sorta a day off

day started with meeting Bishop and Mother Felicia with the District Health Council regading health clinics in some villages, I guess it went okm at least we meet and the Directpr has seen the whites of my eyes. It is ending with the chickens running around clucking and the dog named joy, my newest friend chasing the cat in the yard

Life is good!

Here I sit, under the fan, drinking coke, playing on the internet, now how can life be any better

VISIT @ WOMEN PRISON

JANUARY 29, 2013 VISIT Only Womens Prison in this province. - Inmates: 18 WOMEN: 12 INMATES 6 REMANDS - Inmate projects: FLOOR MATS, KINKI, BREAD, ??HAIRDRESSING IN FUTURE, SEWING SLIPS which are sold to generate money to enhance the care of the inmate. This initiatve was started by the guards to raise the standard of care. Marketing is an issue as would be buyers are thought to be lowering themselves to buy from the prison. - Vegetable Garden - LETTUCE, YAMS, CABBAGE - ALL TAKES PLACE IN ONE YARD SIZE OF basketball court - ONE SMALL BABY, MOTHER INMATE CAME IN THE LAST THREE DAYS - GUARDS CUTTING FABRIC BOUGHT FROM SEAMSTRESSES FOR FLOOR MATS FED 3 MEALS/DAY not all jails are this generous - 30 GUARDS TO 18 INMATES, ALL THREE SHIFTS PLUS ADMINISTRATION - LOCKED UP AT NIGHT The return rate is low for the women, nost offences are fighting and stealing with a very few murders. My comment to the Officer, I wonder what took place to the women before the murder. There is some attempt to teach life skills so they can make it upon release. Very memorable scene.

round abouts

I am being told that a car will be available, I am working on an International Drivers Licence, should have got one before I left home BUT putting more effort in figuring out how round a bouts work, it is all in the timing so it appears or at least I hope so

I juSt heard that Kathleen Wynne has been elected to be Premier WOW she is so great and the perfect person for that position..... GO KATHLEEN!!! she was very supportive to the Flemingdon Park community and the Ministry

A THING OF THE PAST

I stopped wearing the bootcase Saturday, nice to wear a pair of shoes, aches a bit but no pain

I SURVIVED THE ORDINATION

Only 5 1/2 hours, start time was 9am, really started near to 10, Chancellor and registrar fo the diocese wondering why so late, my answer not so helpful...well its Africa (both these men are judges so I am sure their courts start on time)ordination process in carrying a cross, effective symbolism, processions,pomp, circumstance abounded, a little different order than ours as the ordination takes place before the gospel and sermon, my concern ... was I going to last till then to preach .. went wthout a hitch, not one cough, then it was translate by a priest who had a script, I actually step outside when the incense came out to start the eucharist,kept the coughing to a minimum lots of parading en mass, prayers en mass at the front by the bishop, by the new priest, every clergy in the building was recognized at the end befoe the recessional, all and all a grand service!!

getting read for ordination

cathedral is decorated for the ordinaions tomorrow rehearsal at 4, started at 440 and ended at 630, service tomorrow should be interesting I am going equiped, lozenges, water, puffer, inorder to survive. unfortunatly the sermon comes after the ordinations,

These seats are just inside the main doors for the wardens to keep the riff raff out

I have a question: is there a way to change the colour in a document that has been scanned into the computer? please see attached the goal is to change the colour of the crest when putting it on anther document

'good news and bad news

The good news is that I now am confident in cropping pictures, I know everyone else finds it an easy task but ask my daughter, for me learning anything on the computer is a major undertaking The bad news is that forecasted temp for Saturday, the 5-6 hour ordination that I am preaching at...is 99. I asked him whether people faint, he had no reaction saying not often. Well this will be a test, robes and all, last ordination I attend here was 6 1/2 hours and I went out at the offertory for a soda. anyway enough of a canadian going on and on about the weather because no one here pays it any attention Meet the woman in the picture while I waited to be picked up this am, delightful and very sweet

kids and books

Visited the Cathedral School today with some books from Canada the kids are kids no matter where they are, shoving, pushing, giggling, and wanting to be in the photo

One as being disciplined which means she has to wash the dishes

internet blues

Internet being very unpredictable this evening, It is after 10pm and the temp is 97 better than early when I was sweating ++++++++ and on and on just finished redoing an application form for those who want to apply for study program the diocese is offering, the study is to raise the level of Christian knowledge for the laity and those who are thinking abut ordination. cant do pics as internet can not handle it, maybe tomorrow night

HAPPINESS IS HAVING TUBS TO DO LAUNDRY

I know I am a little crazy to get excited about plastic tub an pail. see I strung a line in the shower stall so the clothes can drip and not make a mess.

Cathdral and the future Bishops Court

SUNDAY DUTY

up at 6, picked up at 7 and first service at 730 AM !!!!! no smoke or bells, sermon 40 minutes, finished at 915 next service at 9 but you realize that did not happen so it was 930 by the time it got started, smoke, bells, the same altar kid servers etc dancing/drumming after the sermon language is both english and traditional(I do not know the name) pic is the front of St. Anselm's Cathedral SOUNDS drumming,rooster,horns beeping, hen chirping by the door with two chicks following, service unfolding, choir singing their hearts out WOW!!!! SIGHTS Usher (young girl with a Usher badge) handing out service leaflets, wardens with academic gowns on guarding the door, collectionis veryone dancing up to one of the two containers (actually there are blue plastic basins inside to contain the money) men wearing traditional cloth, some with light suits, women with traditonal colourful dress,one couple,(later I was informed he is a dentist ) she has a long dress and he has a shirt of the same fabric I will putthe pics in the next post,esier for me to work

you see I figured out the picture routine, sorta so hopefully now I just need to remember

this is my first attempt adding photos, I know I did it last year so I wil keep on trying thanks to those who sent the helpful hints, clearly I am still not getting it

as I sit under a whirling fan, listening to a mixture of downloads on my ipod, temp cooled down to 32c, the thing have found is that I have time to just wander in my mind and on the internet. It is not hard to be sitting in Sunyani I found thi dismissal which covers being a Christian I think " with at the end of this liturgical service the next service begins when we go out in the word to love and serve the Lord" good eh!!

January 18th, Landed in my new home TEMP 36oC, a warm day A self-contained bedsitter unit is home for me now. I included pictures of this great space. It feels a little like going into a university dorm for first year. The bishop has generously outfitted this space with everything that I might need including a TV with rabbit ears (remember what they were like, some times more snow than picture). Tried to open a bank account today, first bank said no but it seems as though Barcley’s is going to say yes when I gather the request info: have been back twice so far and not finished yet, another document requested. My cold is hanging on, bought Benylin cough syrup at the Chemist and hopefully I will help get me to stop coughing so I can sleep. I am dammed if I can figure out how to insert pics, all suggestion gratefully received

not able to get pictures up as Bishop's camera is doing funny things, ....tomorrow .....tomorrow

WELCOMING TO SUNYANI

Surprise, surprise, I was met at the airpot in Sunyani by a delegation from the diocese (would have been a good time for clergy shirt but alas, not today), pictures, presented with flowers by a young girl (Christina), she gave a speech to welcome me, and had got out of school for the event, the whole airport (smaller than the old Malton airport) was a twitter with my arrival. I was quite surpirsed believe me. so after idenfying my luggage, I hobble with my boot cast across the parking lot (sorta gravel and dirt) I am afraid all the names are going in one ear and out the other, that will take time
then
go to the house, greeted by Bishop Festus, then the St Joseph's Society ladies who presented me with kitchen stuff for my room, Lordy Lordy
while eating lunch bishop remarks that there is an ordination, apriest and 4 deacons, a week Saturday and could I preach, of course says I,  how long, well... 15 minutes because it will need to be translated and that will add to 30 in total so that will work, the last ordination here I attended was 6 1/2 hours long.
now the rooster is crowing outside the window, the fan whirls above, my head is aching form lack of rest but in time that will resolve, I brought a head cold from Canada so nose is running etc, this too will pass.
no`pictures from this am as the bishop has his camera so when he returns I will add pics.
temp is warm, no snow or rain today

sitting in Heathrow, 630 am your time, 1130 London time, flight at 135pm, not too long a wait
had bulkhead seat from To. great space for my boot cast, not bad for me either. no movie worth watching,
slept a bit,
can hardly believe the house and me got packed to get away, only with help was it possible and I do not mean from afar.
I wonder sometimes where my head is as I brought 4 computers, a printer and solar charger, all of which have to be put in plastic bins along with my coat, suitcase, purse, boot case and shoe, the officials look at me like '???'   anyway I still get through
free wifi not working so on a pay by the minute computer so can not add a picture, will do as soon as I am able,  peace

It is Janaury 15, 849am and I am still doing stuff to get on the journey. A mix of antcipation, a little nervous and a whole lot of tiredness keeps me focused and moving forward. Felony is wandering around, with no furniture to jump on and resorting to the one blanket on the living room floor as a rest station. I've got to vacuum and pack the car still for the last load to Hamilton..... leaving Tanya with her mother'stuff filling the empty corners in her house.
for me talk later at the airport....
FAREWELL ST. PAUL'S ......  THANKS FOR THE BLESSINGS !!!!!