July

July began with a 4th of July celebration of course. Earl and Amanda Shirk were here for a visit and he agreed to roast a pig for us.

We hadn't had just a missionary gathering for quite awhile and it was an enjoyable evening. Lots of food and fun!!

                             

Burneil and Malinda Halteman are house sitting for Lonnie and Evie Weaver while they are on furlough. We could hardly believe all the details actually worked out and it worked for them to come for two months. We have been having many fun times with them! Like randomly eating in an old fishing boat when we grabbed food at a chop bar.

Rick shaw rides around Cape Coast to do grocery shopping because, why not? Everyone got thirsty and needed a water sachet.

This is at our largest grocery store in the area. Very rarely do you meet a white person here and I wondered if ten of us made them feel like they were being mobbed! Then again, they were probably happy since white skin = money.

I think the rick shaw drivers rather enjoyed the novelty of driving white people around.

The Living Hope boys played volley ball one evening and soccer another evening against the teachers and students from the shop. I have never heard such arguing over a simple game but they all had fun!

My sister Amanda and four of her friends were here for two weeks the end of July. The first Friday we went to baby clinic at Living Hope. These mothers either have multiples, the real mother has died and an auntie or grandmother is taking care of the baby, or the mother can't nurse her baby for some reason. They receive formula and baby cereal every other week. We sang for them and then they sang for us. It was quite an interesting morning.

This precious little girl was there with her grandmother. Her mom died shortly after birth.

The closer on the babies is a twin. I don't know the other one's story but her hair was adorable!

We spent an afternoon at the beach and then ate supper there. The moon was so beautiful that night!

Richard and Faith (missionaries that live about an hour away) were around that weekend. We had many good chats and all enjoyed his stories!

One of the reasons Amanda and her friends were here was to help with a children's Bible school. Monday to Friday the one week we made the daily, dusty drive to Assomdwee. About half an hour on paved roads and half an hour on dirt. We prayed for good weather, but coming home every day covered in red dirt, we started praying for an overnight shower, just enough to settle the dust! On the picture above, there is a grader in that cloud of dust ahead of us.

We had planned for 200 children. We exceeded that number every day. By the last day we had 286 children. They were always there waiting no matter what time the set up crew arrived and there was no peace till they had an arm band and were settled on a mat ready to begin the fun. They did really well all things considered. Much of the credit for that goes to the local Ghanaian teachers that helped keep order. 

They went to four different stations after the main assembly. Coloring, Bible Story, Games, and singing.

Kim teaching the Bible story. The lady on the right is interpreting for her.

                                               

They did a simplified version of corn hole for a game.

                                 

These little folk were too young to join the groups. However, Dorothy took pity on them and they each got a piece of candy every day.

Of course driving all those miles wasn't drama free! Our van overheated one day, of course the day Kenny wasn't along and I was driving. Thankfully Burneil was following me in the Tata and we fit 14 people in it for the last few minutes of our drive. It makes memories!!

One day we passed this accident shortly after it happened. Thankfully the trotro was hauling onions and only had two or three people inside. No one was hurt badly.

And the people that made it all happen! Wayne and Dorothy spent many hours planning and did a great job making sure every thing happened. There was a group from Missouri, the group from PA and then the folks from here.