From John:
Am here typing my email!
Pat's favorite saying has been - nothing dries here! Or everything is always wet! She also hopes she will get used to the peacock yelling "help me, help me"
It has been very cool - only in the 80's. The Deaf are complaining and praying for God to make it warmer for them. It does feel cold in the evening. The humidity is very high, that is why nothing will dry.
I hung our laundry on the line yesterday. Today I went out to turn it over so hopefully will dry a little on the other side. Tonight I brought it in and hung in on the doors in our room. With the fan on high hopefully we will have some dry before morning.
Electric has been working well. We are having some problems with one "phase" of electricity. I think there are two or three phases and one is out. That means part of our lights work and part of them do not. My classroom has lights - but Pat is working in the dark. Good thing she is using the projector to show old filmstrips on the wall.
To give you an idea of a day the last few weeks:
Up about 6 for a cold shower or warm bucket bath
Warm up leftovers for the deaf for breakfast - (Thanks to our Madison people for the cooking utensils). Talked to see how things are going with their studies. Most of them are up in the classroom by 7:30am working on homework.
Today wanted to go into town for forex (money) and minerals (pop) but the line of cars was way to long to get into town. So I turned around and came home.
9 am start class - or close to it. Teach until 12:45.
Break for snack of bread and groundnut paste and bananas, water closet (bathroom), and do some individual work with the deaf or other work that needs to be done.
Oh today the man from Africa on line came to give us the other laptop. Hopefully all will be hooked up and ready to use by Thursday so we can finish practicing.
Oh also Quami the fitter (mechanic) came to get the truck today. He took the architect and surveyor out to look at the land. Joseph got to go along - he even paid the money to the village elder to clear a path around the land for the surveyor.
Back to class again at 1:45 pm to 4 and break for supper. Today we had plantain with stew and fish - it was very good (until I ate some kind of pepper in it - WOW)
The other deaf started coming about 5:00 after they finished work. 5:30 we started again until 8:00 pm After the tro tro (40,000 cedis) and taxi (70,000 cedis) left to take some of the people home.
Now the evangelists and leaders here got time to ask personal questions. We have been discussing about parents, families, wives, money, training, etc, etc
Some are now sitting around me practicing on the laptops - learning how to type and do the email. We are hoping this will help us to be in better communication. We will all share one email address as it costs about 300,000 cedis a month ($30) which we will pay. It is like sharing a mailbox - same address everyone puts the name they are sending to in the subject line.
They tailor stopped to chat.
Amadu was here discussing about copies we need to make, plans for the party on Thursday, finances for the house and for the meeting with the elders about the school on Thursday night.
Now, 11 pm - after I finish this email I need to work on the last edits for the student workbook for here. Hope finish before 12.
That is a typical day - forgot we also made plans with the cook for meal tomorrow, working on packing and separating materials for the schools (mostly Pat - thank you, Pat), gave out 2 pair of reading glasses, helped with class for 40 plus hearing kids from the neighborhood during supper time (almost got run over by a driver who did not want to stop for the children), helped our watchman stop the bleeding after he got a tooth pulled, I forget what else - smile.
It has been great.
I am more impressed with our Evangelists and leaders - they are starting to mature. They have been doing their homework and studying in most of their free time. You can see they are starting to support the young leaders and encourage them. I am very impressed with one of the new young deaf - Hayford. I pray God continues to guide all of them and keep them growing strong.
I thank God for each and every one of you!
There are many times God has shown His protection for us and His guiding our actions here.
I know this is also because you are praying for us - Thank You.
We are resting in His hands together. I pray God will also give you His joy and peace with the sure faith that Jesus has taken away your sins. Knowing you will see these saints of God in Heaven with you.
Serving Him together (even when we are separated)
Osofu Reinke
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From Joseph:
Hey from the place that is hot in the summer and in the winter.
I finally found a cheeseburger. But I didn't get it because I didn't want to.
This place is awesome. I have made a lot of new friends and seen some of my old ones.
This place is really hot.
I don't know what else to say so bye.
Joe Reinke