Donkey was back at work this morning; he said that he was running around from place to place, friend to friend trying to beg and borrow money for his son to go to Kumasi to the police academy. He said that he finally called the Ya-Na and asked him for assistance. The Ya-Na is the chief of Dagbon; all the people in our area. The Ya-Na is the one that got Yahyah, Donkey’s son, the position in the academy in the first place. Donkey said that he had to wait all day for the Ya-Na to send him the money through mobile money. He said that Yahyah did not join the bus until 3:30 yesterday afternoon. Today is the day to report to the academy; those that are “no shows” will not be allowed to enter the academy and their place in the class will be sold to another student. Yahyah should have arrived in Kumasi in the wee hours of the morning.
It rained heavily again last night; this morning we noticed even more dirt that was washed away near the newly raised sidewalk. We called Dawda, the mason; he came over this evening and we are going to make a cement diversion for the water. Hopefully the new plan will take care of the problem. Dawda is going to come on Monday and work on it. While he is here we are also going to have him finish making the 3 inch apron around the sidewalk to keep the pavers from moving.
We went to pick up the old van this afternoon. Gomda, the mechanic, has been overhauling the engine; but since today was Yendi’s big market day and the road construction crew is building a new road right in front of Gomda’s shop we were not able to get the van out. We had to wait until the people in the market started going home before we could go back and pick up the van. Gomda said the engine was working well and that he wanted us to drive it for a little while and then he was going to reseat the valves or rings or something. I thought we should drive it to Dunni when we visit the church but Steve said that he did not want to risk it because after we get off the main road we will be on very rough bush roads and with all the rain we have had we might need the 4 wheel drive feature on the green truck.
I spent a good deal of the day working on a quilt top. Steve reinforced the bench we are going to give the church tomorrow and put new rope on the long pole clippers that he uses to cut the hard to reach branches on the trees when he is pruning them.
Mr. Iddrisu planted okra in the field in front of the mission house. Four of his children came this morning to cut the okra. I would have bought okra from him but when they finished cutting it we were in town. Maybe next time I will get some.
Thank you for the love, prayers and support.
In HIS Service,
Steve and Kandie
