Week 7 - Oasis in the Desert

ACCIDENT REPORT

I'm happy to announce we have had no major or minor accidents our first month in country!  That luck however, does not apply to many other situations at work we have been dealing with! Here is a little rundown of church employees & missionaries written reports on vehicle accidents for February:

1. Auto collision with a bike - a bike rode alongside a vehicle in motion (there are lots of bikers on the road) and scratched the vehicle. Driver stopped the vehicle and chased after the bike perpetrator.  Unable to catch the perpetrator, driver returned to his vehicle where he promptly realized he had lost his wallet and keys on the chase. In the wallet were his ID cards, credit cards, driver license and money.  This employee will be trained on "why you should not chase after bikes if they hit or scratch your vehicle."

2.  Auto collision with a tricycle - a "tricycle" (a 3-wheeled vehicle that carries HUGE loads around town - all tied on with ropes) sped past the vehicle and in doing so, took off the bumper of the vehicle. The driver caught up to the tricycle and said they paid for the damage. 

3.  Auto collision with a cow - while driving one day, out of nowhere a cow ran across my truck.  The cow was killed instantly.  Truck sustained a LOT of damage!  The family that owned the cow did not press charges because they were afraid of the liability to them for having their cow roaming outside a fenced area. (Side note: Remember the vehicle we saw the very first day we arrived and received our own truck? This was the one that hit the cow!)

I did have to wonder, will this cow be food for the family for many months? Where will they store all the meat?  Will they share it with the village so nothing is wasted?  I have so many questions!

KENTE CLOTH

Kente refers to a Ghanaian textile, made of handwoven cloth, strips of silk and cotton.  Historically the fabric was worn in a toga-like fashion by royalty among the Akan. It originated from Bonwire in the Ashanti region of Ghana. In modern day Ghana, the wearing of kente cloth has become widespread to commemorate special occasions, with highly sought-after kente brands led by master weavers.

There are many different styles, colors and patterns of kente cloth. I have purchased some ties for Jordan made in these beautiful African colors! Emmanuel is a young man who comes around selling these ties.  In asking about the process I discovered it takes 3 days to make enough material to make 2 ties.  The weaving process is facinating as shown in this video below:

At first I thought the video was sped up, but it is the actual speed at which they work to create this beautiful fabric. 

STEPS

Our glutes and quads are going to be in tip top shape while we are here.  Stairs, stairs and more stairs wherever we go.  Going to the 4th floor in our office building we do 76 steps.  Since we regularly need to go to other departments during the day, up and down, up and down we go. Its a good workout and keeps us from dying by sitting at the desk all day!  We also have about 40 steps to get to our apartment from the garage.  We could take the elevator, but why? The elevators here are confusing!  Here is the overview:

P = Garage level

G = Lobby level and First floor (apts 101, 102, etc)

1 = Second floor (our apt 206)

2 = 3rd floor, 3 = 4th floor, 4 = 5th floor.... you get the picture.  So, many times we end up on the wrong floor in stores if we take the elevator.  Better just to hike the stairs!

TRAVELER PALMS (the rest of the story I finally learned)
A magnificent row of “Travelers Palms” leads the way to the Ghana Accra Temple.

They were so named because of their readiness to quench thirst. Each leaf stalk can hold as much as a quart of rainwater for parched travelers. Hence, the name “Travelers Palms”.

The palms grow in an intricate overlapping pattern into a beautiful flat fan. Anyone who has spent time in Western Africa knows the comforting relief from the heat of the day that comes from a fan.

One of the folk legends about these palms claims that if you stand in front of one and make a wish “in good spirit”, the wish will come true.

These gorgeous specimens grow in what some call an oasis in the bustle of Accra. Although the literal meaning of oasis is "a green spot in the desert," it can also be used to describe a peaceful area in our everyday lives.

Just as the travelers palms provide water, symbolically, but in a very literal sense, the Gospel of Jesus Christ provides living water for thirsty travelers on their sojourn through mortality. As the Savior taught the women at the well:

"...whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst.” (John 4:14)

The teachings within the temple quench a thirst for truth. Those who come, partake of living water, and receive comforting relief from the heat of the day, and all who return often to make and keep sacred covenants “in good spirit” will be richly blessed. (reposted from Africa West Area Seniors Blog - Marsha Burdick)

As you can tell, we are having rich and awesome experiences in this part of the world!  We are loving the difficult but incredible work that crosses our paths each day.  We take time to "sharpen the saw" with exercise, excursions and meeting new friends!  Life is good in Accra!

 Happy Jordan for "real" food! LOL!     A little blue sky is beginning to appear!!

                                 Neighborhood buzzard we see regularly!

Much love from Ghana!