Ghana Gazette

Twas the day before Intake and all through the house
Maids were a-scrubbing and chasing a mouse
The missionaries were gone - the silence was golden
And a little break in routine was to us so beholden...

When what to our wondering ears should resound
But a call from the Airport - "Isn't someone here bound?"
And the voice on the line, said from Tahiti I've come
Won't someone please get me - its not like my home.

So quicker than coursers our volkswagen we took
And dashed to the airport - hoping we'd not see a crook
And our Island friend, Elder Picard is his name
Said thank you my President - but is this just a game?

WE assured him that no, our communication was wrong
But we are glad you're in Ghana - Its a country that's strong
And what to our wondering ears should arrive
I'm glad to be here, and I'm glad I'm alive.

ANd so our first Tahitian arrived - and our break disappeared from two days to one day only. The next morning 17 of our 22 Nigerians arrived on the early morning flight instead of the late evening flight, so we got started a day early. In addition to these groups, we have 4 from Ghana and 2 from South Africa, and as soon as we get a day to rest, things are going to be great!

Initially our apologies to parents who might have been waiting to see their son or daughter on the Blog - we were a week late taking the picture because one Elder didn't arrive until Sunday afternoon - so the picture was taken on their second Sunday here - then for the balance of the week the internet was up and down - very touchy - the group just left this morning - all were anxious to get out into the field and start the real missionary effort. Our group reflects 5 Americans, 9 Nigerians and six from Ghana. It is probably the smallest representation of countries we have had since we've been here - but made up for in quality - they have been an excellent group to work with and have tried hard to follow instructions and cooperate with teachers and staff.

We had to be a little cautious on the trail back - several of these millipedes were crossing the trail - nothing like the little ones we have at home - this one is about 6-7 inches long (see the hand in background) - if you touch them they roll into a ball protecting their tiny little feet which you can see marching away under most of the millipe - we thought we had to put this on the blog particularly for Amber or Kyli who are bug lovers for all types of bugs, and for Carolyn who continues to enjoy nature so much. On the same tril we saw a colony of newly hatched millipedes migrating somewhere en masse and there were scads of them about the size of a pinworm...now those were tiny little feet!!!

If nature has a belfrey, this is probably as close to it as we have or would want to come. These are the rocks next to the waterfall shown in a previous blog (Wli Falls). At first nothing seems any different than rocks by a fall - but every now and again something moves - and if you look really hard you can see the little "rocks" or bumps - particularly in th shady areas. These are all fruit bats and contrary to common knowledge, they do make quite a racket during day time hours. As we were at the falls, the sound of water falling was challenged by the sound of these bats on the walls.
We've tried to blow a portion of the above photo up and you can see a little more clearly the bats hanging onto the rocks - it was quite a site. The only place we've seen that many is about a l Km. from the temple on Independence Avenue in Accra, there is one intersection there that during bat season the trees are inhabited by thousands of bats - hanging in the daytime, flying by night.

We took a day between groups and drove up to the town of Ho (about 2 1/2 hours drive) where Elder and Sister Gray had volunteered to take us up to the Wli falls. The drive was another hour from Ho, up to a small town called Hohoe (not said Ho Ho, but rather Howay). We parked in an area and paid the admission and guide fee, and had a wonderful hike into (what is billed) as the highest waterfall in West Africa - I think probably they count both parts, the lower falls (seen above here) and the upper falls that are hidden. Because it is rainy season, the trail to the upper falls was closed - but we were very pleased with the falls and the surrounding area - it was beautiful
This is the Couple Gray, along with the Couple Nielson - standing by the edge of the waterfall pool. Last time the Gray's were up to the falls, there was a large group of college age students there and they had taken the full time missionaries up for a preparation day activity. They all wound up in the pool and even walking or wading up and behind the falls - we weren't so brave (or foolish), but could see where on a very hot day this would be wonderful - there is a very strong breeze comes off the falls (those knowing how Cameron Falls feel - it is much the same here). Our little guide took the picture for us.
This was the tail end of a group that had spent some time at the falls - a school class - most of them had been out getting wet and cool. They reported to us that they had approximately 10,000 people visit the site on Monday (July 2 - they celebrate the first as a holiday here (workers day I think it is) and had to stagger the schedule and the number they would allow on the trail at one time. There were very few around the day that we went up. If you look to the left of the falls, it appears to be slate rock, but actually the rocks are covered with fruit bats - I've put a couple of shots of them on a subsequent blog - but this will give you the location of the bat population.
Here is a shot of the lush vegetation at the falls and all the way up the trail to the falls. There are twenty little bridges on the trails where the little stream (right-bottom of photo) crosses back and forth across the trail. The hike took us about 45 minutes each way - really a good 30 min. walk, but the guide had all sorts of interesting vegetation things to show us and talk about. It really felt good to be "out and about" - almost made us feel we were back in the rockies again.

There is a field next to the MTC - probably about 10 acres I would estimate that is basically a wild field. About three or four times a year (depending on rainy season or dry) a group from the Ghana Electric Company Training school appear on the field - they commence at one end, stand about six feet apart, and each one begins to use his machete as a mower - while it is very labor intensive - particularly to us from the Americas, they do get the field mowed down in pretty good time. The little story is told about the MTC when first opened, maintenance request 25 machetes - Physical facilities asked what for - answer - to mow the lawn area - you'll be happy to know the church bought a mower to do the job rather than sending twenty five missionaries out with machetes to do the job. Labor is very cheap and very available here in Ghana. About 8 months ago they started installing light standards on the motorway - each one of the holes to put the standard in was dug by hand - not to mention the trenches that will be used to install the cable - that's about 20 Kilometres each direction with the lamp posts probably every 100 meters or so.