Somehow we got into a long discussion with Donkey this morning about money, missing money, being poor, and not having enough money even though you are getting a regular pay packet. Donkey is a Muslim and is not supposed to be practicing Juju and witchcraft but just because you are not supposed to practice it does not keep them from believing. Donkey launched off into a long explanation about how the people who hate you can go to the Juju (witchdoctor) and put a curse on you or on your farm or on your money and cause all of your work to collapse. He said that he heard all these stories are hearsay. Anyway, he heard that the reason his friend has no money is because his friend’s wife put a curse on him when he sent her back to her father. (sort of like divorcing) He said that someone saw the wife and mother-in-law at the village consulting the Juju so that his crops would fail. He went on to say that the reason his friend suffers so much from lack of money is because they have a curse that can be put on a person and when he puts money in his pocket it will be gone when he gets ready to buy something. I personally find all these little tidbits of information very interesting; Steve just wonders what they have been smoking to be so gullible to believe these things.
Donkey is going to change his work schedule because he is going to need to take some Friday’s off because of his new position at the palace as donkey. He said that there are certain Fridays that the Ya-Naa (king of Dagbon) does not come out into public. He does not come out on any Friday that is on the 1st, 5th, 15th or 25th. I guess these are like small holidays for the Ya-Naa. He never really gets a break from the people. Every time we visit the palace there are lots of people hanging around. We will have to ask Donkey if there is a significance to those particular Friday’s. On the Fridays when the Ya-Naa does not come out he will be able to come to work but other than that he will switch his Friday work day for his Monday off day. We may have to make some modifications when we leave because it will not take people long to figure out that no one is here on Friday.
Steve just came in from spraying around the compound for mosquitoes. With all the rain the mosquitoes are terrible. The watchmen sleep under mosquito nets but the nets can be hot.
Steve spent the afternoon rebuilding the benches he will give the churches this month when we go to visit. The ones he is reworking are much stronger and will last longer.
Enjoy your day!
In HIS Service,
Steve and Kandie
