A visit to Mampong

This last weekend we traveled 2 hours to the city of Mampong. Another school for the deaf is located there and we were to do a service project for them. While we were there we also met up with Curry Jones, the man behind Signs of hope. Together we cleaned the dinner hall with water and hay bound together with cloth. I can’t say we did the best job, because as soon as we were finished 3 other students went in after us and re-cleaned it. It’s the thought that counts I suppose. Later that day we went in to the market in 4 separate groups each with a list of items and a pocket full of money. We were buying supplies for students that couldn’t afford to pay for them. Meghan’s and my student is named: Philomina Asiedua, a 4th grader, Signs of hope is sponsoring. I was so excited to put that packet together for her. We also had a chance to meet with the students in the Mampong School. I know I shouldn’t have favorites, but Silvia, is by far my favorite. She is deaf and completely blind. Talking with her was such a wonderful experience. I had to use tactile sign language. I placed her hands on mine as I signed . We talked about school and why I was there, how old she was and what her favorite subjects were. She had such a bright happy personality; I could talk to her all day.

While we stayed in Mampong we were put into a guest house/ hotel for 2 nights. It was so beautiful! Clean and spacious, and there was a refrigerator! That means cold water. I had never tasted anything more wonderful in my life. Hehehehe I know its lame but I almost cried when I saw there were ice cubes in the freezer. Hehehe. The only problem in this house was there was no running water. I never realized how much I depended on it. If you wanted to use the bathroom, you had to go out to the well with a bucket it and fetch the water. But that wasn’t the worst part. You had to carry your now full to the brim bucket back to the house, while trying not to think about how much you really needed to use the toilet. One day a girl probably 5 years younger than me, took pity on me and took the bucket back to the house for me. I felt like such a loser. No matter how nice the Mampong house was, we were all ready to go back to Kibi.

Oh something I forgot to say in the first post. In my first week here I had already gotten 5 marriage proposals, 2 of which, men wanted me and another girl as a package. Two men on separate occasions have asked one of the boys in our group how much one of his girls would cost. Oh and they sell Obama Biscuit here! They are short bread cookies with the words “United Biscuit” written on them. The American flag and a pic of Obama’s face is on the wrapper. Don’t worry Dad I’m bringing one home for you.

That’s all for now, thank you for your prayers and well wishes. I love you all and will write again soon. If you have questions or comments, you can email me or just comment on this post. Thanks for reading!