| From | Joan and Harry Thornhill harrythornhill@hotmail.com | | Subject | Water Gone Again--We Live in Hope--Ghana 5 | | Date: |
Tue, 26 Jan 2010 10:49:48 -0500
|
Dear Family and Friends, Oops--We did it
again! We just started a letter to everyone and the electricity went
off at the internet cafe and we lost what we had written. Yes, Ross,
Mark, Michelle and everyone else--we know we should have written it on
our computer at home. We stopped here on the way home to just read our
mail and decided to drop a line. The fact that it has started to rain
could have something to do with that decision.
Last Saturday
afternoon we visited William Lartey, the former Headmaster in
Adukrum--about twenty minutes away by taxi (about 2 cedis--35 cents per
person). Vera and Veronica came with us. Mrs. Lartey made a wonderful
bean and pepper soup dish with fried plantain. Their son is a Medical
Doctor in Ohio and they came to the States a few years ago for his
graduation. We brought William over to Koda and showed him the Capital
District. It was a great opportunity to catch up on the news.
Sunday
morning we went to the Internet Mass and sent the pictures. We have
learned that the Priest only comes every other week and that they do
not have Communion when he is not there. The service which they do
have is almost all in Twi. We hope to send more pictures soon.
Sunday
afternoon we traveled to Tinkung a rural village on the way to
Korforidua where a Durba was being held to determine if the elders and
chiefs want to support the construction of vocational schools as an
extension of the Orphanage by Albert, the businessman from Holland. We
traveled by Tro-tro and arrived near the two o'clock starting hour. We
toured the orphanage and got to the affair at 3pm as it was about to
begin.  They had several large drums playing and the chief of Tinkung
and some women got up and started to dance. Several chiefs arrived
including one reputed to be 110 years old! He is the father of the
current chief. If he is not quite that he is certainly close. He had
on a beautiful black and white hand woven robe. They had a sound
system and everyone was asked to introduce themselves. There were
about 125 people there and everyone had an opportunity to speak,
although mainly the dignitaries did so. They started with a Christian
prayer and then had traditional prayers and poured libations. There
were several speeches which were translated into English and Twi. Cold
water, soft drinks and a pastry were distributed while the meeting was
going on. We had to leave at about 4:30 to catch a tro-tro back to
Akropong before dark. We waited for about twenty minutes along the
road. The tro-tros that passed us were chock full!
Sunday evening a
man named Samuel came to visit. He is a college grad and teaches
computers at Okuapemmen Senior Secondary School. This is a boarding
school with approximately 1,500 students. It has one of the best
reputations in the country. We hear their music (Oh My Darling
Clementine) from speakers to start and end the day. Anyway, Samuel was
also helpful about our using the laptop. Samuel had gone to the UK
with Vera last November as part of an exchange program with a school
there.
Monday is a long day for us since we teach 6 classes. We end at 3:40.
Today,
Tuesday we visited another school in Mamfe (correct spelling--we had
been using a ph--we know you really care about the spelling! The
school is the Young Souls school and is much like ours was six years
ago. They still have the old broken down wood clapboard buildings.
Alex, the headmaster, was very nice and informative.
We are going to close--looks like another storm--we will dash for home.
Love and Prayers,
Joan and Harry |
