Here is a picture of Ama AND Phoebe in front of the house that Ama is buying in Ghana.

CONNIE

Dear family,

It's already close to the end of March and I trust that our not posting blogs means we are all happily busy. I have been. I have felt guilty for being so comfortable in my life, but recently just decided to accept it with joy from the hand of our gracious God.

I enjoyed my visit to Ghana and to the Netherlands.

I spent three days with Marybeth and Hub on my way to Accra. We talked and ate and went to Amsterdam on the train to see Van Gogh (very exciting) and Anne Frank's house, good too. After church, we went to an Indonesian fair with all kinds of goods for sale. As always, we wished for more time together.

Accra was hot and humid, especially when I arrived wearing clothes for 40's temps. Ama and her kids have a nice home, with comfortable living room/D.R., tile bathroom and three bedrooms. All on one floor. Ama is really oppressed by the heat, and was glad for AC in one of the Bedrooms. It was fun to hang out in PJs with the girls, and look at the clothing and accessory possibilities for the upcoming events. In addition to Ama's three girls, PHoebe from London was there, friend of Gifty. We went to the seamstress Wed, day after I arrived.

The next day, Thurs, was the Engagement party; Ama was dismissive "the groom's family brings gifts and we accept them, and then we will eat..." Ama sd something about making cole slaw, I thought the party would be in the evening, and we'd have all day to get ready. Then I found out it would be at 9 a.m., some had been told to come at 8. Three huge canopies were erected Wed night, chairs were delivered, friends were enlisted to make ice. Early in the morning, men came and set up sound equipment.

The bride's family all sat under a canopy facing one direction. When the groom's family arrived, singing and bringing gifts, they sat across from us under another canopy. There were two professional spokeswomen (one for each family). They were formal and funny in presenting and accepting the gifts, there were jokes. Finally the bride, Afeafa, (who had been in the house, probably listening to everything) was brought out to be asked, "Should we accept these gifts from these people since accepting them would be accpting the marriage?"

After she said yes, we heard singing from the direction of the gate, and the groom was brought in, and they both sat together and were presented with rings and a Bible. Then we had a feast, the whole thing took all day. This was the traditional or tribal ceremony and everyone agreed that after all this, they were married. But on Saturday we all dressed up and went to church and they got married again. And had a feast on the grounds of a nearby country club. And on Sunday, their wedding was acknowledged and prayed over too. After which some came to the house and feasted again!

This is a picture of the bride and groom on the engagement day, with the landlady who lives on the same property and was VERY helpful for the engagement, came with her family to the wedding, and was an all around cool person.

So now here is the bridal party arriving at the reception with the junior bride and the little groom and the bridesmaids and groomsmen.

Everyone was friendly and pleasant. Many people were good at speaking or understanding English, but many were not.

I enjoyed all the busy-ness, sights that reminded me of the Philippines, all the activity that goes on in the open.

I am putting some pictures like that on here too.

Below is a picture from Ama's village. It is the highest inhabited village in the country.