August

   As I went back through my pictures from August I was amazed at everything that has happened. So many memories from such a short amount of time!

The beginning of August we had a ladies and children swimming day. It was a little on the cool side but we really enjoyed it! It was lovely to relax and talk while watching the children have so much fun.

In the evening we had a hot dog roast farewell for Earl and Amanda. My children were so happy to dig out jackets for the first time since we have been here! The air was cool!

The following Sunday we went for a hike in the bush behind our house. We went down to a beautiful river with an almost finished bridge.

It was about an hours walk down a foot path in the bush.

Courtney and Destiny stayed over night since Earl and Amanda needed to go to Accra for Covid tests in preparation for their flight home. Of course everyone had to play school!

We spent a morning in Takoradi getting our Ghana ID cards. The face masks don't stay on this nicely very long!

Just before Earl and Amanda left we ladies took an evening out to sit at the coffee shop and chat. 

The neighbor man started clearing some bush on the other side of our fence. This branch leaned way over so one Saturday Jarell tried his hand at cutting down a tree with a cutlass.

I made octopus for the first time. Everyone enjoyed it. In small amounts!

Kenny picked up a big crate of things from the port. It had parts for the palm press, parts and supplies for the shop, a few things for Salt, and school books!

Then Galyn and I spent several hours sorting books. With school books for 12 children from 3 families, it took a bit.

The tailor that makes uniforms for the shop made the boys shirts to match Kelsey's dress she had sewed. 

One Saturday we took a fun/work trip to Accra. This is the president's house.

We ate at pizza hut. The children were thrilled to see a trampoline to play on while we waited.

The main purpose of this trip was to visit a sporting goods store. The beach is so close by and we spend quite a bit of time there. So surf boards have been on the wish list for a long time!!

A popular land mark in Ghana is Black Star Square. This is the first time we managed to driv through Accra this way.

This picture didn't get very good but that is a pile of plantains strapped to the top of a taxi.

At a red light the motos all go to the front of the line and normally don't wait for the light to change green. They just wait for a break in traffic. Here there were police (the man in white with his arm out on the right) on the corner. He yelled something but they weren't about to bother themselves with trying to catch them!

The sky was beautiful on the way home. And the trotro in front of us was hauling a load of toilet paper!!

As I said in my last post, school started. Austin is really enjoying learning! Most things he has learned a bit about already so it has all been easy so far.

Brent loves any papers I give him. Just as long as he feels like he is doing the same thing everyone else is!

The surfing hasn't been hugely successful, but they are sure getting a work out and having fun trying!

The last weekend in August we did tomatoes. Galyn and I each got  crate. We spent Friday doing salsa and Saturday doing juice and pizza sauce. Saturday Patricia came and helped too! There were some very happy children that we needed a babysitter!

Kenny cooked them all on the coal pots. He was also in charge of putting them through the Victorian strainer.

We ordered pizza and jelly filled donuts along with some other goodies for lunch from a local place that is just opening. The owner had been to America so we were eager to try their things. I used jelly donuts as a motivator for the children all morning!

September 1 Ghana opened their borders again! It feels good to know we can come and go if we want to! But now I am also getting very anxious to see people again! While the borders were closed we just buckled down and bore it. But now......... anyone want to come visit?😀 Covid tests are required so it isn't real easy to get in yet but hopefully the families waiting to move can begin making plans.