Wedding Dress
Wedding Dress
This couple was dressed alike at a wedding we attended. Quite often the attire at weddings, and even at funerals and church meetings, is very ornate and elaborate and headdresses are common.
Share the Shade
This mother was in the village on one of the borehole ceremonies we attended. You see a lot of umbrellas in the villages, either to shield from the rain or the sun. This lady followed me around holding the umbrella over my head. When I went off in a different direction she actually gave her umbrella to me. They try so hard to please.
Children in School Uniforms
There are always children present at the borehole (well) ceremonies. They march in quite formally, dressed in orange and brown school uniforms, and always sit quietly during the program no matter how long it lasts. Since these ceremonies usually begin one or two hours late, the children are sitting in the sun for a long time.
Yes we have no bananas!
This lady, who spoke no English, was selling bananas right by our house and wanted me to buy some of them. I didn't want any because they were too ripe. She was pleased when I gave her money to take the picture but didn't take any of her bananas!
The Atlantic Ocean---African Gold Coast
We drove to the ocean with the Markham's one afternoon and they snapped this picture for us. We didn't wade or even take off our shoes; we just looked.
At the Weaver's Shop
One of the local bishops has a weaving business and we went to his shop one day. Here is one of his weavers and you can see a little of the process. It is very intricate and they don't charge nearly enough for the work that goes into a piece. For example, a man's tie is only $3.
Elder Armstrong strikes water!
Here Dan is pumping the pure, life-giving water from one of the restored boreholes. This water is critical for these people because without it they drink the water that they wash and bathe in and have a lot of illnesses.
Hangin' with the Sista's
On P-days the sister missionaries occasionally hang out together. Since there are two of them living right next door to us, they sometimes hang out there. On this particular day I had my picture taken with them. They are all beautiful!
Peace and plenty here abide...
I thought it was cute that this sleeping baby was so relaxed. Quite often you see the babies sleeping on their mother's backs. I guess the movement and rhythm of their mothers moving about puts them to sleep.
Primary Children at Asamankanse Branch
After attending church in Asamankanse, Mom began to pose two or three children for a picture. The children in Africa love to have their pictures taken so when they see you take out your camera, they do what these children did--come running to be in it!
Picnic in Africa
Mom and Dad were on their way home from church in Asamankanse and stopped for a ‘picnic’ with two other couples. Here you can see some of the beautiful African countryside in the background.
The Woman Who Lived in a Shoe Had Nothing on This Taxi Driver
There is a pre-school across from our house and every day around 2:30 in the afternoon this man comes in a little red taxi and picks up children. You may not be able to tell, but there are 13 children in and out of this taxi cab!
Once a Grandma, Always a Grandma
At the first borehole ceremony we attended, Mom posed with these adorable African children on her lap. The children here stare at us because of our white skin, and sometimes rub on our arms as if to get that ‘white stuff’ off of us.
African Chiefs
These chiefs, draped in their brightly colored robes, sit in seats of honor at the borehole ceremony. The man holding the pole with the ‘golden’ symbol on top is the linguist. He speaks for the chief as it is sometimes not dignified for the chief to speak out, depending on the circumstances.
Elder Armstrong Ties One On
Mom and Dad went with another couple to the shop of this man who is a bishop in Accra and is also in the weaving business. The cloth he is holding is one they were trying to design to resemble the windows of the temple. Dad bought himself two woven birthday ties.
It’s a Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood
Here is Dad standing in front of our ‘big blue house’ after coming home from one of our early morning walks. ‘Big Blue House’ sounds like the name of the program that might be featured on the Disney Channel.
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