After returning home, we began cleaning out files and came upon a paper of Ghanaian folk tales written years ago for us by a Ghanaian friend for our children while we lived in Germany. We include them here.
"In Ghana, just as in the USA, we have stories retold and left to us by our great-great-grandfathers. Such stories are mostly woven around an insect called the spider. So we call all such stories, "Ananse Stories. The name for spider is Ananse.
Why the spider? Well, the spider is considered to be the wisest creature in the whole world. Just look at the way it weaves it's next or catches it's prey.
Throughout these stories you'll hear or come across three names. Ananse, the "he" spider, his wife, called Asor and his only son, Ntikuma.
There are still more stories that don't bear the name Ananse, but they are all considered as some wise moral lessons from "Mr. Ananse". In fact, all Ananse stories have moral lessons. He preaches against pride, greed, arrogance, complacency and many more.
The Tortoise
The tortoise is a small shell animal. We have them mostly in forest areas. We also have bigger types in the sea. Those in the forests are very slow. When under pressure or attack, it recoils into it's shell.
It's only these days that we can find one animal eating another animal. Lions catch and eat rats, antelope and other small animals. But a long time ago, they were all friends. The best friend of Mr. Tortoise was Mr. Leopard.
Unfortunately, just before Christmas, Mr. Leopard died. All the animals were asked to be present at the funeral. But the distance was over 40 kilometers and it would take Mr. Tortoise more than one week to make such a journey to Mr. Leopard's funeral.
One early morning, while Mr. Tortoise was busy thinking what to do, Mr Hawk came to him to discuss Mr. Leopard. "Good morning, Mr. Tortoise", said Hawk.
"Hello, Good morning Mr. Hawk. How are you and the family?"
"We are all fine except this unfortunate death of Mr. Leopard which has saddened our hearts. Any way, I am attending the funeral together with my wife and all the children."
"Oh", said Mr. Tortoise, "How I envy you. Even I cannot walk that distance - how much more my children. But at least I will send a small parcel to the family of Mr. Leopard through you."
"That's good", replied Mr. Hawk. "I will be glad to carry the parcel."
"I shall leave the parcel at the entrance of my home. When you come, just take it to the family. I shall not be in the house. When you go, give it to Mr. Leopards wife as early as possible," said Mr. Tortoise.
So, the following morning at 7 am, Mr. Hawk went to the house of Mr. Tortoise. Hawk saw a parcel, neatly wrapped. He took it and flew very fast over mountains, thick forests, and valleys to the house of Mr. Leopard. Everyone was glad Mr. Hawk arrived but regretted that Mr. Tortoise who is well known to Mr. Leopard's family, could not come. The parcel was then given to the wife. She wanted to know what was in it. When she opened it, there was Mr. Tortoise.
"I have also come!", he said.
The Python & Mr. Ananse
(A Python is the longest, biggest and strongest snake today. When angry, a python can fight and kill a man)
A long time ago, the Python was the king of all animals. He was wicked and strong so that all animals feared him. Even the lion, the tiger and the elephant all feared him. If you offend your friend, the Python will quickly eat you up. If you are too big to be eaten up, you have to offer your child.
This continued for many years until the animals could not bear it anymore. So one day they all met secretly and promised to kill their king, the python. But anybody sent to the house of King Python would quickly be killed and a nice meal prepared for the family of King Python.
When all efforts had failed, Mr. Ananse also offered to try. So he went to Mr. Python's house and knocked on the door.
"Hello King Python! King of all kings!" said Ananse
Python answered, "Who is there?"
Ananse said, "It's me, your tiny little Ananse. I have come to report some people to you.
So the door was opened and Mr. Ananse entered.
"What can I do for you, Mr. Ananse?" asked the Python.
Mr. Ananse answered, "We met early this morning to construct a very expensive bed for you. Everybody was saying that this pole is longer than you are. I am the only one who still believes that my great King is longer than this pole. So could you, my great King, lie along this pole so that I can measure. This will put everybody to shame. This way, please".
"I hope I am longer", says python.
"Can I tie your head and tail to the pole loosely so that I can measure?"
"Well, if that is easier", says Python.
Ananse responds, "My dear king can I show your true length by tying your whole body to show to those fools?"
"Ok, go ahead" says Python
So finally King Python was tied to the pole so that he could not move his body.
"Now I have got you! You are too wicked to be a king. I am taking you away. You are finished!" cried Ananse.
Everybody was surprised when they saw the Great King Python tied to a pole. Python wept bitterly and begged, but he was not forgiven. He was burnt alive and Mr. Ananse was made the King-the Conqueror!
The Chameleon
(The chameleon is just like a lizard. There are two things about the chameleon. He is the slowest animal in the animal kingdom. Secondly, it is the only animal in the world that is able to change it's colour to suit it's immediate environment. It can change to green, red, yellow, brown according to the coloour of the place where it is. Don't forget, it is the slowest animal ever.)
One day a long time ago, all the animals in this world decided to hold Olympic Games at their biggest stadium. All record holders were invite. The elephant for weight lifting, the cat for gymnastics, monkey for high jump, dog for cross country, horse for 100 yd. dash and many more. But whenever it came to the 100 yard race, all the animals had to take part. A very expensive throne is placed at a distance of 100 yes and the one who sits on it first is the fastest animal, the winner of the race and the king. For a long time the race had always been won by Mr. Horse.
One day a wonderful thing happened. Mr. Chameleon also decided to take part. They all laughed at him, but he did not mind them because he knew what he was doing. He took his stand next to Mr. Horse. Then, "On your mark, get set!..."
As soon as the pistol blasted, Mr. Chameleon jumped and held the hairy tail end of Mr. Horse.
He kept very quiet there until Mr. Horse reached the throne. When Mr. Horse put his tail on the throne and was going to sit down, Mr. Chameleon shouted, "Please, please! Mr. Horse! I am the first, don't sit on me. Please standup Mr. Horse, you are killing me!"
When Mr. Horse stood up, there was Mr. Chameleon sitting comfortably on the throne.
So Mr. Chameleon, the slowest among all the animals, became the fastest runner of all animals because he won the 100 yd. race.
How Wisdom came to You and Me
A long long time ago, all animals were very very wise. But one day Mr. Ananse decided to collect all wisdom in a pot and hang it on a very tall tree in a very thick forest. Then he along will be the only wise man on this earth.
When he was satisfied that he had collected all the wisdom from all persons on the earth into the pot, he decided to take the pot to the top of a big tree and hang it there. But he put the pot on his chest instead of at his back and it was therefore difficult to climb the tree. So his son, Ntikuma, who was watching the father from the ground shouted.
"Daddy, what are you doing?"
"Shut up you naughty boy!" said Ananse
"But Daddy, it will be easier to climb the tree if you put the pot at your back, instead of in front!" said
Ntikuma.
"Goodness me! I have collected all wisdom on tis earth, how come you still have some in your little head?"
So, Mr. Ananse became annoyed because he had failed. He hit the pot on the ground and it broke into pieces. So the wisdom went out, spread around the world. And so every human being has some wisdom.
Graham with us above and Debbie to the right.
Ronald and Williams
Ramatu above
Graham and Elsie with Sesi, Ronald and Williams in back
Part of the problem with finishing a project is that then...it is done! The problem with leaving a place to come home is that you are then leaving a place you now think of as "home", and you must leave people you have grown to love..
This week, however was the passing of the family missionary baton. On Aug. 21 we picked up Marisa at the airport as she flew in from Iowa and we took her to the Missionary Training Center in Provo. If the Visa arrives, she will land in Fortaleza-east, Brazil in 6 weeks to begin her mission of 18 months. Thus, the start of a new adventure!
