I got given such a cute note!

Written on the 19th of July
First of all, the dog is all back to normal! Which I’m very happy about, although I still can’t believe what they’d done to him.
Summary:
On Sunday I’d gone to church for the first time in Ghana. It definitely was an experience, but I didn’t agree with everything the pastor had said and he seemed to say Hallelujah and Amen a lot, which for some reason got on my nerves. Very cute thing happened on Monday as well. I got a note from a girl in class called Nihad. She’d written:
Dear Marika, I am very happy to write you this letter. How are you? I hope you enjoy your stay with us at our school. I love you so much. I like you face. Thank you.
We’d found out on Monday that one of Fred’s brothers had died, so Fred will be absent all of this week. It must be so hard for him to leave this all as no one can take over from him and he’s still getting bombarded with phone calls. Today I’m picking up a shirt I got tailored from Ghanaian fabric, hopefully it’ll fit perfectly!
Detailed:
Sunday morning I joined Baba and Francis, two of the boys that live at Fred’s house, at church. The English service started at 11pm. They sang two songs with 6 Ghanaian ladies leading it at the front which was really well sung and then it was followed by everyone leaving. Everyone had been told to go out for 25 minutes and ask people on the street to come to the church service. Apparently they do this every Sunday, it’s a nice way to get people to church but I was a bit surprised that they took time out of the service to do that. When everyone returned, we sang some more songs and prayed. The projector had been broken, so I couldn’t sing along which was a shame but it was nice to just listen as well. When the pastor preached, I understood most of it, but although it was all spoken in English, he had a heavy Ghanaian accent. I definitely didn’t agree on everything he said or did (e.g. he got an ipad out and showed it off a bit, which was uncomfortable), but it was an interesting experience. At the end the team there wanted to know where I lived and if they could have my number, but I didn’t feel completely at ease with that, so I somehow was able to avoid that.
After that I just got a taxi into town and walked around a bit and spent some time on skype with my friends, which was nice. I also have been talking to my parents twice a week which has been nice, it gets me very excited to see the new house and settle back in Geldermalsen. I also received an email from my uni about introduction week, which makes me look forward to it all so much!
On Monday a new boy arrived from Romania. He’s 23 years old and about to start his last year in medicines. He definitely keeps us amused. As I’m the only volunteer left at Maltiti school as the others are now all teaching at the village I taught the first 2 days at, no one was there to pick me up. I didn’t mind that and was trying to find a taxi, when I suddenly saw Bwocke (one of the guys that lives at Fred’s) on his motorbike. He was on the way to town and told me to hop on! So there I was riding on the back of the motorbike for the first time. Of course there are no helmets involved, and he had no mirrors, so it’s definitely an adventure (not sure if it’s a safe one, but it was fun!). He said he’ll teach me one day as well, which is exciting!
We found out on Monday that Fred’s brother has died. We’re not sure yet if it’s a related brother as all Ghanaian friends call each other ‘brothers’ here, but he’s understandingly very torn up about it, so he won’t be around for about a week as the burial isn’t in Tamale. I wonder what this will mean for the organisation around here, but fingers crossed that it will just all continue flowing. The boy with Malaria, Mike, left today to go back to Accra to catch the flight back home, as he just doesn’t feel very good. Prayer will be appreciated for him and also all of us to hopefully be able to prevent this from happening to us.
Aw very cute thing happened on Monday as well. I got a note from a girl in class called Nihad. She’d written:
Dear Marika, I am very happy to write you this letter. How are you? I hope you enjoy your stay with us at our school. I love you so much. I like you face. Thank you.
It was so sweet and definitely will keep the note forever.
Yesterday was a harder morning than usual. The teacher that I teach alongside with was ill, so I did some things we’ve done before and then I tried to explain to them how 11.40am is easier to be said as ‘twenty to twelve’ than ‘forty past eleven’. I tried and tried, but they just didn’t understand. I think it’ll be easier when the Dagbani teacher is back so she can help explain it in Dagbani. For lunch Anna, Matt, Frank and I (who will also be the ones who I’m going to Cape Coast with) just bought a pineapple, 2 mangoes and 5 bananas to make a fruit salad. It ended up being 5 cedis (2 pounds!?) and being absolutely delicious. I’d bought Ghanaian fabric from a lady who had come past our house a couple of days ago and I’d gone to a tailor to make a top for me. It was finished within 4 days and I went by yesterday, but it was a little too big, so I’m going to pick it up today and hopefully it should fit perfectly!
On Friday we’re going to Mole National Park, where you can go on safari’s and they have a pool and a shower as well! Pure luxury! It should be a nice weekend away. We’re going with 8 of us, which should be good!

Off to church :)