Dec. 20

Dec. 20
We caught a shared taxi to melcom so we were there when it opened at 9. Kenny waited outside while I went in to buy 4 buckets for our water filtration system. We found some with a spigot at the bottom so they will be able to pour it out into their cups. We caught a taxi to the new tro station at mensah stadium only to find that they took us back into kotokroba because they needed more passengers. Our "leaving" took ages. Welcome to Ghana time. Finally we were on our way. When we dropped at gyankobo there was already a truck wwaiting to go. I rode with Sammy on the motor so wouldn't need to pay for another person.

Watching the truck bounce its squished passengers around is even more fun than being a passenger. I love seeing Kenny surrounded by my black Ghanaians.

Once in the village Kenny and I got the water filtration systems ready, and found a spot high enough with the size of buckets we had. Some of the village gathered to watch, but we won't formally give them until next week when all the chiefs can meet with us.

Afterwords we went with some of the boys in the village to catch crabs in the river. Somehow the crabs have adapted to live in freshwater. No idea if that is normal, but I was surprised. We walked for nearly 30 minutes of the most beautiful jungle/ farm crops. I can't imagine how much work it takes to clear a little land for them to farm on. Their were butterflies everywhere, and we passed where they grow cocoa, cassava, yam, plantain, bananas, pineapple, guava, coconuts, and corn. Eventually we made it to the river which is completely covered in trees. They brought branches with cassava on the ends to place under the rocks. When they start to move you know a crab has bitten and you can slowly pull it out till you can grab it and put it in the bucket. It was the coolest thing to watch. Kenny grabbed a thick branch thinking it would hold him, but it was dry, and into the river he went. He has huge scrapes up his right arm from the fall, and I think the guys we were with said sorry about a million times.

Don't worry mothers who are reading, we got back to the village, and I cleaned it with the water from the filtration system, put neosporin all over it, and wrapped it until we got back to cape the next day so nothing from the village could get into the cut.

Anyway, Once back in the village I asked for a coconut. 5 minutes later one of the boys was up the tree cutting down at least 25 coconuts. The kids were running from all over to grab the coconuts on the ground. Watching 7 year olds cut open their coconuts with a machete is quite a sight to see. I have no idea how they handle a blade almost as big as themselves. I had 3 coconuts, and I was so full. It's amazing how much they fill you up. Kenny loves the coconut water, but doesn't like the meat....how can you not love the coconut meat?

While dinner was prepared Kenny went to the pitch to play football, and he passed the test. When they arrived back the boys and Sammy couldn't stop talking about the obruni that plays football. I stayed in the village, and held a baby while her mom helped pound the fufu. I'm obsessed with the little girl. She is just old enough to really start smiling, and everyone says the baby looks good on me. I couldn't agree more. I must have an obibinni baby someday.

We had fufu and groundnut soup, and literally the fufu was bigger than my face...somehow Kenny and I finished it all. I promise my stomach felt like a ball of fufu afterwords. I really don't think I've been that full for years. The village was so proud of how much we ate...not sure if it was worth it though.

By this time it was completely dark, and everyone was off the farms, and dressed up for a night of drumming and dancing. The village paid for drummers to come play, and for the next 4 hours we played drums, and danced. The only light was from a flashlight placed up on a house, and I didn't mind one bit. Dancing in the dark while everyone watches is much better than in the light. I could have watched the kids dance all night long. It is truly the most amazing thing. The women were also amazing, oh I loved the entire night. We finished the night playing hide and seek. All the children would wait and count while Kenny and I went to hide. 60+ kids running around to find you really spices up the game. It was seriously a magical summer night.

We stayed in one of the nicest places in the village, and they even brought in a foam pad for us to sleep on instead of the ground. I think it may have been the fastest I've ever fallen asleep. I was exhausted from the day.