January 30, 2010
So much has happened today. Woke up at 5:30, showered and ate an orange and a cracker to be able to take my morning pills. Met Annika and we left at 6 to get a tro-tro. Went to Cape Coast and grabbed some breakfast. Oh, it was good!! I got a boiled egg that they peel there and cut open and put some hot spices and onions in it for 30 pesewas. Oh, I loved it. And then for 20 pesewas for fried bread… it tasted like a donut. It was so good. Then went to a junction to take a taxi to Domama for one cedi. The roads were rough like usual. In Domama, we went to the information center and waited for someone to come. She told us the prices and what was available. We decided to have a tour guide to Rock Shrine for 6 cedis each and then a water tour for 5 cedis each. Then 2 cedi each for the paddler. And then she said that since the path from here to everywhere would be 8 kilometers, that we should take a taxi that would cost 15 cedi. But we couldn’t find one at a reasonable price so we walked. Wow… it was long. So we did some hiking today too and got in better shape. The Shrine was awesome. It was 2 huge boulders on the ground and then one rock on top that resembled the rock from Lion King. The story behind it is that before Christianity, people would come here and worship lesser gods. But now, you just see a lot of alcohol bottles inside. There were three chambers, and we went into each. Then he started to climb the rock by holding to a vine like thing from the trees. He said we should come and try. Annika tried first but she couldn’t. So I tried and it was pretty easy. We then were on the second level and climbed to the third. There were so many ants crawling on you that there was no point on fighting them until they got on your face. Then Annika tried again and she made it. We then went down. Oh, and on the way while we were walking (which may I mention was really long) he was telling us the names of trees. He picked a fruit and split it open. It looked so gross. There was something gooy around something else and he picked it up and sucked on it and spit it out. He said “Cocoa seeds.. they are very sweet. So I picked one up and it felt SOOO gross that I felt it was going to be gross but it tasted amazing. Chocolate is only one tasty side of the coco bean. It tasted citrusy, like Wonka weird candy or those citrus tic tacs. It was so good. Then we continued onto the river. There they stopped and poured some Palm Wine into a waterbottle and offered us some. I asked if there was an alcohol, and they said “a little but it is very good”. So Annika tried a little and the rest drank the rest, but I wasn’t interested. We then got to the water, and we were very hot. Just sweating and sweating. Hiking in Africa is so different from hiking in Idaho…. just the weather is so humid and hot. Getting to the river, they said that the people who usually take people were gone farming and that only locals were here, and they could not give us a ride so that we must walk. I said “No.. we understood it to be that we were going to have a water cruise” so he asked the elderly gentleman who was crossing the river in his canoe transporting people and plantains across the river if he would do it for 2 cedi each, 4 cedi total. He said he would put us on the water for a half an hour and then bring us back to the same spot. I said no, we want to travel to our next destination. Ben, our tour guide talked with the man again, and he said “Sure”. So it was like bargaining, and it was so worth it. Getting on the water was so beautiful. You hear the tropical birds, and the trees are so big. There were lots of rocks in the river and the river was shallow, and we only got stuck once. But since the canoe was just made of wood like you would build a house I guess, Annika was bailing water a lot of the time. Ben was afraid of water and had never done it before. He was so afraid. He was a 19 year old finishing his last year in High School. He wants to become a surgical doctor. He is very nice, and we had many pleasant conversations with him and the two other gentlemen that came with us. Getting off the river, we walked again. Walking back after the River tour, we walked through many small villages, like one or two families and the last one we stopped while Ben, our tour guide, talked fante to them for a little bit. When we were walking away, Ben told us what they were talking about.. “He said to ask you if you had a husband, especially you” as he pointed to me. My first thought was, is this your question or that man’s for himself, his children or friends or to ask if Ben had already asked us. I wasn’t sure but I laughed and said, “No, I am not married. I am too young and still have school.” So that made me laugh! I was becoming dehydrated, but Annika was worse. I found that I have another water bag and gave it to her. The walk was so long, may I mention, and I could feel my skin burning, but I had already tried putting some sun screen on but with all the sweat, it just couldn’t possibly work so I brought out my bandana and tied it around my arm that was facing the sun while I walked. The burn isn’t too bad but of course it burns. I was starting to get worried about Annika because she was no longer talking, a little aggitated and said she was getting a headache and a little dizzy. But we just had no water and to stop in the shade would just keep us longer from water. We then turned the Corner to Domama and there was the heavenly Fan Ice guy. So we bought Fan Yogo (frozen strawberry yogurt) for Annika, Ben, Walsin, and myself. It never tasted better, but we needed water. So we got to some water, and they bought us 4 water bags, 5 pesewas each, and some Sprite. I learned that you bring back the glass bottle from where you bought it to get some money back because they reuse all the glass bottles. We then paid Ben 13 cedi each because he also had to walk, so he got 26 cedi which is way good for an afternoon’s work. We then took a taxi to the junction, waited for a tro-tro. Went to Cape Coast and bought some more Fan Yogo. We got to Asebu around 5, and we both were just tired and burned. I took a shower to get off the sweat and all the dead or alive ants that might still be one me and eat dinner. I hadn’t eaten anything except those three things in the morning plus hiking and sweating made me really hungry. So I was excited for a good, big meal. But tonight they fed me smashed plantain. I am still not used to the whole one dish with a whole lot of something on it. So I was like “Aaa, smashed plantain. I had that once and it was okay.” So I sat down and I could tell they mashed fish into it. You know that I love fish. I always want fish sandwhiches, fish salad, Salmon anytime I can, but here, fish just doesn’t work. It makes me nauseous just to think about it. So I tried to eat as much as I could but when I would chew on fish bones I almost threw up. I just don’t think fish and fish bones should be mashed into fruit but that is just me! ^_^ So I decided to not finish and maybe I will eat at Elvis’s or just wait to late morning. I have told them that I just can’t eat fish, that I just can’t and won’t. But maybe I didn’t explain it correctly. That no matter how the fish is prepared it is the smell that gets me. But oh well. Today was just amazing. I got great pictures and video I hope. For the rest of the day, Annika invited me over to watch a movie, so I might go and do that and then go to sleep. I am excited for church tomorrow. Even though I will just sit there for 3 hours not understanding what much is being said, it is good people doing a good thing and I love it. Plus, I get to talk with the Saunders so that will be great. Well, I am going to go and try and get some food. Love you!!!
Sunday, February 7, 2010
January 29--Pee, Plantains & a Funeral
January 29, 2010
Sleeping at the House last night was pretty okay. Nothing compared to the first time. Cho-go was up every few hours, and then he peed just as usual. Ruth lost her tye-dye uniform that they wear on Friday’s, and so AnneLouise wrote a note to the teacher hoping that she wouldn’t get beaten for it. I then came back and had breakfast. It was boiled plantain and some kind of soup. I just couldn’t eat the soup and then plantain soon lost its taste. I have found that the only things I can eat and actually not be hungry after is oats, rice, plantain, bread and egg sandwiches, and then Mrs. Incoom popped some popcorn which was a very nice treat. I also love the treats they sell on the streets. Like the ground nuts, friend yam, Fan Yogo, and sweet rolls. I want to try more, but I will do that as time goes on. After breakfast I slept on the couch watching a Soap Opera with Pe-Pe and Mrs. Incoom for almost 2 hours. I then went to hang out with Austin, AnneLouise, Annika and Elvis at Elvis’s house. We then looked to find some Fan Yogo on the way up, but we couldn’t find the person who sells it locally. I went up to the House where Pricilla peed on my lap, and then I started feeling sick and I decided to come back home. Annika said she has a medicine that will solve what I have. Annika and I were going to sleep at the House tonight but it looks like Annika wants to or we will just have Ester do it. Tomorrow we leave at 6 on a Tro-tro for Cape Coast then to the rock shrine. And also, Theresa was talking about something that women wear called Underwear beads. Or At least that is our nickname. So she got me some to show me what they are. Each strand of beads is like 30 pesewas, so really cheap. They are small beads of a single color, mine is green, and you tie them around your waist and keep them on all the time. For little girls, they wear them so that they will have big hips and be very beautiful. Older women wear them because they are attractive. It is kind of like lacey underwear to them when a man accidently sees them and it is attractive, I guess. So I am glad to have it to bring back and show you but I am not going to wear it!!! For the rest of the day, I talked with Mrs. Incoom about religion for about 2 hours and then had rice for dinner. I will be going to their church not this Sunday, but next. And then we went to the House where loud speakers will be playing all night. A person died and so tonight, Friday, is the night they will stay awake all night, and it just happens to be right next to the House. Poor AnnLouise and the children. I hope they sleep alright.
Sleeping at the House last night was pretty okay. Nothing compared to the first time. Cho-go was up every few hours, and then he peed just as usual. Ruth lost her tye-dye uniform that they wear on Friday’s, and so AnneLouise wrote a note to the teacher hoping that she wouldn’t get beaten for it. I then came back and had breakfast. It was boiled plantain and some kind of soup. I just couldn’t eat the soup and then plantain soon lost its taste. I have found that the only things I can eat and actually not be hungry after is oats, rice, plantain, bread and egg sandwiches, and then Mrs. Incoom popped some popcorn which was a very nice treat. I also love the treats they sell on the streets. Like the ground nuts, friend yam, Fan Yogo, and sweet rolls. I want to try more, but I will do that as time goes on. After breakfast I slept on the couch watching a Soap Opera with Pe-Pe and Mrs. Incoom for almost 2 hours. I then went to hang out with Austin, AnneLouise, Annika and Elvis at Elvis’s house. We then looked to find some Fan Yogo on the way up, but we couldn’t find the person who sells it locally. I went up to the House where Pricilla peed on my lap, and then I started feeling sick and I decided to come back home. Annika said she has a medicine that will solve what I have. Annika and I were going to sleep at the House tonight but it looks like Annika wants to or we will just have Ester do it. Tomorrow we leave at 6 on a Tro-tro for Cape Coast then to the rock shrine. And also, Theresa was talking about something that women wear called Underwear beads. Or At least that is our nickname. So she got me some to show me what they are. Each strand of beads is like 30 pesewas, so really cheap. They are small beads of a single color, mine is green, and you tie them around your waist and keep them on all the time. For little girls, they wear them so that they will have big hips and be very beautiful. Older women wear them because they are attractive. It is kind of like lacey underwear to them when a man accidently sees them and it is attractive, I guess. So I am glad to have it to bring back and show you but I am not going to wear it!!! For the rest of the day, I talked with Mrs. Incoom about religion for about 2 hours and then had rice for dinner. I will be going to their church not this Sunday, but next. And then we went to the House where loud speakers will be playing all night. A person died and so tonight, Friday, is the night they will stay awake all night, and it just happens to be right next to the House. Poor AnnLouise and the children. I hope they sleep alright.
January 28, 2010-- Playdough, Clinic & Soccer Cup
January 28, 2010
January is almost over!!! That is crazy!! For the rest of yesterday, the kids played with the playdough that I brought. It was fun to see the kids use their creativity and play with their hands. Like any child, they recreate what they see. So a lot of them did snakes and fruit and people with big bellybuttons and the cooking things. Everyone for their cooking, cooks outside and has three handmade mud stacks to lay a pot on top to cook food. So the kids would make this and pretend to fan the fire and cook the food. They are so wonderful. AnnLouise and I will sleep at the orphanage again. I woke up at 6:20 and took a shower and left for the House at 6:30. We got there, got them dressed and ready for school, and made sure they made their beds to not get beaten. Then I helped with dishes and laundry. Some of the old wounds opened up again. So I only did about half or less of the laundry until I needed to leave for the clinic. The clinic was slow, but I took vitals and did one malaria test. I am trying to be patient with how they work, but it is just done so differently. So I am working on understanding their system. We then left to go to the school that Pastor set up. There, AnnLouise and I actually taught the class for an hour and a half. It was pretty crazy. We knew nothing that they were learning-- just English-- and not being able to know how they best learn. So we taught them the alphabet, numbers from 1-20, colors, shapes, and the colors of the rainbow. I talked more with Pastor and Fred about what they want for the music class. I will bring my laptop, and I will teach the younger children one day and the older ones another day. We will have English lyrics and do some choreography so I pray that I will do okay. I hope so. We got back, and I had fried yam or potato. When I was last in Cape Coast, I bought a bag of candy, and I have become to addicted to them. The candy tastes so good. It is like a strawberry cream chewy thing. We then went to the orphanage, and I sewed up some clothrs, fetched water, and played a little bit. AnnLouise and I will sleep at the House tonight and tomorrow. Tonight, the football game is against Nigeria for the African Cup. Nigeria is their biggest opponent; like a glorified Skyline vs. Idaho Falls High School. So I hope we win tonight. It is so funny to be on top of the hill and hear the whole town chant and yell when Ghana gets a goal.
January is almost over!!! That is crazy!! For the rest of yesterday, the kids played with the playdough that I brought. It was fun to see the kids use their creativity and play with their hands. Like any child, they recreate what they see. So a lot of them did snakes and fruit and people with big bellybuttons and the cooking things. Everyone for their cooking, cooks outside and has three handmade mud stacks to lay a pot on top to cook food. So the kids would make this and pretend to fan the fire and cook the food. They are so wonderful. AnnLouise and I will sleep at the orphanage again. I woke up at 6:20 and took a shower and left for the House at 6:30. We got there, got them dressed and ready for school, and made sure they made their beds to not get beaten. Then I helped with dishes and laundry. Some of the old wounds opened up again. So I only did about half or less of the laundry until I needed to leave for the clinic. The clinic was slow, but I took vitals and did one malaria test. I am trying to be patient with how they work, but it is just done so differently. So I am working on understanding their system. We then left to go to the school that Pastor set up. There, AnnLouise and I actually taught the class for an hour and a half. It was pretty crazy. We knew nothing that they were learning-- just English-- and not being able to know how they best learn. So we taught them the alphabet, numbers from 1-20, colors, shapes, and the colors of the rainbow. I talked more with Pastor and Fred about what they want for the music class. I will bring my laptop, and I will teach the younger children one day and the older ones another day. We will have English lyrics and do some choreography so I pray that I will do okay. I hope so. We got back, and I had fried yam or potato. When I was last in Cape Coast, I bought a bag of candy, and I have become to addicted to them. The candy tastes so good. It is like a strawberry cream chewy thing. We then went to the orphanage, and I sewed up some clothrs, fetched water, and played a little bit. AnnLouise and I will sleep at the House tonight and tomorrow. Tonight, the football game is against Nigeria for the African Cup. Nigeria is their biggest opponent; like a glorified Skyline vs. Idaho Falls High School. So I hope we win tonight. It is so funny to be on top of the hill and hear the whole town chant and yell when Ghana gets a goal.
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
January 27, 2010--Ophans, Babies & Music
January 27, 2010
AnnLouise and I slept at the House last night. Got there after it was dark and Fire, their puppy, walked us half way there. They were playing bingo and cards. Cho-go pooped in his pants so I helped wash him and get new clothes on. Then Clement threw a huge tantrum and was trying to ALMOST literally kill Elivs Jr., Sammy, and Joseph. I tried to pull Clement away thinking they were just having a usual fight, but he fought back and got away instantly. So Annluoise grabbed Clement and went to the other room. I tried to maintain the rest of the children in doing what there were previously doing. A few minutes later, I went to go check on Clement and AnnLuoise but so did a lot of the kids come too. So right when Clement saw Elvis his body tensed and he again tried to hit, punch, push, and scream at him. So once again, AnnLuoise grabbed him, threw him over her shoulder and brought him the outside steps. I shuffled all the kids back into their room and sent them to bed without a story last night. 15 minutes later I went to check again. There, Annluoise told me about how much Clement is picked on. He is 8 and the other boys are older, like 10 and 11. They always speak fante so we don’t know what they are saying but Elvis obviously knows what he is doing. I saw the three poke their head out the porch, when they should have been in bed and I asked them what they were doing. They wanted to go to the bathroom, all of them. I said no, you can go in the bucket you use at night because both AnnLousie and I knew that they were just trying to agitate Clement again. So we let them out and Elvis deliberately walked in front on Clement laughed and smiled. Clement again went rigid. So when the boys went back in, Clement decided to follow. AnnLousie and I decided to let him go and see what happened. Well, Clement threw a pretty good punch to Elvis’s shoulder and he hit the ground I grabbed Clement, sat him on the porch with me, and rocked him until he fell asleep. Once everyone was pretty tired and the lights were out, we both thought it was safe to lay Clement in his bed. It is just not healthy for a young boy to be picked on so much and have his life result in anger. So we are trying to think of what can be done. Paul, one of the older ones, who is neutral in the situation, uses violence and yelling to punish the kids. That is what he was raised to use, that is what has been used on him. It is all so sad. The kids will pick up flip flops and hit each other all the time. I hope some day that the violence will diminish. The rest of the night I of course didn’t sleep. I tossed and turned, just thinking or not thinking. It made me laugh when I unknowingly tried to cuddle with AnnLousie and she gently and friendly pushed me backed.
At 3, some random number tried to call me. I hung up the first 3 times but answered the 4th because maybe it was important. Well, we couldn’t hear each other and it didn’t sound urgent, and I didn’t want to wake the kids so I just hung up. He tried to call another 10 times before I just turned off the phone. It’s weird, but it seems that a lot of people have no concern about time, night or day.
Cho-go then wet his bed around 5, we washed and cleaned him and waited for everyone to get up around 5:30 or 6. We got two new kids yesterday too. Emauel, 13, and and a young girl around 11 or 12 named something like Annibell. They have already felt somewhat at home and have blended very well.
Elvis Senior came by this morning and showed and taught us some things that had not yet been mentioned. It was very helpful because when you come and go, you just usually guess at what you are supposed to be doing. So we are getting into a routine now. The kids made their beds so that they don’t get beaten. I haven’t witnessed a bad beating yet so I don’t know what I will do when I see it. I pray no child I know ever gets one. I then helped Cho-go eat his ground nut porridge. I think that was one of the first times I have feed a baby. I realized how little I have been around young children and what a blessing it is for me to be around this wonderful kids. I am really falling in love with them. But it is hard. Not knowing or being comfortable around kids to just jump in, but I think I know enough that I am doing okay. The volunteers are very helpful.
We then left and walked with some of the kids to the bus station. I am now at home and very tired. I am going to go buy some sugar and dairy and other things at Cape Coast. I just think to help buy the sugar would be nice because I use a lot to add flavor to the oatmeal and starch pancakes. And the dairy because it is an instant meal.
So I am very tired. Only a few hours of rest but I will just wait until tonight to sleep. I mentioned to Elvis Senior today that I am experienced in music, and he said that I should teach the children gospel music. So I was hoping that maybe mom and dad, you could look at that gospel hymn book, photocopy some pages, and email them to me and maybe even send a few through the mail that would be great. Just easy ones with simple English. I don’t know yet what I can do, but I thought that was a great idea. I have been thinking about what I can leave the kids to permanently stay in their lives. Because so many people come in and out of their lives that sometimes you wished the kids wouldn’t get so attached to you because you are just going to leave them. But maybe music will give them something more than just what I am doing now. Maybe Saturday or Sunday music classes. And they are starting to call me Madam Lauren, so they are getting to know my name. And I am getting better too. Elvis Senior said that we are also going to be getting two more kids this or next week as well.
I am slow trying to include the picture of where I am staying. There is the Shower and toilet. Also where I wash my clothes in the hand sink. Everything drains to a hole to the side of the house. There is then the kitchen which smells like mold because the plantains and yams are put on the ground for a long time. Then the hall with the fist door you see on the left being my room, the second door is Pee-Pee’s where I stayed the first night, on the right in the Incooms room and the door straight ahead is the hall. That is their family room. Outside is what their house looks like. With a coconut tree and I think plantain trees. You can see where we hang our clothes to dry.
And here is some more fante. Blah menas come here. Da means sleep. So at night, we say “Da” and the kids say “Men Da” meaning no sleep. “men” means no. So “Men di” means no eat. Wah-flo-wha-den means what is your name. I need to learn “By God’s Grace” because that is the usual answer or How are you “Wa-han-te-sane?”
AnnLouise and I slept at the House last night. Got there after it was dark and Fire, their puppy, walked us half way there. They were playing bingo and cards. Cho-go pooped in his pants so I helped wash him and get new clothes on. Then Clement threw a huge tantrum and was trying to ALMOST literally kill Elivs Jr., Sammy, and Joseph. I tried to pull Clement away thinking they were just having a usual fight, but he fought back and got away instantly. So Annluoise grabbed Clement and went to the other room. I tried to maintain the rest of the children in doing what there were previously doing. A few minutes later, I went to go check on Clement and AnnLuoise but so did a lot of the kids come too. So right when Clement saw Elvis his body tensed and he again tried to hit, punch, push, and scream at him. So once again, AnnLuoise grabbed him, threw him over her shoulder and brought him the outside steps. I shuffled all the kids back into their room and sent them to bed without a story last night. 15 minutes later I went to check again. There, Annluoise told me about how much Clement is picked on. He is 8 and the other boys are older, like 10 and 11. They always speak fante so we don’t know what they are saying but Elvis obviously knows what he is doing. I saw the three poke their head out the porch, when they should have been in bed and I asked them what they were doing. They wanted to go to the bathroom, all of them. I said no, you can go in the bucket you use at night because both AnnLousie and I knew that they were just trying to agitate Clement again. So we let them out and Elvis deliberately walked in front on Clement laughed and smiled. Clement again went rigid. So when the boys went back in, Clement decided to follow. AnnLousie and I decided to let him go and see what happened. Well, Clement threw a pretty good punch to Elvis’s shoulder and he hit the ground I grabbed Clement, sat him on the porch with me, and rocked him until he fell asleep. Once everyone was pretty tired and the lights were out, we both thought it was safe to lay Clement in his bed. It is just not healthy for a young boy to be picked on so much and have his life result in anger. So we are trying to think of what can be done. Paul, one of the older ones, who is neutral in the situation, uses violence and yelling to punish the kids. That is what he was raised to use, that is what has been used on him. It is all so sad. The kids will pick up flip flops and hit each other all the time. I hope some day that the violence will diminish. The rest of the night I of course didn’t sleep. I tossed and turned, just thinking or not thinking. It made me laugh when I unknowingly tried to cuddle with AnnLousie and she gently and friendly pushed me backed.
At 3, some random number tried to call me. I hung up the first 3 times but answered the 4th because maybe it was important. Well, we couldn’t hear each other and it didn’t sound urgent, and I didn’t want to wake the kids so I just hung up. He tried to call another 10 times before I just turned off the phone. It’s weird, but it seems that a lot of people have no concern about time, night or day.
Cho-go then wet his bed around 5, we washed and cleaned him and waited for everyone to get up around 5:30 or 6. We got two new kids yesterday too. Emauel, 13, and and a young girl around 11 or 12 named something like Annibell. They have already felt somewhat at home and have blended very well.
Elvis Senior came by this morning and showed and taught us some things that had not yet been mentioned. It was very helpful because when you come and go, you just usually guess at what you are supposed to be doing. So we are getting into a routine now. The kids made their beds so that they don’t get beaten. I haven’t witnessed a bad beating yet so I don’t know what I will do when I see it. I pray no child I know ever gets one. I then helped Cho-go eat his ground nut porridge. I think that was one of the first times I have feed a baby. I realized how little I have been around young children and what a blessing it is for me to be around this wonderful kids. I am really falling in love with them. But it is hard. Not knowing or being comfortable around kids to just jump in, but I think I know enough that I am doing okay. The volunteers are very helpful.
We then left and walked with some of the kids to the bus station. I am now at home and very tired. I am going to go buy some sugar and dairy and other things at Cape Coast. I just think to help buy the sugar would be nice because I use a lot to add flavor to the oatmeal and starch pancakes. And the dairy because it is an instant meal.
So I am very tired. Only a few hours of rest but I will just wait until tonight to sleep. I mentioned to Elvis Senior today that I am experienced in music, and he said that I should teach the children gospel music. So I was hoping that maybe mom and dad, you could look at that gospel hymn book, photocopy some pages, and email them to me and maybe even send a few through the mail that would be great. Just easy ones with simple English. I don’t know yet what I can do, but I thought that was a great idea. I have been thinking about what I can leave the kids to permanently stay in their lives. Because so many people come in and out of their lives that sometimes you wished the kids wouldn’t get so attached to you because you are just going to leave them. But maybe music will give them something more than just what I am doing now. Maybe Saturday or Sunday music classes. And they are starting to call me Madam Lauren, so they are getting to know my name. And I am getting better too. Elvis Senior said that we are also going to be getting two more kids this or next week as well.
I am slow trying to include the picture of where I am staying. There is the Shower and toilet. Also where I wash my clothes in the hand sink. Everything drains to a hole to the side of the house. There is then the kitchen which smells like mold because the plantains and yams are put on the ground for a long time. Then the hall with the fist door you see on the left being my room, the second door is Pee-Pee’s where I stayed the first night, on the right in the Incooms room and the door straight ahead is the hall. That is their family room. Outside is what their house looks like. With a coconut tree and I think plantain trees. You can see where we hang our clothes to dry.
And here is some more fante. Blah menas come here. Da means sleep. So at night, we say “Da” and the kids say “Men Da” meaning no sleep. “men” means no. So “Men di” means no eat. Wah-flo-wha-den means what is your name. I need to learn “By God’s Grace” because that is the usual answer or How are you “Wa-han-te-sane?”
Monday, January 25, 2010
January 25, 2010-- Washing Clothes, Ouchy Hands, Stupid Malaria Pills!
January 25, 2010
I have decided the thing I miss most about home other than family and friends: a washer and dryer. Today was the roughest day for my hands yet. There should be some pictures on facebook now. But both of my hands were bleeding a little but everything is just rubbed raw. So when I put on hand sanitizer like I do often, OUCH!!!! So I even try not to make a fist or anything. But it is teaching me a lot about myself and discipline. I woke up this morning and headed to The House. Bathed Cho-JO and Priscilla and did laundry and hung them to dry. Most of the clothes are put on the greenery on the ground to dry though. I left then to what I thought I was going to the clinic but I was just so tired. I have decided to go to the clinic Tuesday and Thursday morning. I hope it works for them that I am going to make a schedule and not come every day. Elivs asked me “Why haven’t you been to the clinic?” And at first I was worried I have disappointed someone, but I think that I should only do what I can and I can do that. I need to give time and attention to the kids without wearing myself thin. Also, I will be starting to teach music classes at Pastor Incoom’s school maybe starting Thursday or Friday. This will be fun. It will be ages from Preschool to 12 years old. I don’t know what we will do, but I will figure it out. Teach them the sounds of music, little history, reading music, writing music, singing. But all basic enough for kids. He says they will try and get a piano in a month or so. So when I got home, I ate some bread and asked for oatmeal. I have also decided to not be so quiet about what I need, like eating. So I am working hard on having them teach me to make food instead of serving. So I hope I don’t come off as demanding and mean, but rather just letting them now I am hungry or something. I then slept until 1:30. I was so tired. I got up, peeled 4 oranges, 2 for me and one each for Mr. and Mrs. Incoom. They said I did a good job so that lifted my spirits. I then went back to the orphanage where the German girls, Annika and Theresea had brought paper, pens, and tracer things for the kids to color. It was very fun. I then got the call from mom telling me more about the side effects of the anti-malaria pill I was taking. We decided that I should go buy something else in Cape Coast and get off of that. It had some crazy side effects so I am glad we found out about it early. I then met with the bishop for a little bit and asked for Brother and Sister Saunders phone number to talk to them about the new Pill I will be taking. Then got a mailing address for the Incoom’s place in Cape Coast. Then I got my measurements for a shirt and a dress that a lady will be making. I will stop by next Tuesday for it. I hope it works out well. They call me Yaa (Thursday) instead of Lauren. I then decided to by some chocolate Hazlenut truffle to lighten my spirits and give me some energy. It was good, but it was 20 pesewas, so pretty expensive. I think I will just go and buy a big bag next time I can. For the rest of the night, I will eat some dinner. I am slowly getting my appetite back. I haven’t been eating much the two weeks since I have left home. So that is good. And I also like all but one food items: the fish. I will also go wash. The kids made a mess of me today. After that, I am going to Elvis’s house to talk with the girls about plans to go to Volta region this or next weekend and also about Cape Coast on Wednesday. I also asked AnnLuoise if I could get the Ghana music she had received since she was here so maybe I will grab that. I am still tired so hopefully I will be able to get some sleep. It is hot at night and it is not my bed so I don’t sleep to well, but it will work out. I am just glad to be here and I pray that I will be optimistic and keep an open mind to everything. I am trying hard to learn the language, but I keep forgetting what I learn. So the locals are trying to teach me, but I get tired of it very quickly when the speak fante instead of English to me, thinking I have already learned it. But I must be patient. The other thing I have learned Wa-home-te-san? What is your name? Thanks for everything!!! I will continue to be safe and travel safe!!! Thanks for the reminder mom and dad!!! Love you!!!
I have decided the thing I miss most about home other than family and friends: a washer and dryer. Today was the roughest day for my hands yet. There should be some pictures on facebook now. But both of my hands were bleeding a little but everything is just rubbed raw. So when I put on hand sanitizer like I do often, OUCH!!!! So I even try not to make a fist or anything. But it is teaching me a lot about myself and discipline. I woke up this morning and headed to The House. Bathed Cho-JO and Priscilla and did laundry and hung them to dry. Most of the clothes are put on the greenery on the ground to dry though. I left then to what I thought I was going to the clinic but I was just so tired. I have decided to go to the clinic Tuesday and Thursday morning. I hope it works for them that I am going to make a schedule and not come every day. Elivs asked me “Why haven’t you been to the clinic?” And at first I was worried I have disappointed someone, but I think that I should only do what I can and I can do that. I need to give time and attention to the kids without wearing myself thin. Also, I will be starting to teach music classes at Pastor Incoom’s school maybe starting Thursday or Friday. This will be fun. It will be ages from Preschool to 12 years old. I don’t know what we will do, but I will figure it out. Teach them the sounds of music, little history, reading music, writing music, singing. But all basic enough for kids. He says they will try and get a piano in a month or so. So when I got home, I ate some bread and asked for oatmeal. I have also decided to not be so quiet about what I need, like eating. So I am working hard on having them teach me to make food instead of serving. So I hope I don’t come off as demanding and mean, but rather just letting them now I am hungry or something. I then slept until 1:30. I was so tired. I got up, peeled 4 oranges, 2 for me and one each for Mr. and Mrs. Incoom. They said I did a good job so that lifted my spirits. I then went back to the orphanage where the German girls, Annika and Theresea had brought paper, pens, and tracer things for the kids to color. It was very fun. I then got the call from mom telling me more about the side effects of the anti-malaria pill I was taking. We decided that I should go buy something else in Cape Coast and get off of that. It had some crazy side effects so I am glad we found out about it early. I then met with the bishop for a little bit and asked for Brother and Sister Saunders phone number to talk to them about the new Pill I will be taking. Then got a mailing address for the Incoom’s place in Cape Coast. Then I got my measurements for a shirt and a dress that a lady will be making. I will stop by next Tuesday for it. I hope it works out well. They call me Yaa (Thursday) instead of Lauren. I then decided to by some chocolate Hazlenut truffle to lighten my spirits and give me some energy. It was good, but it was 20 pesewas, so pretty expensive. I think I will just go and buy a big bag next time I can. For the rest of the night, I will eat some dinner. I am slowly getting my appetite back. I haven’t been eating much the two weeks since I have left home. So that is good. And I also like all but one food items: the fish. I will also go wash. The kids made a mess of me today. After that, I am going to Elvis’s house to talk with the girls about plans to go to Volta region this or next weekend and also about Cape Coast on Wednesday. I also asked AnnLuoise if I could get the Ghana music she had received since she was here so maybe I will grab that. I am still tired so hopefully I will be able to get some sleep. It is hot at night and it is not my bed so I don’t sleep to well, but it will work out. I am just glad to be here and I pray that I will be optimistic and keep an open mind to everything. I am trying hard to learn the language, but I keep forgetting what I learn. So the locals are trying to teach me, but I get tired of it very quickly when the speak fante instead of English to me, thinking I have already learned it. But I must be patient. The other thing I have learned Wa-home-te-san? What is your name? Thanks for everything!!! I will continue to be safe and travel safe!!! Thanks for the reminder mom and dad!!! Love you!!!
January 24, 2010-- Reverend Incoom's website
"Oh and if you wanted to check out Pastor Incoom’s website http://www.facebook.com/l/02cc4;www.internalhopefamily.webs.com. It is under construction so it might be down but if you can see anything that is what he is doing!!!!"
January 24, 2010-- Bum Rocks and Loud Church
January 24, 2010
So today was an early start. I got to bed around 1 or so and woke up every now and then and got up at 6 am. I am going to go get a fan soon. I thought I would be okay, but now I am thinking for 15 cedi, it would be very nice. I got up so early because I needed to do laundry, and then Fred was taking me to go see the rock where the giant named Asebu placed his fingers and made scratches in the stone. I kept asking Fred if they really thought the Giant story was true, and I think he really believes it. While I was at the Monkey Sanctuary last week, the lady who owns it took us to the top of the hill and showed us a granite stone where students came and studied it as a project. They concluded that the stone was super old and that the original people during that time would sharpen their knives and blades in a certain fashion that would make lines and big groves. They looked like people had sat down with their bums, and the other rock that Fred will show says that there is where the giant sat down. So I find it interesting that he really does believe the myth as truth and not the study of science, but I still admire his faith. Nowadays, there is a fight between faith and science, implying how can you have faith if it cannot be proven or it can be proven false? So I admire him in that respect. After that, I read my scriptures, fell asleep and got a ride to church with the Incooms. I was late because they start at nine but so did Pastors church, so I think in the future, I will catch a choo-choo or more likely a taxi. Church was good though. It is a two-story square building with a very nice sign. The bottom is about as big your living room plus a bit more. They had just barely become a branch so there was about 20 or 30 people there. It was different. Fans were going, people talking in mainly Fante, and those that invited to have me sit with them were very friendly. The doors to outside including the noise were open for airflow so the kids would just run and the mom just let the baby cry. So I guess that is common between countries, huh? ^_^ But The sacrament had already been passed when I got there so I walked in when the Bishop was doing his announcements. I guess he had welcomed me but I wasn’t really sure. The men I met would continually talk and where I was from, etc. and I felt so rude because I wanted to say “shush” but it is common to talk to newcomers, and plus, I really was just glad to have someone talking to me. After Sacrament meeting, the Bishop and first councilor invited me to go upstairs and join in a quick meeting. There I met The Bishop, First councilor, 2nd councilor, Relief Society President, Young Womens, Sunday school President, and they all welcomed me. I gave them my basic information so that they could introduce me next week. I wasn’t really sure where to go next so I just went to the adult Sunday school where I sat with the 1st counsilor’s son. Again, people would just be talking to me and the lesson was being taught. I asked at one point for him to translate, but he took so long and was too loud that I decided to not ask for translation again. So I didn’t understand but it was so hard. I knew that people had questions and I could contribute, but only the language was our barrier. After Sunday school, I was going to go to Relief Society but I was told by the nice Missionary Couple from Logan Utah, Brother and Sister Saunders, that they only speak fante. So I joined the combined young men and womens. They wanted me to teach the lesson but thankfully it turned out I didn’t need too. By the end of church I felt a little more at home. I decided to talk and get to Sister Saunders while Brother Saunders was driving everyone home one car load at a time. It was very nice. I told her I was homesick and that if it was okay, she might just be my mom away from home for a little while. She shared some things with me, and it was so wonderful and such a blessing to be able to come here. The bishop also lives in Asebu so maybe I will start seeing him around. He seems like a very good man and that he is trained in the gospel. So I started to walk home, thinking “Maybe I will walk, it would take about an hour or take a taxi for 4 cedi, but they drove by and packed me in on their way. I guess that The 1st Councilor’s son wants to bring the Missionaries to the orphanage and also teach ICT. He is very eager so I just encouraged him to come visit the Orphanage before making plans so we exchanged numbers. I have already handed out about 10 or so business cards. They have been very helpful. Jessica, my nurse friend, left to go back to Cape Coast University so I will miss seeing her. She was such a good friend. I am glad that I am making friends around the town and also the church. Whoever said I would start feeling at home was right I think because I am starting to eventually although, I am still making some mistakes. For washing clothes, there were two wash bins and I thought, “Well that is what I use at the orphanage, so I will just use those again.” So I used them and later Bertha said “We are sorry to inform you but, but those bins are for PePe’s spirit. So they only wash PePe’s cloths in their for his spirit. I don’t understand but I respect it. But that is going to make laundry a little harder now because no I will just have two buckets. Bummer, but that’s okay. We will make it work. I will be so thankful for a washer when I get back. I came home before the Incooms and turned on the Discovery channel. It was a little slice of home there. I also had some jerky I brought because I hadn’t eaten, I didn’t know what to cook or how to cook, and I needed to take my malaria pill so I just opened one of the four packages. Once they got home, I continued to chill and read my book. Berth cut open the top of a coconut and Mrs. Incoom brought me 4 small bananas for lunch, and I had about a cup and half of rice for dinner. When Bertha came in my room to pick up the plate, she saw the extra school supplies I brought that I haven’t found a use for yet. I had decided that the kids already had so many things and school supplies and the school doesn’t use them, that I would just hold on to them until I found a purpose for them. But she got excited, and I found out that she didn’t have anything for school tomorrow. Since she had left her family and school to come help out the Incoom, and I guess her family was robbed or something happened so that she couldn’t get paper and pencils and other things, I told her to take some. She was so happy. “God bless, God Bless. Thank you” and she was so happy giving me hugs and just her face lit up. So I am glad they are going to where they will be used. Plus, I still have some more if I works out that I find someone else needs them too. The mosquitoes have started eating me alive now. My ankles are the worst. Probably about 12 bites just on my ankles. Bummer. So tomorrow I will set my alarm to help Bertha get up early and do chores around 4 am so that she can leave for school around 6:30. So this week will be interesting. The Saunders want to come see the orphanage too, so I will have to talk to Ester to make sure that is okay. I believe it would be but of course I will check. I don’t know about the ICT training or missionaries yet, but I hope it will work out.
So today was an early start. I got to bed around 1 or so and woke up every now and then and got up at 6 am. I am going to go get a fan soon. I thought I would be okay, but now I am thinking for 15 cedi, it would be very nice. I got up so early because I needed to do laundry, and then Fred was taking me to go see the rock where the giant named Asebu placed his fingers and made scratches in the stone. I kept asking Fred if they really thought the Giant story was true, and I think he really believes it. While I was at the Monkey Sanctuary last week, the lady who owns it took us to the top of the hill and showed us a granite stone where students came and studied it as a project. They concluded that the stone was super old and that the original people during that time would sharpen their knives and blades in a certain fashion that would make lines and big groves. They looked like people had sat down with their bums, and the other rock that Fred will show says that there is where the giant sat down. So I find it interesting that he really does believe the myth as truth and not the study of science, but I still admire his faith. Nowadays, there is a fight between faith and science, implying how can you have faith if it cannot be proven or it can be proven false? So I admire him in that respect. After that, I read my scriptures, fell asleep and got a ride to church with the Incooms. I was late because they start at nine but so did Pastors church, so I think in the future, I will catch a choo-choo or more likely a taxi. Church was good though. It is a two-story square building with a very nice sign. The bottom is about as big your living room plus a bit more. They had just barely become a branch so there was about 20 or 30 people there. It was different. Fans were going, people talking in mainly Fante, and those that invited to have me sit with them were very friendly. The doors to outside including the noise were open for airflow so the kids would just run and the mom just let the baby cry. So I guess that is common between countries, huh? ^_^ But The sacrament had already been passed when I got there so I walked in when the Bishop was doing his announcements. I guess he had welcomed me but I wasn’t really sure. The men I met would continually talk and where I was from, etc. and I felt so rude because I wanted to say “shush” but it is common to talk to newcomers, and plus, I really was just glad to have someone talking to me. After Sacrament meeting, the Bishop and first councilor invited me to go upstairs and join in a quick meeting. There I met The Bishop, First councilor, 2nd councilor, Relief Society President, Young Womens, Sunday school President, and they all welcomed me. I gave them my basic information so that they could introduce me next week. I wasn’t really sure where to go next so I just went to the adult Sunday school where I sat with the 1st counsilor’s son. Again, people would just be talking to me and the lesson was being taught. I asked at one point for him to translate, but he took so long and was too loud that I decided to not ask for translation again. So I didn’t understand but it was so hard. I knew that people had questions and I could contribute, but only the language was our barrier. After Sunday school, I was going to go to Relief Society but I was told by the nice Missionary Couple from Logan Utah, Brother and Sister Saunders, that they only speak fante. So I joined the combined young men and womens. They wanted me to teach the lesson but thankfully it turned out I didn’t need too. By the end of church I felt a little more at home. I decided to talk and get to Sister Saunders while Brother Saunders was driving everyone home one car load at a time. It was very nice. I told her I was homesick and that if it was okay, she might just be my mom away from home for a little while. She shared some things with me, and it was so wonderful and such a blessing to be able to come here. The bishop also lives in Asebu so maybe I will start seeing him around. He seems like a very good man and that he is trained in the gospel. So I started to walk home, thinking “Maybe I will walk, it would take about an hour or take a taxi for 4 cedi, but they drove by and packed me in on their way. I guess that The 1st Councilor’s son wants to bring the Missionaries to the orphanage and also teach ICT. He is very eager so I just encouraged him to come visit the Orphanage before making plans so we exchanged numbers. I have already handed out about 10 or so business cards. They have been very helpful. Jessica, my nurse friend, left to go back to Cape Coast University so I will miss seeing her. She was such a good friend. I am glad that I am making friends around the town and also the church. Whoever said I would start feeling at home was right I think because I am starting to eventually although, I am still making some mistakes. For washing clothes, there were two wash bins and I thought, “Well that is what I use at the orphanage, so I will just use those again.” So I used them and later Bertha said “We are sorry to inform you but, but those bins are for PePe’s spirit. So they only wash PePe’s cloths in their for his spirit. I don’t understand but I respect it. But that is going to make laundry a little harder now because no I will just have two buckets. Bummer, but that’s okay. We will make it work. I will be so thankful for a washer when I get back. I came home before the Incooms and turned on the Discovery channel. It was a little slice of home there. I also had some jerky I brought because I hadn’t eaten, I didn’t know what to cook or how to cook, and I needed to take my malaria pill so I just opened one of the four packages. Once they got home, I continued to chill and read my book. Berth cut open the top of a coconut and Mrs. Incoom brought me 4 small bananas for lunch, and I had about a cup and half of rice for dinner. When Bertha came in my room to pick up the plate, she saw the extra school supplies I brought that I haven’t found a use for yet. I had decided that the kids already had so many things and school supplies and the school doesn’t use them, that I would just hold on to them until I found a purpose for them. But she got excited, and I found out that she didn’t have anything for school tomorrow. Since she had left her family and school to come help out the Incoom, and I guess her family was robbed or something happened so that she couldn’t get paper and pencils and other things, I told her to take some. She was so happy. “God bless, God Bless. Thank you” and she was so happy giving me hugs and just her face lit up. So I am glad they are going to where they will be used. Plus, I still have some more if I works out that I find someone else needs them too. The mosquitoes have started eating me alive now. My ankles are the worst. Probably about 12 bites just on my ankles. Bummer. So tomorrow I will set my alarm to help Bertha get up early and do chores around 4 am so that she can leave for school around 6:30. So this week will be interesting. The Saunders want to come see the orphanage too, so I will have to talk to Ester to make sure that is okay. I believe it would be but of course I will check. I don’t know about the ICT training or missionaries yet, but I hope it will work out.
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