Around the Town…

This post is basically random stuff that has happened around town. It will mainly consist of photos.

 

 

There really isn’t much of a public waste system here in Abomosu. Basically you put your trash in a pile and burn it. This is Nkansah outside of our house taking care of our trash for the week.

 

 

We are constantly asked if we will take babies home with us. This cute little thing belongs to Mary.

 

They tried to help me carry her by wrapping the cloth around me. It didn’t work out too well!

 

Market days are Tuesdays and Fridays in Abomosu. This is one of the main areas of the market. People from surrounding villages also come to sell and buy products.

 

A lot of people cook outside with a pot on a fire. This was one of the biggest ones I have seen. It reminds me of a big witches pot which is used to brew potions. This particular family makes a corn product called Kenkey and sells it around town.

 

 

I’m not a fan of fish as all. When I pass a stand selling fish like this one, it doesn’t sit too well with the smeller.

 

 

Nate decided to take our shaved heads one step further. A guy in the Elder’s Quorum Presidency (Kwadwo Dumpreh) shaved him bald with a straight blade razor and soap. Nate sure was gutsy and got away clean without any cuts. As you can see his head has not seen much of the sun.

 

 

While we were there with Nate we had a chance to hold a little goat which had been born just five hours before. Chloee was beyond stoked because she has wanted to hold a baby one since we arrived.

 

 

We often see brand names wherever we go, like Dulce and Gabana, Gucci, and Armani. Sometimes the knockoffs are not done very well however. Here is one of my favorite “Puma” bags.

 

 

We love to see and hold the cute African babies. Their reactions often vary however.

 

 

Every once and a while we looks like this little girl. I was sitting at the bus station waiting for my bus and she just stared at me in awe the entire time I was there. I would love to know what was going through her head.

 

But Most often we get a reaction more like these:  

Poor kids are not sure what to think since they have never seen a white person before.

 

 

Ghana is on the same election cycle we are, so this is an election year (also in November). This guy was traveling through different villages as an independent. Apparently he lived in the US for long period of time and has decided to come back to his birthplace to run. He was absolutely fascinating. First he starts going off about how Ghanaians should not let other people come in and do mining here. He said that all the Chinese people should be killed. He saw Nate and I and asked what we were doing there. Nate let him know we were teaching and provided micro-loans. The politician went off on how we Americans are trying to push our Western society on them and they they do not need money but need jobs. Nate tried to ask him some questions because he obviously had no concept whatsoever what we were trying to accomplish here, but the guy just kept going off and swearing. He would say things like “You have been in bondage to missionaries for 500 years and don’t listen to them!” (referencing us).

 

He said that the people don’t see us walking around carrying water on our heads and that we are getting rich and fat while these people suffer. I ran across the street to Florence’s shop (one of our loan recipients) and borrowed a bucket and bought a bag of 30 sachets of water. I walked over to the crown with it on my head and people went into an uproar of laughter and clapping. We proceeded to hand out the water and the guy decided he was finished talking there and continued to parade around town.

 

 

 

One of my favorite things out here is the children. They always love to run up to us and hug us. They are so pure and have the BEST smiles ever! I really do love them so much. We all do!

 

 

This is a traditional bath here – A bucket and soap outside. These two kids were super cute. The older brother was washing his younger brother. The kids out here always work together and have great relationships with each other. They are also very obedient to their parents.

 

 

 

We are in rainy season and the roads are often covered in puddles. This is our house in the background on the road leading to it.

 

 

 

 

This particular day I went for a run and this lady followed me home to give me a gift of five avocado’s. She also said that she wants me to take her son to America. The avocado’s were delicious!!!

 

 

Margaret made Fufu for us with peanut soup and it was delicious! The soup was amazing and I want to learn how to make it so I can do it at home. The Fufu is cassava and plantains so it is sweeter than Banku.

 

 

To finish off this ridiculously random post, this is a picture of a lady that lives next door. I guess years ago she did something wrong and was locked up in chains for a very long time. She went mad (literally) and lost her ability to walk. Every time I go by say hi to her and she responds with a hello and laughs really loud. I love her laugh! It always brightens my day so I love when I get to see her.