Hello! It's been an eventful two weeks! Last time I told you about the Yam Festival. It was three evenings of fun and I made it to them all. Danced with my three little friends again too! The kente trip was nice too. And I got to eat a cocoa bean! It is very different from anything you would expect. There are many beans inside a pod growing on tree branches. I got to take a bean and put it in my mouth. it is covered in a bit of citrus and is sweet and tangy - very tasty! But you don't eat the bean inside.

But when I returned to work on Monday morning, it was far from business as usual. Innocentia, one of our children died through the night. It was an unexpected surprise. Most people were dressed in black and red, as those are the colours worn to funerals. And so on Monday, we held a funeral. After breakfast we all gathered together and just hung out. There was some singing and shedding of tears and smiling at each other. Eventually some of the guys of PCC carried in Inno's casket and she was laid out for visitation. Visitors would come and greet all of us with a handshake. Then we in turn would line up to shake their hands after they sat down. After a bit, we were all invited to gather around for prayers with a minister. Inno's soul was handed over to heaven and her body was taken away for burial. There was a crew of caregivers that drove off with her body. The rest of us were left to begin the party. Someone put some music on and the children had fun dancing. When the cars returned with the caregivers, they jumped out and started cheering, singing and dancing. Someone grabbed the drums and the party began in earnest. When lunch arrived they didn't want to stop! And so we had lunch as usual. But at the same time, food was being prepared for a proper funeral party. And so the children had two lunches that day! And we were fed as well. It was truly a day of grieving, but mostly celebration. I myself really felt the need to dance for Inno's sake. She loved music and was in too much pain to really celebrate herself. So it is exciting to know that she is now joyfully singing in heaven without any pain! Albert, our community director, has written a tribute to Inno on the Hand in Hand website. You can find it in his blog at: http://www.operationhandinhand.nl/engels.htm

Coincidentally, it has not rained since Inno died. That's over a week now. The season is definitely changing. Even the food is changing. Green peppers are harder to find and are more expensive. The pineapples are more expensive as well. But the exciting thing is that avocadoes are on their way. Sister Ama, with whom we buy much of our stuff, gave us the gift of an avocado last week. We made delicious guacamole with it. Can't wait until there are more! And I now enjoy fresh beans for lunch. I never thought much about where beans come from, but fresh they are a tasty treat. They are a bit of work because each bean is in it's own pod. It is a bit like shelling pistachio nuts, but easier because they are soft. So apparently the dry season has begun and soon the Harmattan winds should begin as well. So far I find the heat just as bad, but mentally I am faring better so perhaps I am adjusting. And I have travelled to the internet cafe in the afternoon heat after visiting the market yesterday to buy the week's vegetables. So I am doing much better the last two weeks.

This weekend I was in Kumasi. It is a crazy big city that is highly populated. It has the largest market in Ghana. The streets are lined with people selling things and there is very little room left to walk, but many people who are trying to do so. It's a bit much for me but I didn't have time to shop anyway. We went to celebrate Benjamin's birthday. We had a nice meal, mine was an Indian meal of curries and samosa and naan. And Saturday evening we went dancing with a live band at a nice venue outside the football (soccer) stadium. It was a fun weekend.

Tomorrow should be an exciting day. I am looking forward to it. PCC is a wonderful place to live. It is a happy place and everyone is well cared for. But it is also the only place the children spend their day. They rarely get to leave our gated community. And so as a Christmas present, we as volunteers have paid for the arrangements to bring everyone to the Kintampo waterfalls. It is one of Ghana's natural attractions. The children have all been there before, thanks to the generous donation of foreign friends. Apparently they love it and will be very excited when the cars arrive tomorrow. They will even dress up in their best clothes. Patricia, our volunteer care person, has thanked us. She said it makes everyone feel human, to be able to leave the community. Everyone will get to go. Even Janet who has prepared the meals for everyone for 12 years! Unfortunately that doesn't mean she gets the day off. We (the volunteers) will get up at 4am to prepare lunch with her and we will take it to Kintampo with us. I am excited that I get to see Kintampo with the community I now consider my family. We have already given this Christmas present because three of the volunteers will leave next week. It is nice of them to give this generous Christmas present before they leave!

Before I go, I would like to send a shout out to Mrs. C and the grade 6 students at South Woodside Elementary School. I wish you much Christmas joy as you prepare for your Christmas concert. It is a special moment!

Love from Ghana,

Debbie