Zorash was late for work this morning; I mean seriously late. She is supposed to start work at 9:00 but she did not get here until 11:00. She said that the volunteer group that she works with called her for a meeting of some sort. She is going to one of the villages to teach them how to make Shea Butter. I think this morning they were collecting their transport money. She thought that she would be able to get in and out quickly but they did not give her any preference and made her get in line with the rest of the volunteers. She said that she did not know if she would be able to come to work on time tomorrow or not; she has to talk to the coordinator to see what tomorrow’s schedule is going to be. I think this is a weeklong activity.
Steve had to go to town this morning to renew the road worth tags for a couple of the vehicles. Since he was in town and Zorash was at her meeting we were seriously short-handed at the Child Center. Meri and I muddled through until Steve came back from town. We were happy to see him!
Amama also did not come to work today. The husband’s youngest wife (her rival/ her “sister wife”) son had a seizure and was admitted to the hospital. The thing about these polygamist marriages is that all the wives have children but each wife is required to take care of the other wives’ children. Amama has to bathe her rival’s children and the rival’s bathe her children; this is supposed to prove that you love your rival’s children as much as you love your own children. If your rival’s child is sick and in the hospital you have to be as attentive to the child and be at the hospital as much or more than the real mother; Amama spent last night and today at the hospital. Mr. Iddrisu said that a husband can tell if his wives have been fighting because when it is bath time the real mother will be bathing her own children. Please! It is exhausting! Hopefully she will be back at work tomorrow!
When we closed the Child Center Zorash came to the main house and made banku for us for lunch. While she was making the banku (fermented corn dough balls) I made okra stew with goat. We had a lovely lunch and ate far too much! The corn dough has been sitting on the kitchen counter fermenting since we bought it in the market on Thursday; it was nice and sour.
Thank you for all your help!
In HIS Service,
Steve, Kandie and Skeeter
The Monkeyshines
I had to help at the Child Center this morning. I was minding my own business when one of the mothers decided to jump at me and tease me; as soon as she did I started jumping back at her and screaming! Dad got on to me because he did not see the woman jump at me! Mom came to my defense and told Dad what happened. Dad told the woman that her behavior was unacceptable and that would cause me to mean and bite! These people don’t know much about how to take care of animals.
This afternoon Mom was working on her quilt; the rows are getting very long and they are draped over her lap almost reaching the floor. She did not know that I could reach the long piece; I snatched out 6 pins before she knew what was happening! I am so quick! I also have learned that if I don’t want to be caught and held down to get the pins out of my mouth I have to drop them as soon as Mom gives me the evil eye and points that finger at me!
Late this afternoon Dad took me outside so I could play in the trees; I played and played. I would still be out there but Kwabena the night watchman came to work and my play time was over! I don’t like Kwabena very much!
Mom is going to need more straight pins very soon! Because a bunch of hers have no heads; I wonder how that happens! They just don’t make things like they use too!
Love, Skeeter
