What a busy, busy day! We got up early this morning because we had to be at the village of Bakpaba at 7:00 to pick up the hog that we bought for the seminar. They were supposed to have the hog slaughtered before we got there but they had not quite finished the job when we arrived. One of the men that was helping wanted to know if he could have the blood. We did not want the blood; he brought a shallow round wash bowl to catch the blood. The hog was so big that it took 5 strong men to lift it up into the bed of the truck. The hog was a male; I asked if they were going to eat the testicles also known as “mountain oysters”. They said that no one eats them even though they eat the intestines, heart, liver and lungs. I told them that if no one wanted them we did. They were so surprised when they heard that we enjoy them. When we got the hog out to Kulkpeni the men that were going to cut it into eating sized pieces were ready and waiting for the first pig to arrive. Tichak removed the mountain oysters and gave them to us. I asked Timothy if he would try them if I cooked them. He very reluctantly said that if I cooked them he would try a very small piece. When we finished hanging the Male /Female signs, hanging curtains, matching keys to padlocks and counting chairs we headed back to the mission house. It was close to noon; I cleaned, cut up, seasoned and dredged the mountain oysters in flour. They fried up so nicely and were delicious. We had to go back out to Kulkpeni to take more light bulbs and the food money for the people that were helping cut and cook the meat. We took the mountain oysters with us; of course we ate our fair share on the way out to Kulkpeni. The first person I offered the meat was Tichak, the night watchman; he cautiously took a bite and his eyes grew as big as saucers! He could not believe how delicious it was! He had to try another piece just to be sure! Matthew, one of the church leaders was the next victim. His reaction was the same as Tichak’s. Steve called Timothy. He only wanted a small piece but after he ate that one he took another and another. Next we went to the women; all the women were very brave and tried the meat! They loved it; Rita, Timothy’s wife got several pieces and shared them with her children. The only person that did not try them was Kwabena, the other night watchman; he said that he does not eat pig meat of any sort so he politely declined our offer.
We made another trip to Kulkpeni at 3:30. We went to the bakery and picked up 25 loaves of bread for breakfast in the morning. We do not feed everyone breakfast on Thursday morning; just those that spent the night and the ladies who get up early to start cooking for the noon meal.
We got back to the mission house around 4:30. We did not sit down to eat lunch; we just had a mountain oyster snack. Supper was almost ready when we got back; I put rice in the rice cooker and chicken and plantain in the air fryer. We could have eaten as soon as we got back but we had to wait for Red. He wanted to pick up the money we owed him for a load of gravel and sand.
We had just finished eating supper when Divine came to the mission house. He needed to change his 200 Cedi notes into smaller denominations because he was going to be going from village to village to buy soybeans and he could not use the 200’s.
Take care and please keep the folks that are coming to the seminar tomorrow in your prayers.
In HIS Service,
Steve, Kandie and Skeeter
The Monkeyshines
An amazing thing happened today! Dad let me eat supper at the table with him and Mom tonight. The parents felt sorry for me because I had been cooped up in solitary confinement for a large portion of the day! It was wonderful; Mom set me up my own food station on the corner of the table. We had rice (my favorite), chicken and green leaves of some sort. The green leaves were strange and a bit sour so I knocked them off on the floor when Mom was not looking! I carefully picked up the rice grain by grain, it was delicious! I picked at the chicken; I think I am not supposed to eat meat because I am more of a fruitarian than anything else; you can throw in a few vegetables and nuts and seeds and I am a happy guy! I used my best manners while I was eating! I think I should be allowed to eat at the family table every night! After all I am family!
When Mom released me from prison this afternoon she apologized for not being able to spend much time with me today; she told me that the next 2 days were going to be much the same as they were today. There will be no fun for me!
Bon Appetite,
Love, Skeeter
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