That is live chickens in the pan on their head -- just in case you can't tell.

Always amazed at what they can carry on their heads

Jim entertaining the kids

Christmas Party for the street children of James Town, (a part of Accra)

Saturday we were invited to this party.  LDS Charities have helped this organization a couple of times and they hope for more help from us.  They were expecting about 1000 children but I don't think they got that many.  They had activities for them and entertainment.  They were given some clothing and a meal (rice, chicken and a drink) when they left.  

We walked around to the different activities and talked with the kids (the ones that knew English).  Jim showed them how to whistle with their hands and tried to teach them to juggle some rocks.  They always like that.   It was rather hot and after about 1 1/2 hours we were ready to go and get back in our air conditioned truck.   

The organization is called Street Children Empowerment Foundation.  They are trying to help with education, school fees, etc. for these children.  James Town is a slum area.  Things were pretty bad there.  You can check out the organization's website if you want ---www.scef-international.org

There were several young adults helping out - they were all from Germany, here doing some charity work.  

Signs on the washroom doors

I've never seen signs quite like this before. 

Couple's conference

We had our couples here from Sierra Leone and Liberia.  We had a great time together and learned a lot of each other.  They are amazing and have done some wonderful humanitarian projects in those countries.  Things are not easy for them there and they were grateful for a little pampering - warm bath/shower, some good food and time to share their experiences and wisdom.  They said it was 'the shot in the arm' they needed to finish their missions.   They go home in a couple of months so we learned a lot from them.   There are replacement couples coming.  Yeah!!   We will do this again with the new couples at the end of March. 

I thought Liberia was the poorer of the two countries but Sierra Leone is.  Civil wars in the countries have really taken a toll.  Luckily the people are able to grow food and survive. 

We had a great video conference with the humanitarian people in Salt Lake City.  We talked and shared with them for 2 1/2 hours.  They appreciated the input from the couples of what is working and what their frustrations are.  Technology is wonderful - we could see each other on the big screen and talk as if we were all in the same room. 

We went on an excursion one day and visited a dam, had a wonderful lunch and then went on a nice boat ride on the Volta River.  It was beautiful on the river and I am attaching a few pictures of what we saw.  ;)

Fruit and Vegetable market

This is the market where we have gone to a couple of times to purchase our produce.  They do have a nice selection of things.  Some things we have never heard of before but we decided to try a couple of them this week. 

The eggs are never refrigerated here but they seem to be just fine.  It was the same on our other missions.  We do wash them in a mixture of water and bleach and then put them in our fridge.  We always make sure they are well cooked -- no soft yolks to be eaten here.  Actually it is the whites that we are advised to be sure they are cooked well and we are to wash our hands if we get any egg white on them while breaking the eggs.