HAPPY HAPPY NEW YEAR TO EVERYONE!!!!

 The clock has ticked over to the New Year here, its after 2am. 

Church is  the gathering place for all ages. There is lots of singing and dancing to march to the 12 o'clock. I can say with assurance they sure know how to pray here. I guess I am becoming Ghanaian, got mixed about time for service tonight so was not ready when the taxi was leaving. Taxi came back for me and I walked in 20 minutes late... oh my goodness no one even noticed as there were still many parishioners were arriving too. 

We had eucharist after midnight so no service in the day, can sleep in. I saw Paul, a priest here who was leaving as I was arriving and he said he would drop by the house tomorrow, I said not early as I do not get up early at all. He assured me neither does he. So  here's hoping. 

I watched the fireworks around the world on tv France 24 out of Paris. None here it seems.  

This year 2024 reminds me it has been 30 years since my first visit to Ghana, it is hard to believe that the last three decades of my life have been adding to my life experiences from this great place. WOW my first visit was scary as I was by myself and meeting Francis Berimah with whom I had written a paper while at Trinity. Francis was very helpful to getting me started to learn about Ghana and its people. He unfortunately was diagnosed and succumbed to brain cancer later that year. May he rest in peace and rise in glory

Well folks, the new year is here, lots of ???? as what it will hold for each one of us. I pray everyone has health and blessings. PEACE.

YEAR END BITS AND PIECES

 Its hard to think that another year is ending. 'Time flies' takes the stage.  No office open this week, I visited the Sewing group  down the lane; a small learning group in a three year program. No electricity so hand run sewing machines are around on the table. The handle  is on the wheel to the right. I sew using two hand to direct the fabric but they develop a skill using  only their left hand.

I am sitting beside the teacher.

Took a taxi out to a parish looking to develop a proposal to further building their new church.

Canon Benjamin with a parishioner. We sat with the wardens to develop a plan going forward to include all the steps to a finished building. It is a teaching moment for me to get their thinking to develop a pathway to complete the project. It is quite rewarding when they start telling me how they can move forward. I hope that little projects that I am part of can be a blueprint for future projects big or small.   

Today the Saturday before New Years Eve included doing laundry. by hand in the shower.

                                                                                               out on the line, dry in a couple of hours

my treat to me French fried yam chips with lots of salt, almost a good as McDonalds

HAPPY CHRISTMAS TO EVERYONE!

 Just midnight here so wishing everyone a blessed and peaceful Christmas time. I hope  2024 is a healthy and fun time for each one of you.

My Furbaby Reilly with Santa

Advent 4

It was a children's focus service. Kids led the service, got  blessing and did some liturgical dancing. All and all very sweet.

Blessing from the Dean

Liturgical Dancing - sorry it is so short but I can not figure out how to download longer videos

the Three Musketeers all dressed up

Dean on my left and Precentor on my right

Holiday gatherings

 Bishop called all clergy and spouses to assemble today at the cathedral. . It was a year end summery, thank you for everyone's work, a few announcements, ideas and comments from the group. I have to say that nothing is talked about in quick manner so 5 hours, in the same chair, no breaks left me with a pain in the ..... so I got up and walked around a bit, saw lunch being delivered and hopes that it would end soon.  And it did, fufu, soup with beef for lunch and then got a ride back to the diocesan office. The real bummer was that the office party was today as well, roasted lamb, chicken, soup, drinks and fun that I was able to catch the tail end after Bishop's mtg. 

So I walk in with a ball rolling down the hall ??? what's going on. 

They had created a game if kicking the small foam ball down the room to hopefully go between the chair legs for a goal. You got 4 chances. Most of the kicks were wide, mine included but Victor was a champ. so here he is

the chair (goal posts)

Victor getting ready

Victor playing footsy with the ball

 

visiting

 I went with Canon Ben and Canon Paul to two Anglican schools handing out New Testament Bibles a gift from the Bible Society here in Ghana. The recipients were students in grade 4, 5 and 6. Kids are kids regardless of where or when as visitors came into the classroom, especially a BRONI  (white person in TWI). I am always asked to give a message which gets translated so I talked about the birthday we are going to celebrate on the 25th. then there is singing, dancing and the distribution of the New Testaments. Fun fun with all the energy that just bounces of the walls. 

me trying to make a point, note; we travel with cassock on, 

it seems kind of weird but that's what is done here, so when in Rome.....

singing and dancing to get things started

New week

Christmas is a week away, I can hardly believe it. No hype here, few decorations up, tree with lights in the church, Advent Wreath now at third pink candle, I was the preacher yesterday (weird feeling when translated as I have no idea what is being said and sometimes it is sounds much more exciting that I said), 

Staff in Diocesan Office for pic for 2024 calendar  

Now I am going to tell you about Elizabeth whom I am holding. She was a premie born in August at 1.9kg, many weeks before she was due. She is now 3kg and growing like a weed. Always bright, looking around, she is the daughter of Michael in the office. Grandma has come to help Mom take care of her, what ever they are doing is working. Dig the shoes, eh  :)

A visitor

 the hydro is off, just because I guess. Maybe a storm is coming, who knows, not me that is for sure.           I have a rechargeable flashlight so it is shining on the ceiling and along comes my visitor, a small gecko walking to the light.  He does not announce himself nor did he say goodbye, just a walk on the wall and going back into the ceiling tiles.   You can tell is is quite boring when there is no hydro as I am entertained with a gecko.  The good news is it does not last very long usually.  😊😊😊

Servers, Harvest Sunday and goodies

 I cam to the conclusion years ago that the day starts at 8am, not before as that is called 'night' when one sleeps. so, on Saturday morning at 750am I hear knocking on the door. By chance, I am up and dressed, unusual for Saturday am but lucky this week. There on the porch are two servers from the cathedral that I  chat with during services. 'Come in', as I wonder what is up. They have walked from the cathedral, maybe over 30 minutes and mostly downhill. They have come to do my housework, floors, laundry and anything else. Well, laundry is up to date and floors get done every two weeks for me. One reaches down and says the floors are dusty and they can be swept.  After drinks, chat, tour of the house, the floors did get swept, they left with funds to take a taxi back as it is all up hill. They did help me decorate for Xmas, see below beside the creche.

One topic was school that is claimed to be free. One needs to bring mattress, clothing, school supplies when staying in residence which by the way is the only option for the local high school. How are the marginalized to get the funds to obtain all this extra stuff essential to attend high school. This is the tough reality that slows or stops folks from getting ahead.

HARVEST SUNDAY

The major fundraising Sunday of the year. Lots of direct appeals, selling of good (bottles water, plantain, food stuffs etc. are auctioned off going to the highest bidder. This is situated in the midst of the Eucharist. It is not a short adventure (9am service, started at 930 and ended at 120pm).

Also happening was the blessing of a wedding from the day before. Offertory is separate from the fundraising and goods of all sorts is brought up along with money. This food stuff gets distributed to many including clergy. I was gratefully supported with things like sugar, oats, canned milk, bread. A very nice way to end a very long service.

I think on this Monday I am glad to sit in the office just chilling.

a trip to community where a church plant is underway

 I went with bishop to see this community that are trying to be supportive of the church plant. there has been a business for the past two years of making a mixture of grains that get used as porridge in the morning; the grains are soy, wheat, corn, rice. Each one ground to a powder, mixed in all equal portions except less corn. The struggle now is that there is not grinder to mill the ingredients that must be taken to a near by town. The meeting took place under a tree.

                                                                               

the type of grinder that is needed. grain poured in top funnel and comes out the bottom ground up, pretty simple actually, it has a motor instead of hand turned.

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Observer in the wings and cows passing by LOL where else eh!

She  is trying to figure out what is happening.

and cows, going for their morning walk

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Funeral , Churching and fried cabbage

 Saturday a funeral at the cathedral. I understood the deceased was named Mary. I see a casket carried in on the shoulders and then a second casket appeared. When I asked where did it come from, from Accra. I wonder out loud, was the first casket not good enough, no, there was a body of a man in the second casket. Oh two unrelated deceased in one funeral. ( I remember a funeral in Cape Coast years ago with 7, count them 7 caskets lined up for the one funeral service. So the service started, many of the ingredients being assigned on the fly mmmm I love knowing what I am doing a little ahead. Funerals have three parts here; one the church service, second the burial, and third the next morning back at church for the family to be pray over and for along with praying the soul of the deceased rests in peace. 

Sunday service included the Third part of the funeral from the day before  when families attend for prayers along with Churching of a new Mom when the baby is 40 days old. all these bits added into a traditional Eucharist. 

Then during the Announcements there was a lengthy introduction of next Sunday being Harvest Sunday (the most important fund raising time of the year). so it was nearly 1pm when things ground down. only 4 hours and I don't have to cook as I had got a take away after the funeral on Saturday. 

take away   defined as a plastic clam shaped foam container filled with rice, chicken, salad, hot sauce along with a drink, serviette and a spoon all in a little handle bag see below

Take aways look very similar given out after weddings, funerals, important celebration, meetings in diocese office for example. I love take aways, it almost makes a 5 hour funeral worth attending  lol

Cabbage; got a new recipe to fry cabbage along with onions, bacon, and any other veg found in the fridge. Ate all I made in one sitting, yep was very good.

a busy weekend so no getting into mischief