Hello People! It has been a long time since I have written the Yendi Notes; in case you have not already figured it out I (Kandie) am writing tonight’s notes.
We are running around like chickens with our heads cut off. Tomorrow is the last day for Jordan, Lindsay, Charity and Faith to be in Yendi so they are packing and getting ready to leave. Steve and I are also getting ready to come back to the states for a short visit. Our sister-in-law and dear friend, Shelly died earlier today. She developed septicemia from surgery she had a little while ago. She is the wife of my brother Buz who died a couple years ago from ALS. We want to go home so that we can lend them our support. Please pray for her two children and their families in the difficult days ahead. They have had more than their fair share of trials! She will be greatly missed.
First thing this morning we went to visit the Ya-Na. He is the second most important chief in Ghana. He lives in Yendi. It is customary to go and visit him when we have visitors. There are lots of traditions to follow when visiting him. We have to wait until one of the elders is ready to “lead” us into the Ya-Na. Before we enter the palace we remove our shoes. Everyone who enters removes their shoes. There is a large array of shoes in various sizes. I always joke about leaving my shoes behind and picking a better looking pair of shoes. In his entrance hall he has one of his horses tied. The horse eats and poops in the hall; the Ya-Na has a man that does nothing but look after his three horses. After entering the hall we sit with the elders and wait to be called into the “skin” room (sort of like the throne room) only this king sits on animal skins instead of on a throne. We even saw Papa Zachariah (our old watchman) sitting with the Ya-Na today. The elders sit at the feet of the Ya-Na. We are greeted and we state our mission; we talk to the king through his linguist. Charity and Faith did not go with us today because Faith was still feeling poorly. Today we were not only greeting the chief and introducing our visitors but we were making a donation to the new palace he is in the process of building. The king was very happy with our gift and to show his appreciation he presented Steve with a Fugu (traditional hand woven smock worn by the people in this area). He also gave us 6 huge tubers of yams and a guinea fowl. We regifted the yams and guinea fowl to Nazo and Mr. Iddrisu. The king asked if he could have Lindsay for a wife; he was disappointed when he found out that she was already married. They went with us to the palace. After all was done we asked permission to take some pictures and be dismissed.
This afternoon we went back to Kpamang for the last day of VBS. Charity gave each of the children and adults a bracelet. Jordan presented the teenagers a soccer ball; they were thrilled with the ball, they call soccer balls “footballs”.
Zorash and Amama fixed Fufu for us for lunch today. Fufu is the national dish of Ghana. It is made from boiled yams that have been pounded to make a stiff dough. We made goat with okra stew and beef palm nut stew to eat with the Fufu. Everyone thought it was delicious!
This evening at 7:00 we went to the village of Nandundo to have an evening Bible study. Jordan taught a lesson on idolatry. His lesson was very good and something that all the people could relate to. Before we went to Nandundo we stopped at Sobitido to give them a soccer ball and to look at their new church building. This is the place we could not go on Sunday night because it was raining. Jordan also gave the young men at Nandundo a soccer ball. Everyone loves a soccer ball!
We did not get to eat supper until after Bible class tonight but it was good; we had eggplant parmesan.
It is late and we are tired so we will close for now.
Have a great day!
In HIS Service,
Steve, Kandie, Jordan, Lindsay, Charity and Faith
