A couple of photos

We are in Cape Coast observing some training of Committees for our water project in some Villages here.   I will send some more photos later.   It is great to spend time by the ocean and even better to see the smiling faces of some children that were at a school by the Church where the training was taking place.  We love their happy, smiling faces! 

Vision Projects

We had a good day today with Dr. & Sister Hunsaker from Alpine, Utah.  They are short term specialists for LDS charities here for a week to implement one project, finish a project and begin the 2014 project.      The eye medical equipment actually arrived in-country a couple of months ago and has been stored at the Lekma Hospital.  He ask them not to open anything until he could come.  Today we went and opened the boxes and assembled the equipment.  The Optometrist here at the hospital couldn't stop smiling and as he saw the equipment he kept saying "wow"  "wow".   It was great.   They have the training but not the equipment to work with in the hospitals here.  Now they have it and they are thrilled. 

Tomorrow morning we go back to the Lekma Hospital eye clinic and have a ceremony to officially present them with the donation.  The public affairs couple (Elder & Sis. Stoker) will be there to take pictures and write an article about the project and also some Priesthood leaders from the stake will be there to make the presentation.   The hospital also invites special guests.   After the ceremony Dr. Hunsaker will do some training on the equipment with the two Doctors here.

This afternoon we visited "Save the Nations Sight Clinic" located at the other end of Accra.  Equipment was donated there last year and they brought a new motorized table for them.  Dr. Hunsaker did a little training there today.  The Dr. really appreciated it.   The Eye surgeon who owns this clinic is a good man who helps a lot of poor people from the villages and around the country.

Wednesday we will fly to Kumasi (40 minute flight) and will visit Kath Hospital there and look at doing our 2014 Vision project there.  We are also looking to see about their water needs at the hospital and a possible project for that.  We will fly back the same day.

Pictures:

#1  We donated some children's malaria and deworming medication to the Lekma hospital that we had left over from our Christmas project at the Chemical Store.  They were very happy to get it.

#2  Dr. Hunsaker and the two Eye doctors at Lekma Hospital.  They are just so thrilled.  It was great to be part of this.

#3.  Assembling the eye equipment.  There were at least three or four pieces worth quite a bit of money.

#4.  Dr. Hunsaker doing a little training with the Dr. at Save the Nations Sight Clinic.

#5.  When we arrived at the Clinic they had this huge banner hanging outside to greet us.   This Clinic received a lot of equipment on their last visit and are putting it go good use.

Bats 'hanging' in the trees

The bats only go to the trees in that area.  It is very strange and no one seems to know why (at least that we have ask so far).  They kind of give me the creeps though.  I can't say that I am a bat lover.

Photos -

So many bats in the sky in this area.  It is by the Military hospital where they seem to like to 'hang out' in the trees all day.  They at dusk they all fly away to find food.

The third photo is of a costume that several young men and boys were wearing around Christmas and New Years.  They would be at the street corners with a box wanting money.  They would come up to the windows when we had to stop for a red light.  They were quite persistent.  

The fourth photo is a Muslem mosque that is being built.  It is huge and quite elaborate and will be a spectacular building when done.  There is a very tall steeple-type thing next to it.   It is amazing how they are making the rounded/dome sections. 

Coconut

On our way back from the post office we stopped at a place to try a 'green' coconut

The guy hacked off the top of a coconut that was in a cooler and put a straw in and handed it to me.  The husk was green and softer - not dry and brown yet.   I looked at him and he said I needed to drink the coconut water -- or he could put it in a cup but it would cost extra.   So Jim and I both drank some and it tasted just fine.

Then we handed it back to him and he took a spoon and scooped the coconut meat away from the sides and handed it back with a plastic fork.  

It was soft and tasted alright but I think we both prefer the coconut the way we are accustomed to.  It was soft and very moist.   It was a new experience for us.

Trip to the post office

We got a package today from my sister, Diane.  We had to go to the Central Post office to pick it up.  A fellow from the mail room at the Area office went with us and I'm glad he did.  We couldn't find a place to park so he didn't come in with us.  I gave them the paper and then they needed ID (which is just fine) but then they needed us to photo copy it for them.  Edwin did that while I wrote down my details twice and signed the paperwork.  She went off to get the package (and there were a lot of them in the back).   I then had to write my address and sign and date it again.  

I was then passed to the next lady and she handed us a knife so we could cut open the package because they had to see everything that was in it.  So much for privacy.   As I was unwrapping the items she took a piece of the bubble wrap and started popping it.  I handed a piece to the other lady too and she smiled and started popping away!   I guess everyone, everywhere likes popping bubble wrap.  Haha!  

The lady then ask me what I thought the package was worth.  I ask what it said on the sticker that Diane had filled out?  It said $40 (which was probably on the low side).  The lady said she thought that was too much and so I ask her what she thought.  She decided $8.00.   So then she did some figuring and said I owed 15.50 cedi for duty charges (about $7.).   I think I had to pay duty on items that I could possibly have bought here.  I did ask for a receipt just to be sure I wasn't just paying a bribe that would go into their pockets.

Anyway -  I got a good chuckle out of the whole process.   And of course, it is always fun getting a parcel.  Diane sent us all the ingredients to make Paleo fudge (4 or 5 batches worth).  Thanks Diane!

I like this quote from Pres. Ezra Taft Benson

"Your most important friendships should be with your own brothers and sisters and with your father and mother. Love your family. Be loyal to them. Have a genuine concern for your brothers and sisters.

Help carry their load so you can say, like the lyrics of that song, 'He ain't heavy; he's my brother.' "

-      President Ezra Taft Benson