Day 14-Jen’s Arrival
I’m ready to see MOMMY WATERS again. I woke up with a smile because I know soon I will be back at OB.
We arrived early at the airport to pick up Jen. I told Kofi that we should wait inside where it is more comfortable and where I can catch up on my journal entry. I got into my emails and journal entry and it’s 7am now. Her flight is scheduled to land at 7:30, so I figure we have about 45mns to an hour before we will see her. I told Kofi to go check the board for her flight. He came back and said, “It says that her plane has LANDED, Dad.” REALLY?! Wow, that is early. I go to look to my right where passengers are coming out and I see her as she is about to give her baggage slip to the attendant. Wow, what a blessing. Early landing and she’s out right away. NOW LET’S GET OUT OF ACCRA! LOL!
Jen Cesca is an old friend from New Milford High School days. She was a Freshman when I was a Senior. We became friends after I was picking on her about her laugh and confidence. Since I was one of the more popular students in the High School, you know it was cool for her to be talking to me and my friends. She has always had a ‘different’ way about her. I see that has not changed. She has traveled to China, India, North Africa, and parts of Europe for starters. All on her own personal quest. She has always wanted to travel to what she calls “Real Africa”. But she wanted to venture out to West Africa with someone she knew. After an initial Facebook reunion, we spoke and she has now found herself in traffic in Accra, Ghana; on her way to her old friends ‘little mission’. When we arrived in Brenu, she got out of the car with her mouth wide open and said, “You undersold yourself, my Friend.” I just smiled.
I took her to the school right away to meet Esther, the Headmaster and the Primary students. Jen will work at the Primary School as a Reading Teacher at the Library and teach some fitness classes as well. She is a Fitness and Wellness Coach and taught English at the College level when pursuing her PHD. So this will be her service work here at Brenu along with assisting us with some tasks at the new villages that OYC is taking on. She will be in Ghana until Oct. 29th so I will put her into the hands of Kofi and Esther once I leave.
When I returned, I went down to the ‘forest’ to see the progress and I learned that the boys did NOT return to finish the work. Oh REALLY?! Esi said that some of them outright refused to come. OH REALLY??!! I had Kofi look at what I was trying to accomplish after he showed me the SECOND snake that he has killed on the property in 4 days. I have just come from Accra…the boys didn’t come to finish my path…my locs are out…and everyone is running from the snake that I am holding. I told Kofi that we are going to go to village after looking at the path. He said, “Like THIS?!” He said that because he knows that I am not usually seen by everyone WITHOUT my crown on. I told him that I want the OYC cane stick so that we can go comb the village for our boys. I painted the picture for you, so now let’s go cane some boys.
I greeted some of the Elders and slowly people started getting closer to us because they could tell that something was about to happen from the scene that we were making. Oh, I had Kofi keep the hammer in his hands that he was using earlier. Of course, I am swatting the air very briskly with my cane as we walk into the village. I have my RASTA look with the eyes to match. I start seeing our boys come out with machetes as if they were on their way up to the property to work. You see, I failed to mention that when Jen and I were visiting the school, I was spotting our boys in the classrooms and giving them the sign that I wanted to see them up at OB after school. AND THEY DIDN’T COME?! So, it’s on in the village. After some paternal attention, we walk back with about 8 of them to do some work. I owe a few that did not come, an introduction to MY cane. LOL!
I always enjoy watching people that experience Ocean Breeze for the first time. Jen was giving her thoughts on how beautiful the beach and the property are while we walked down to have dinner at Aggies’. Dinner was good…ONCE we got it…LOL! That was for all of you that know how long they take to prepare your meals. Kofi called me right at about the time we finished dinner and said that he will come when we are ready so that he could walk us up with the light. Jen was blown away at the service and thoughtfulness of Kofi. Good Job Son.
Today was a good day and as I am communicating with the family, the power went out. No problem, I need to get some rest anyway. No power always reminds me of when we first arrived 13 years ago and it seemed like they would turn the power off in the village every other day. They called it ‘Lights Out’. It was a ritual for Franchone and Mabel to get the cards out for some 500 Rummy. Just when you’re ready to settle into a good book or a TV show…LIGHTS OUT!! Today, I am reminded that Ocean Breeze only got connected to the grid this year. It was ‘Lights Out’ for us on a regular before this year. But we have power now and it is good at times to have ‘Lights Out’ because it reminds us of how far we have come and to UNPLUG now and then.
“I’m awake, I have worked, and I’ve been blessed. It’s Time to Take Me Home!”
Love Family
