10-25-06

Bonjour!

Our computer has been down for the last week. We just got it back today. That is why you haven’t heard from us in awhile.

Joe and Gilbert went to Accra with the Wideners last Monday. Joe’s Mom’s flight was cancelled on Monday night due to flooding in Houston. So, she got it on Wednesday night instead of Tuesday night. They spent an extra day in Accra and got back home on Thursday around 14:00.

On Monday night, I spent the night in the guest room at the Davises. I had a good time of fellowship with them. The Davises live just down the hill from where the Machs are staying. So, I walked up there on Tuesday morning and helped Becky with school for awhile. I went back home Tuesday afternoon.

When I got home, I went to check e-mail, but the computer wouldn’t come on. I was rather disappointed. When Joe got back from Accra, he took the computer to the repair man. He has had the computer since Friday.

Joe’s Mom had a good trip. She didn’t have any problems other than the first flight being delayed by a day. When she flew in, Joe and Brother Widener went to the airport. Joe left Gilbert at the guest house with Mrs. Widener because he wasn’t sure how long it would take to get the bags. Joe was able to talk his way back to the customs area. He met his Mom back there and helped her take her luggage through customs. They didn’t open anything.

Thursday night, Joe’s Mom’s first night in Takoradi, was a power-off night. It rained that day. We actually had a record low temperature that night. It was the lowest temperature since we have been in Ghana, 71 degrees.

On Friday morning, Joe, Mom, and Gilbert went into town to run some errands. Joe’s Mom thought that driving around the market circle was quite an experience.

Late Friday afternoon, we all went into town. We had planned to get the computer, but Joe called the man, and it wasn’t ready. We went to Bocadillos for supper.

On Saturday morning, Joe and several of the guys from the church passed out John and Romans in a neighborhood called “No Worries.” They passed out about 700 John and Romans.

On Sunday morning, church went well. Gilbert sat still all the way through Sunday School and did good in church too until about the last ten minutes of the service.

Sunday was a power-off day at our house. So, we all rode to the school to visit Martin on Sunday afternoon. At least there is a breeze when we are going down the road.

Joe’s Mom wasn’t feeling well on Sunday night. So, Joe went to church without us. The alternator started acting up again.

On Monday morning, I gave a test in my English class. Joe brought his Mom down to see the institute.

Joe went into town to get the alternator fixed. He discovered that it was a holiday. It was also pouring down rain; a storm blew in off of the ocean. The alternator man was at work, but he couldn’t do anything until it stopped raining. So, Joe came back home. It rained all day. The computer man didn’t work either on Monday due to the holiday and the rain.

On Tuesday morning, Joe taught his class. He only had one class because he has finished all of the notes for the other class. I needed to go to the clinic to have blood drawn. He needed to drop the vehicle off also. So, we dropped the vehicle off with the alternator man. Then, we took a taxi to the clinic. The taxi then dropped Joe off with the vehicle, and the taxi took me on home. When Joe got there, they told him to come back in an hour. So, he walked to a restaurant and then went back. They hadn’t done anything since he had left. After a couple hours, they told him that they couldn’t get the alternator off. So, he had to take it to the mechanic shop. They took the alternator off; he took a taxi back to the alternator place. The man worked on it for awhile and sent Joe back to the mechanic. They put everything back together, and it still didn’t work right. He went back to the alternator place. The guy yelled at Joe and told him not to come back. We just bought that alternator from him a month ago. Joe came on home because it was supper time.

He went back into the mechanic this morning. The mechanic had spoken to the alternator man. The mechanic took the alternator back to that man. They are having difficulties finding a part; so, the vehicle is still in the shop.

Joe brought a taxi to the house to take me to the clinic. I checked in today at noon. I’m not sure why I had to be admitted a day early, but I guess that is the way that they do it here.

Yesterday when I came for lab work, I asked if I was supposed to eat on Wednesday. They told me that I wasn’t supposed to eat. So, I hadn’t eaten anything. Then, the nurse came and told me at 15:00 that I could eat today. Joe was coming back to bring me my pillows; so, I called and asked him to bring me some food.

Joe picked up the computer on his way home. Then, he, his Mom, and Gilbert took a taxi to church. Joe said that Gilbert sat through the whole service tonight. After church, Joe brought the computer to me so that I could read e-mails and get some typed for him to send tomorrow. Then, he brought me a floor fan. I am in the ward tonight and tomorrow night. Then, I will be moved to a private room. The ward has a ceiling fan, but it is way up high. The private rooms have air conditioning.

I will go in for the c-section at 9:00 in the morning. Joe gets to be in there for the surgery.

A demain,

Joe, Laura, and Gilbert