Show Me Your Teeth: July 20, 2013

Phoebe & Ben

This morning, to the delight of everyone, we were able to sleep in an hour later than every other day so far. We enjoyed yet another delicious breakfast at Fair Hill. However, this morning, for the first time, the rain prevented us from having breakfast on the beautiful patio. 

We then loaded the tro tro to head to Abassa Village, a small rural farming village a half-hours drive outside of Cape Coast. We went with the intentions of saying hello to the chief of the village, Nana Mensah III. We waited for Nana in the covered area outside of his palace - as the home of every village chief is called. And we waited and waited and waited; but Nana never came. He had left his palace to head to his farm just before we arrived but none of the village boys was able to find him. After all this is Ghana.

 

However, our trip to Abaasa was definitely not wasted. Instead of bonding with Nana, we were able to hang around some of the village children. These kids seemed to be less fortunate than most of the other kids we have been around, but that did not change their spirits. The constant smiles on their faces served as a reminder that joy in life is not in having many material goods. 

The children led us on a walk down a long, narrow, winding  path to the river, the only free source of water for the village. As we walked, we attempted to talk to them but we found a language barrier far worse than we'd experienced in either of our schools. The children all giggled when we showed them pictures of themselves on our cameras. They have probably never seen their own picture and did not quite understand the concept of “show us your teeth”.

We walked back up the path to the village, hoping that Nana had been found; but to our disappointment he had not. We left the village after leaving a box of books for their library, and trading the children a soccer ball for theirs, which was a "ball" made from tightly packed plastic bags, bunched up and wrapped in string. Prof gave them a brand new soccer ball.

 

On our way back to Fair Hill, Dominic, our tro tro driver, took us to see his house. He and his wife and twelve-year old son, Samuel (who was with us all day today) built their home three years ago and he has been working steadily on completing the inside rooms himself. It's a really nice home and he is rightfully proud of all the work he and his wife are doing to complete it.

We returned to Fair Hill for lunch, and then left to go to Coconut Grove Resort for a relaxing afternoon of swimming, walking on the beach, and playing soccer with Dominic and Samuel. The bond we have made with Dominic and Samuel is priceless. Playing soccer with Dominic and his son reminded Ben of times spent playing sports in his own yard with his father. "To see the love between father and son and the bond they share playing the sport they love brought so much joy to my heart." 

After working up a sweat, Samuel wanted to spend some time in the pool; however, he does not know how to swim. We all spent time in the pool with him, and Robert, who swam competitively in college, spent some quality one-on-one time  with him.

Some of the girls spent some quality time of their own shopping beachside; looking through jewelry some local vendors had laid out. Of course, purchases were made. 

We then sat down to enjoy a beautiful beach front dinner, which for most of us was fresh fish straight from the Ghanaian sea.

 

After dinner, we returned to Fair Hill for the evening; and, of course, we had guests. Victoria, the seamstress, returned yet again to bring back the final alterations and some other outfits. About 20 minutes later, Mr. Esoteric, tailor and shoemaker, came back with our Ghanaian version of Toms, which we have given the name “Francis’s”, after the shoemaker himself. 

 

We are all getting ready for a good night's sleep after being able to take much needed showers now that the broken water line has been fixed. We are looking forward to having another extra hour of sleep tonight and going to worship in the morning at Calvary Assemblies of God. Be praying for Prof, Chastity, and Ben as Pastor Komsoon has asked them to speak to the congregation tomorrow.