God is so good to Ghana! Here we sit in the middle of the dry season; Yendi has not had any rain since the end of October and the mango trees are loaded with fruit! It is amazing that a tree could bloom and bear fruit when there has been no rain for 4 months and it will probably be another month before we get the first small rain of the rainy season. The mango trees are not the only trees that are producing fruit now; the cashews also are producing fruit and nuts. Most people are not aware that the cashew nut grows on the end of an edible fruit. The fruit is full of water, is sour and makes your teeth sharp, sort of like eating a persimmon.
Red came this morning to discuss the wall project. The mason would have already finished molding the blocks but they ran out of cement. Not our problem this time! Red is the one that is making the blocks; we are just buying the finished product from him. All the headaches are for him on this leg of the project. This morning we figured and bought the material for the gate/grate type structures that we had to add to the wall so the water could pass through without knocking down the wall. These gates have to be raised to the same heights as the wall. We also bought the material for the “T” post that will be mounted on the top of the wall to hang the razor wire. We had to walk the property a couple times to count and measure; not a fun job in this heat! They will need the “T” post as soon as they start raising the wall. Red also wanted the job of taking down the razor wire and knocking loose the existing “T” post. We are going to reuse them by welding 12 inches of pipe to them to better support the razor wire.
Nazo had a problem with his bicycle so Steve took pity on him and gave him the money to get a new gear sprocket for the bicycle. Nazo does not have a motorcycle and he rides his bike to the palace and back every day. He rides it to work but his house borders the mission property at the back so that ride is not very long.
Steve is outside trimming fire blight out of 2 of the mango trees behind the Child Center. About the time we think we have gotten rid of it we find another spot somewhere else. Steve thought he would wait until it got cooler to work outside but right now it is 5:30 and the temperature is still 103 degrees.
We would like you to say a special prayer for the family of Jeff Woods. They are having the funeral / memorial service for both of Jeff’s parents Paul and Millie Woods today. They passed away just a couple days apart. Paul and Millie were special people and they will be missed by everyone that knew them!
In His Service,
Steve and Kandie
