Week 8

Hello Everyone

What’s been happening this week? The toilet has been completed!!! Yeah!!! The inside of the hole was plastered and the toilet bowl attached. We then waited for 9 full days for everything to dry. The seat was installed and all was ready to go. The children needed to be instructed to put the used paper in the trash can to not fill the hole too fast. One boy called me to check and make sure what I meant. He lifted the lid and the seat and was sitting on the bowl directly. He then was asking me about what is a trash can. It was a rather silly word. He understood the term rubber container so all was well in the end. I did not laugh about him sitting on the bowl directly without a seat. But as small as he was it was a funny sight. Later that evening we had a toilet usage discussion. I demonstrated how to lift just the lid as well as what a trash can is. Everyone already knew that every time they go to the toilet they must wash their hands, thanks to Mother Sylvia. The toilet is a huge success.

The platform for the school’s water tank is about half built. The top needs to be put on it. The kitchen work is also about half done. The ceiling has been raised, the window opening cut and the holes filled in with blocks. However, the window screen is missing and the inside ceiling has not been done. One of these days these things will be completed and then I will pay the contractor the second half of the bill.

I gave the sewing machine to the Vocational Education School in the Liberian Camp. The camp has approximately 45,000 Liberian refugees. The vocational school is run by JoAnna. She is from Holland and a friend of the orphanage. She also looks out for all the Dutch volunteers in the area. She will be in Ghana for a total of 6 years. There was a young man from Holland who raised funds to build a school for the orphanage in Kasoa. The Vocational School construction students did all the work for free. Other Liberian refugees who heard about the project showed up and volunteered as a thank-you to the Ghanaian people. It is awesome! The school is almost done now.

As thanks for the machine, the sewing teacher is making new school uniforms for the children. Anne-Christien’s grandparents paid for all the material, buttons, zippers etc.. We’ll get pictures when the new uniforms are done sometime next week. So, that means you’ll see them in 2-3 weeks if you’re lucky. The same woman is making a dress, 2 tops and 2 pants for me for less than $20 US (again I got a cut rate). I purchased some beautiful fabric for about $2.50 US a yard.

To my quilting friends, the all cotton material here is gorgeous! There is tie-dye and African prints in beautiful, bold, bright colors. If you want me to buy some for you, it will be about $3.00 a yard to cover the dollar to cedi conversion and my travel. If you are interested, send me an email with your color scheme and quantities desired. I don’t think they sell less than one yard increments though.

Last night the children were writing thank-you notes to Anne-Christien’s grandparents’ who financed our trip to the beach. Kofi had to do his letter also. He scribbled in both pen and pencil a very nice thank-you letter and picture. He was so tired that he put his chin down on the table and fell asleep! His butt was on the bench and his chin was on the table and he was sound asleep. He didn’t put his cheek down just his chin and he was out like a light. It was very funny.

Rebecca, Justin, Beth, Derrick and Lexi thank-you for the emails! I miss and love you all.