Travel stress, cold and an uneasy relationship with my first Ghanian foods seem to conspire against me and I slept until noon today feeling really under the weather.
Drugs from home (thank you, Ben, for making sure they were packed) restored me more or less. I spend a long time conversing with Rhoda and sipping tea. Little Gifty skips in from school and is soon on my lap exploring the pictures in the IPad. Older brother Reginald takes on the task of getting a SIM card for my iPhone, but it won't work without spending $100 and a long trip. He offers me the use of one of his phones and then drills me repeatedly to make sure I have memorized the number. 0241979798. He does surprise inspections to make sure I really have it down. This seems consistent with the Ghanian value of education and hard work. No excuses.
Gifty is persuaded to give a tour of the large school grounds which surround my new home. Reginald comes along and points out the dormitories and many buildings. As we walk along we hear the voices of kids loudly chanting or singing and Reginald explains they are praying (more on prayer later). Wow, never heard kids pray like that! We visit the Administration building looking for Auntie Mary, but she is not there. Gifty and I meet Sister Beatrice and she is a beautiful young woman with stylishly braided hair, each braid ending with a bead.
Reginald and Gifty show me the huge dining hall that can seat 2000 children. The cooks have already prepared the evening meal. Big heavy pots of the hot rice dish are lined up on a wall of shelves, waiting to be served family style. We walk into the open kitchen area, a large patio with outdoor cooking stoves/grills. There is a bin of masa filled corn husks - like tamales without a meat filling - and an iron pot is stewing herbs for medicine (malaria treatment). The women cooks are embroiled in a noisy argument that reaches a crescendo while we are there. Reginald takes my iPad and snaps some pictures and that completely breaks up the fight. I then become an object of interest.
Auntie Mary has spent most of the day in consultation with doctors because a few days ago she had a mild stroke. It is apparent in her slurred speech and affect and so of course everyone is very, very concerned. The ailments of our society, like diabetes, are also a big problem in Ghana. It does not help that the typical Ghanian diet is heavy on oil, meat and starches. Late this evening, Auntie Mary's friend, Sister Irene, takes me grocery shopping with her and Rhoda because she is determined to convince my family here to adopt a healthy diet. I am getting my story out of order here but I want to tell you that the price of fresh fruit and many veggies is shocking. A basket of strawberries is $12! Lemons are pricy and look like they have leprosy. Local produce like watermelons are very cheap, but a bunch of celery is $4!
During her 2 hour visit with Auntie Mary, Sister Irene decides that diet alone is not enough so she and Auntie Mary begin to sing some songs, which Reginald tells me are prayers. Then Sister Irene begins to pray forcefully over Auntie Mary, telling the devil to get out and submit to the power of Jesus Christ. Reginald and Rhoda add in "Amens". I am listening closely and I think Sister Irene is making a fairly good theological argument with Satan. Auntie Mary's husband is a Pastor of the African Pentecost Church,so this family takes prayer very seriously.
I am invited to join the family devotions tomorrow at 5 am and daily thereafter.
This is going to be an experience!
My final remarks will be on the topic of titles. Since I have arrived I have become Auntie Jackie, Sister Jackie and Mommy Jackie. No person younger than me will refer to me any other way. I am learning to call everyone I meet Sister or Brother, or I wait and see what others say. Trust me, you cannot help but be charmed when a handsome young man calls you Mommy!
Auntie Sister Mommy Jackie
(Pics: me & Gifty, medicine pot, school kids, cook & me, masa to be cooked, pots of hot food)
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Thanks for following! J