is a Ghanaian. Zorash is so excited about seeing all of her relatives. The trip will be a killer! She will board the busaround 1:00pm and they will drive through the night and arrive in Accra in the morning. I asked how many hours it would take; she said she did not know because it all depends upon how long they have to wait for the police convoy to come and escort them through the dangerous places where the armed robbers are. I personally would rather travel by daylight!
Steve had a meeting with the employees this morning to let them know how much next year’s raise would be and to go over a few things that they needed to know before we leave Ghana. We gave each of them 1 ½ liters of cooking oil and a coke for a thank you for coming to the meeting. They were pleased with the gift.
We melted lye soap; when it is broken into pieces and covered with hot water it becomes a paste. The ladies that cook for the seminar use the paste to coat the bottom of the aluminum cook pots so they are easier to clean. They cook with firewood and cleaning the pots is difficult. Last year we made 5 gallons of the paste and they ran out; this year we are making 7 ½ gallons.
Thank you for the love, prayers and support.
In His Service,
Steve and Kandie
