Week of 20240915 - Ghana Week 27: Mfuom Cleanup; Eastmonds Departing; Kakum Rainforest Canopy Suspended Walkway; Elmina; Mattress Convoy
= Sunday, the building was full. We were flies on the wall for the regular meetings, not asked to teach anything. Then a Branch Council opened up. They were preparing for their first ever Branch Conference and didn't understand that it's just like a regular Sacrament meeting except that before the Sacrament is administered and selected speakers talk, the names of church leaders are read and members have the opportunity to raise their hands to affirm they accept them and will support them in their roles. We clarified things for them.
= When we got home, I forwarded my description of the Branch Conference discussion to President Morgan. I finished summarizing the status of the items I'm working on. I blogged. A productive day.
= Monday, We had our normal meetings. I checked one of the vehicles and negotiated with Area to let us keep the Barilleaus' truck here when they leave next month (so it will be available for their replacement). We had a late lunch with the Barilleaus: Pizzaman and Pinkberry. We drove to an optician downtown to pay for glasses for a missionary.
= Tuesday, I left Steph home and was at the Mfuom Branch by 0640 for a cleanup event at 0700. I worked on the grounds of the church for an hour and got phone numbers for the Branch President's son and for the Branch Clerk. When I had the bluff cleared of trash - a frequented path crosses it - I provided printed copies of the documents from President Morgan for the Branch Conference and went home.
= Home, a circuit quit: the circuit that included the air conditioner in the drying room, the light in the kitchen, in both guest bathrooms, and in the guest bedrooms. Now we had one air conditioner left (of four).
= Wednesday, when I absent-mindedly flicked on the kitchen light some time later, it came on!! The circuit was working again. Now we can alternate air conditioners so we don't injure either one by running it continuously.
= At the office, I checked bicycles. We bought items for a fruit tray for a dinner at the Morgans this evening. We ate together with them and with the Barilleaus and Eastmonds.
= The Eastmonds only have a couple of weeks left on their mission. They opted to step away in mid-career, serve a full-time overseas mission for a year, and then hope to find employment again when they return. They served in Axim and became part of the Takoradi mission when the Cape Coast Mission split. We will miss them.
= Thursday, the Barilleaus riding with us and the Eastmonds driving separately, we went to Kakum National Park to tackle its tropical rainforest canopy walkway. The guide was very knowledgeable and helpful. The walk to the canopy was 20 minutes uphill via stone steps. And we handled the walkway: 130 feet up, more than 1000 feet through the trees. The park restaurant was so good, I would pay the entrance fee to eat here again.
= Friday, we delivered two bicycles to Elmina.
= I convoyed with three other vehicles to get fifteen new mattresses the Office Elders had arranged to purchase. Getting the mattresses (different thicknesses, all that were available) into the vehicles was "interesting", but we succeeded. However, the lateness of the hour killed our plan to try a new restaurant for date night. We watched Netflix and relaxed.
= Saturday, we got up late. I caught up the blog to the previous week's journal! We didn't accomplish much else. But we rested.
Going to church from the "road" above
Where we meet
Easing on down the "road"
Imagine coming over the hill, seeing a vehicle slowing down, getting ready to pass. But the vehicle comes to a dead stop, there's a person in the shoulder, and we are in the oncoming lane. It's a good thing drivers pay atttention here.
This looks rather like a tunnel. It reminds me of the cartoon where a young couple is ready to enter the tunnel of love and the attendant hands them a shovel with the admonition: You need to dig your own.
This is a licensed medicine seller.
Houses are built close together. I would have expected them to be spread out, but this is not the case.
A pickup truck can be a people-carrier too.
I look forward to shawarma at Pizza City, like doner kebab in Turkey, only here it will probably be chicken, not lamb.
Approaching the part of Pedu Junction that serves as a transfer point for KKs (the three-wheeled passenger boxes) and Tros (vans that run routes).
Junction sellers taking a break.
This person is fully stocked with supplies.
King of the Universe [building supplies]
Bamboo in the Kakum National Park has been cut back from this small stretch of highway.
Here is how we drove to church this morning...
Don't Miss This (scripture discussion)
Next time, I should use a single layer of tomatoes.
The neighbor across from us was burning land this morning.
Oil was needed (not our truck). This was dealt with promptly.
ASTC System - Service Required in the Barilleaus' truck. [The tire went flat a few days later: the weak tire probably tripped this sensor]
Pizzaman/ Chickenman/ Pinkberry menu. Ordering a Double Singles puts two pizzas in your box. A Doubles Small/ Medium/ Large give you one pizza. [grin]
We have not found out yet what these choices are. We will eventually.
The Goil station near KFC will refill your propane tank.
We met missionaries here to pay for glasses.
They are loading cement "tiles": roofing material.
Another neighbor decided this was a good day to burn.
Yes, I was on the road at 0542.
I took a photo of this police barrier before realizing that the police were at this stop early in the morning. At the time, I thought this advertisement was just outrageous marketing: bitter herbs supposedly helping with menstrual cramps, constipation, and malaria. What a combination! However, herbal medicines are registered by the Ghana Food and Drug Authority, and side effects at the recommended dosage and length of treatment are noted. That doesn't mean they work. It means that people who want to buy them are getting a consistent product, often from their pharmacist. (However, you will also see ads for bitters formulated into alcoholic beverages; those are not regulated as medicine and their major effect is intoxication.)
A fancy new football pitch is being prepared.
The overhead polytank was overflowing because the float valve has failed. We turn off the incoming water when we notice this and wait before filling it again. There is no indicator to tell us the level of water in the tank.
I needed to replace the intake filters; I did so. They remove mud from the community water.
The Morgans with the Eastmonds. The Eastmonds worked in what is now the Takoradi mission before it was created from our mission. They will fly out from Takoradi next week and then look for jobs. They came here mid-career.
Steph, with the Barilleaus.
The Ola chapel lower parking lot, painted for half-court basketball
A toilet on an upper floor of the building that houses a variety store, doctor's office, and restaurant. Very few businesses have a toilet; so, remembering where to find one is helpful.
Because they are on wheels, not tracks, seeing big orange vehicles reminds me of Tonka toys. Notice how the propane is getting to its destination.
Some people do live to an old age here. These advertisements indicate where and when the events associated with her funeral will be.
Things to do at Kakum: Canopy Walkway; Hiking; Tree House. We picked the canopy walkway.
You have to get to the canopy.
Our guide and the Barilleaus. Our guide was knowledgeable and watched over us.
Somehow, our desires for rest never coincided with these resting spots.
On the walkway
Just getting started
We were high up enough that the next layer of trees blocked our view of the ground; picture being in an airplane above a layer of clouds.
So the walkway experience itself became our focus. The person in blue watched as individuals entered the main canopy or decided this wasn't for them and took a left to wait on firm ground for the rest of their companions.
From here, some trees look like ferns.
See more walkway in the distance
We are indeed above the middle layer of trees.
We were not alone, but it felt like it. Our group didn't interfere with the other group.
Look down. Some trees look like the underside of umbrellas.
Look up. There is much above us.
Steph getting a photo of the Eastmonds
Clowning for the camera. They're joyful people.
Each leg of the walkway is anchored to trees that have a platform for us to get to the next leg. That's Elder Eastmond trying to take our picture.
The only tricky part was stepping onto the walkway from each platform. The walkway sags when you step onto it, like a step that moves when you put weight on it.
Sister Eastmond gave Steph a hand for this one.
We walk on boards bolted to metal ladders nestled by rope nets.
Some legs are easier than others.
We're nestled in the trees.
..
Cables suspend our weight. Ropes above them are used for maintenance. The walkway is renewed periodically.
The Barilleaus
Not trivial; reminded me of our walk by Noccalula Falls in Alabama. But notice the person carrying a plank.
And more planks. At least one of the carriers was barefoot.
Sightseeing on the way back
It might not be this tree, but it's a good place to tell this story. Ebony is so dense that it sinks in water. Inside the bark, the wood is black. The tree's common name is related to elephants; because, they would cover themselves with mud to deal with bugs and then would rub against this kind of tree to scratch.
We tried to see the top of this tree, but we could not.
Rest stop, not used by us.
It was a little slippery.
As the guide reminded us, bamboo is an invasive species here.
It is grass, not tree, and it can grow a meter a day!
Rice with vegetables and "sausage"
The calamari was so good that I forgot to take a photo until it was almost gone.
Horse, available for poses. Notice the stepstool.
Chickenman/ Pizzaman/ Pinkberry
View from the dining room, above ground level
Now to reach our destination through the Abura market near Pedu Junction
It's amazing what people can carry.
Elder Barilleau navigated this. Riding in a KK is easier.
..
Just Here. On another day, we came back and were surprised at the range of goods we could not see from the street.
A rare sighting: a fire truck, speeding into the market
She died the 27th of March; the funeral will be the 21st of September. People save and gather contributions to afford a funeral celebration. I hope someone is gathering these somewhere. In the absence of newspapers, etc., announcement posters like these are the obituaries that show family relationships.
The hot water heater for the guest shower is leaking. I had to turn of the water for now until it's repaired or (more likely) replaced.
A flash of red above the green.
You could take these words in a number of ways.
Jugs, typically for cooking oil, waiting for their next use.
Can you carry a sewing machine?
Approaching our destination
Missionaries live in an apartment in this compound. We delivered bicycles.
We're curious; this hotel might rival the best in Takoradi, but it's near Cape Coast.
Can you spot the pharmacy?
Nyame Akwan {God's Ways}
Someone is wading in the mossy area between sections of breakwater.
Yes, a boat; more like a canoe.
He can drive wherever he wants.
[meaning uncertain; it might be {God's Grace Will Catch You}]
Planning for additional missionaries
Convoy. This panorama shows our three mission trucks and the mission van.
Four mattresses were stuffed into the passenger van somehow.
Missionaries locked out of our compound. They weren't synchronized with the companionships who had the key to the passenger gate.
A funeral at the church where our "road" intersects the pavement
It evidently was a large gathering
Canned jack mackerel (from China!) in tomato sauce crushes as tuna would; so, it can easily be used in other dishes....
Planning for additional missionaries
No comments:
Post a Comment