ONE YEAR ANNIVERSARY BISHOP KYEM AMPOMAH

 lots of busy activity getting the cathedral ready in the last half hour before service was to begin. The priests, lay leaders, seminary students, of the diocese gather outside the cathedral. I see a pile of mats which I think indicates that many from afar came last night and slept on the floor of the cathedral to attend this service. Pomp and circumstance abounds, incense winding upward,  single line according to rank and position enter to the processional hymn (about 50 folks), the cathedral filled to spill over to the balcony.    

from behind the altar

Prior to the sermon is 20 minutes of dancing and singing.

(dam, can't figure out how to get a video here from my phone)

got help and I think it will work

The preacher was the retired Primate Most Rev. Prof. Daniel Yinkah Sarfo. Sermons here include singing and the message (3/4 hour). Folks listened in the local language while I looked at my watch.

Offertory was a many layered happening. Free will offering for the bishop, then amounts of money is shouted out by the Appeal Leader eg 10,000 cedis, 5,000 cedis all the way down to five and ten cedis. (all put in a plastic handle bag and given directly to the bishop), next there was an appeal for a free will donation for the cathedral. The service continued with the celebration of the Eucharist.

Services here end with requested prayers, anniversaries, celebrations and today for the Bishop and his family;  Bishop and his wife to his left. and to his right, the Retire Primate and his children.

Then, the recessional hymn and it was finished.  Michael from the office was there so I got a ride home. After a shower as my shirt was completely wet as were the strings of my mask (2 mask event), food and a nap (my favourite Sunday afternoon activity)

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The sounds of Saturday afternoon

 Firstly the students that trek by my windows are on Christmas break until the new year. 

So while my fan spins, the sound of silence outside is very remarkable. NO SOUND  Occasionally the bass pounds from a passing car  are noticed. Then I hear a bleating, a desperate bleating, over and over, a little one has lost his mom. He runs around to the back of the house, continuing his pathetic cry but meets a mama dog twice his size. The dog pays no attention but the lamb freezes in his place. Then fright/flight kicks in and the lamb runs like the winds out of sight. Whether he found mom, I don't know but he did add to the sounds of this afternoon.

How appropriate to have an angel from Eleanor made from a broken tea cup. Now, there is a sermon possibility for sure as we are broken angels.

I thank everyone for the varied support I receive and 

pray that everyone enjoys a blessed Christmas time and a healthy and peaceful 2023!

A VISITATION TODAY

 I had a visit from a delegation from a Junior High School without water. We had discussions earlier in this year but I had to leave quickly last spring. The situation here is that many schools are without water and it seems the government has no agenda or budget to improve things. I do not understand the relationship of the government to the individual schools. It means schools have to scramble to get the basics how ever they can. Hence the conversation this morning. 

The school IS KESSEKROM NEW ADIEMBRA ANGLICAN BASIC SCHOOL It is a Junior High and thy have no water. Mother Gladys Opoku-Ware is the Head Mistress. I use a universal proposal format that will need to be filled out that actually is the same for all projects; what is being being requested; what will it do, who will it serve, and how much will it cost. So we had a good discussion and now the ball is in their court to produce the required proposal. Great kids, paying attention, I wonder if they can understand me but they said they could understand. We will hope they get water soon.

A SHOCK WITH REALITY

 Sitting in the office, the accountant runs in to use the printer on the desk. I remember running for a printer in my place as a cord was needed  to print. I asked 'Victor how many printers does the Diocese of Wiawso have"?  The answer was one. I was quite struck by the fact that I personally own three and that did not seem unusual until today.  Then the hydro electricity went off. Shocked into realizing yet again that the struggles are so basic. 

I myself in Canada complaining about waiting for something that I knows I WILL get, moaning that the choice is diminished to only 25 instead of 30 options now not including my favourite. How does it get equal is the big question.

CELEBRATIONS

•  Xmas decorating all done and no hanging off a ladder to install outside lights 
• in a snow storm lol
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• This weekend is the Celebration Weekend for Bishop Kwame Kyem-Ampomah 
• on the 1st Anniversary of his Episcopy. 
• What is going to happens has yet to unfold, in other words, I do not know.
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A MARATHON TODAY FOR THE HARVEST SUNDAY

 I left the house at 830 am and returned at 345pm. one service folks.

Harvest Sunday is fund raiser Sunday/

The goal was 50,000 Ghana Cedis/ After 3 hours of hard encouragement they realized 54,000.

Every church has a Harvest Sunday. I understand that a percentage is given to the diocese.

Five hours is a long time. The Eucharist ended by 11am and then into the money. While this was going on Kalvin and I enjoyed pictures on my Ipad. He saw how I downloaded books to read. We had a good time all the while the fund raising continued. 

Kalvin sits beside me at the altar. and likes his picture taken.

TGIF

 It is  Friday and the TGIF CLUB is in action. I started this club with the diocesan staff where I buy lunch for everyone and my lunch is the same; plantain chips, peanuts and a coke. Today I had the best lunch. I was also introduced to fresh cocoanut. The stuff we  in Canada I detest but I tried the cocoanut water and the pulp, not bad, hardly any favour actually. I found it was better than the stuff back home. I understand that the very mature ones are tough so choose the green ones I am told. I learn something every day.