I am watching the African Cup in the semi finals, Ghana is leading because of a very controversal penalty. I bought myself a present today, there is a ceilng fan in the rom but it is not over the bed sooooooooooooo I bought a floor fan that blows directly on me ..... I have arrived in heaven went to see two villages with bishop and his wife Felicia o consider where to try to establish a medical clinic - in the first one most of the houses were made with mud bricks and tin roof, it was quite desolate looking - the second one had house made of concrete blocks and tin roof, it seemed as though there was considerable building of new places going on if I was to pick it would be the first one, it look in more need to me. they are both about 15 minutes as the crow flies from Sunyani. That may seem s short distance to get to the hospital but there are not many vehicles and I woulf guess not much money for a taxi, I guess time will tell as to what happens tomorrow I plan to go to the bank, Barclys for probably the 10 x, I am quite know by the security at this point. I opened an account and wanted to have internet banking but an not get into the acct, and they have not issued me a bank card for the ATM I giess I will be there at leat 1 1/2 to 2 hours, the good news is that there is A/C :) :) :)

let off the hook

After having time trying to see how 'celebrating the eucharist' at the cathedral ufolds and thinking about how I have only seen it 3x, I asked the bishop today that I not be the celebrant yet, I told him I would not be good. The trouble for me is that the service does not follow order in the prayer book,some of the prayers are different than what is printed so making an attempt to do a decent job is not something I can accomplish by Sunday, so someone else will celebrate and I will preach. I think this is the best for the parishioners and me too. I hope, with time a system unfolds and makes sense to me.

St. Peter;s School, Berekum

I visit the school site today. There has been a delay as the plans have been modified so a larger school is being built as the surrounding community is growing. Raising money and keeping on track is a very slow journey but they continue to move foreward, The school is to be named in memory of a former priest, the Rev Ben Smith. I feel quite reassured as his widow is monitoring the spending and building progress. Building is a very slow process here

learning never ends

Watching the 11pm news which consists of the someone reading articles from the newspaper, a picture of the paper is put up on the screen with the headline of the article. Many of the tv program (there are 3 channels to choose from with one really snowy)are educational in nature (today was cancer of the cervix day) pictures and treatments and screening are all covered. I think there are a fairly significant population that cannot read so this is like standing on the corner like the Town Crier I suppose. But Football (soccer) is shown live and I have announced that I must be home by 230 on Wednesday as Ghana is playing in the quarter finals with the second set playing at 530pm Ghana won last week by sheer luck as they played terrible but got one point on a penalty kick and the other when the other goalie had been pulled. We will see this week if they are better. I spent 2 hours tonight in a liturgical lesson to preach and celebrate at the cathedral this Sunday, I drew the line at starting a prayer...my brethren, I said ..I just cannot say it so it will be my brothers and sisters, the singing will be pretty bad as it has been a long time since I learned some of it in seminary and, then I was not that good. The little tests that one meets along the road eh!!!

POLITICS IS EVERYWHERE

Politics this week the government was interviewing candidates for Ministerial posts, shown on tv A lawyer who has clearly done considerable advocacy work was clear that she would fight for gays to have their basic human rights defended, this has created a flurry of talk show conversations that she is supporting the gay life style. Every day there are very animated discussion as to whether she is ssupporting the gay life style or is she fighting for everyone including gays must be given their basic human rights as set out in the constitution the RC archbishop was going on about the evil nature of the gay life style, against a lawyer talking about basic rights for all in Ghana, those in jail, women and those who are gay, it is not against the law to be gay, it is against the law to live that life style and the struggle goes on ............

TIM HORTONS ITS NOT!!!!!!!!!!

ANGLICAN SECONDARY SCHOOL

yeserday, Thursday I deleted the pics in error of course, from this visit, will try to get more but until then ....no pictures in Yamfo, the Anglican Diocese of its one and only secondary school. There are 700 students, actually more girls than boys but of the 146 graduates last year, 18 went on to university, none were girls. This school I was told has limited resources so does not draw the high level achievers to attend. The advantage of compleing high school is that one can apply for government positions, otherwise you would resort to a non regular job eg trading in the market, There are two scholarships available each year, which only cover tuition and board, does not include uniforms, books and anything else they might need which amounts to about $200.00. It seems as though the very poor have no chance of ever getting out of the poverty cycle. The total cost for a student who has no money is $500.00 year for 3 years. If anyone would like to raise funds to cover a girl to attend for three years = $1500.00 I would ensure that she was selected well and I will personally follow her progress. If there are any teachers who would like to twin with thi school for a cultural exchange, I can forward on your email.