Today was payday for the workers. I have never figured out why they get paid on the 21stof each month instead of the 1st or the last day of the month. That is just the way they have always been paid. Maybe the hiring in day was the 21st of the month. Whatever be the case we all the workers either today or yesterday, even though they are on holiday, except for Papa, one of the watchmen. Maybe he did not know that today was payday.
Zorash made two trips to the mission house today. The first one was to get her pay and wait for the caregiver of a set of twins to come from a far village. The caregivers were supposed to come for more formula on the 11th but they never showed up. A couple days ago Steve called to check on them; we were afraid that they had died. The children’s father did not have an excuse but said they would be coming but there is always a “language barrier”. When they came the caregiver said that she had borrowed 2 cans of formula from a shop owner to feed the children. We have not seen the babies in over 3 weeks and their weight was not good. One of the little girls had not gained any weight in 3 weeks and the other one had lost weight. The lady who is caring for the babies said that the problem was that she did not have the money to pay for the transport to come to Yendi to get the formula. We were quick to point out that she had bought disposable diapers for the babies and that she had also bought the wet wipes which are both high ticket items for any mother in Ghana. Most use rag diapers and wash clothes. We told her that she needed to use the money that she had more wisely and stop buying disposable diapers and wet wipes and use the money to pay for the bus fare to come to Yendi. She had nothing to say because she knew we were right. We gave her enough formula for the next 2 weeks and 2 extra cans to pay back what she had borrowed. If the babies gain weight next time we see them we can begin to see the babies once a month but if there is no weight gain she will have to continue on the 2 week schedule. Sometimes if we give them lots of formula at one time they will sell it or feed it to other children in the house because they live for today and let tomorrow take care of itself.
Red and his helper, which I found out today is one of his son’s from his first wife, finished stringing the razor wire. They will have to fasten it tomorrow. We were happy that we had more than enough to finish the job. They probably stretched it a little further than we did the first time it was put up.
This afternoon we took mangoes to the lepers; they were very happy to get them. They appreciate everything that we do for them.
Have a great day!
In His Service,
Steve and Kandie
