This morning we had a meeting with the employees and the other board directors. The meeting was supposed to start at 8:30 but as usual the people were late in arriving. Zorash called Tichak, one of the night watchmen at 8:30 to see where he was; he told her that he was just leaving the village and not to worry because the meeting did not start until 8:30. She was quick to point out that he was late before he ever left his house. We planned the meeting a little earlier than normal because Zorash needed to go to the hospital to have her foot dressed. The meeting went well until Tichak decided that his watchmen hours were too long and he should be compensated for the extra time he spends at the mission house. We had to pull out his pay packet and show him that his job entitled him to minimum wage and he was making double the minimum wage. At one point he said that he would quit. Jobs in this area are scarce and he is illiterate so a job for him would even be harder to find and we knew that he did not really want to quit; he was just trying to be the big cheese. We told him he was welcome to quit if he wanted to. When I told him that we did not want to lose our night watchman and please don’t leave us he calmed down; started grinning and told us not to worry he would still be the watchman. Kwabena, the other watchman who has only been with us a couple years, asked if the employees could get loans from us. We told them that they could but that the most they could ever get was 500 Cedis (about 45 dollars) and it would be paid back at a rate of 50 Cedis a month. He said that he wanted to borrow more than that. We told him no because we were not a bank or a loan office. We also told them that the raise for 2025 was already set and everyone got the same raise but that in 2026 their raise would be given according to their performance report. We still have the same problem of time and coming to work on time. In the past we have tried several things but nothing seems to work so we will try the performance report and see how it works out. I can hear the complaining already. This time we gave each of the employees a gift of palm oil, a coke and chips for coming to the meeting. They were most pleased with the palm oil.
This afternoon Steve scurried around getting everything ready for tomorrow. We are taking a small road trip. I wanted to hire Red to drive us but Steve said he did not want to take him with us so we are going by ourselves. We have decided to drive down to Kumasi; I have wanted to go for a while. Before there were airline flights from Accra to Tamale we drove through Kumasi twice each year; the main reason I want to go is to shop. We are also looking for a used drill press; we think our chances of finding one are greater in Kumasi than anywhere else because there are lots of furniture makers in Kumasi.
Take care and keep us in your prayers!
In HIS Service,
Steve, Kandie and Skeeter
The Monkeyshines
The compound was a-buzz with people this morning and I did not like it, not one little bit! I tried to warn the parents that strangers were in the yard but the people just kept coming! Because of the meeting I did not get released from prison until almost 10:00! If they had let me out earlier I bet I could have run those people off! I was so nervous and anxious that I took a long nap after lunch! Mom took a nap with me! She has a cold and she does not feel so good so I curled up under the blanket with her to keep her warm. You know it is like a refrigerator in their bedroom! That air conditioner is always on full blast so snuggling under the covers is the only way to keep from getting frostbite! When I woke up from my nap I was raring to go! Mom was still snoozing so I woke her up with a couple of well placed nips on her neck! That is a sure way to get someone to wake up!
I heard Mom say they are going on a road trip! That does not make me happy! I know that means I will be left in the care of Mr. Iddrisu and Donkey! They are not very good babysitters; sometimes they get confused about who has fed me or if anyone has fed me! At least they will only be gone a few days!
Take me with you!!!!
Love, Skeeter
