Eine Klein(e) Nacht Adventure

Elder and Sister Klein trying out a xylophone

Even before we arrived in Ghana, our lifeline to all things proper and how to prepare for this mission was Dago and Annette Klein.  They e-mailed us regularly answering our probing and often silly questions as to how to best get ready for this adventure.  They have been in Ghana almost 16 mos. serving a welfare mission and dealing with wheelchair, farming, neo-natal and other projects here in Ghana and traveling to the Ivory Coast and Liberia.  Elder Klein was born in Germany, raised in Austria and moved to the US as a young man.  They met in the Mormon Tabernacle Choir and live in Salt Lake when not galavanting around the world.  They were the hosts for John the first time he came to Ghana last May.

(One of the better wood carving shops)

They were the ones that met us at the airport on our arrival and have been so patient with us since as we've tried to adjust to this culture.  Everytime we climb in their big, new Nissan truck, it becomes a humorous adventure.  They often have the Tab choir cd's playing, but Elder Klein is always looking for his jazz cd.  One thing we love is that they always have little candies ready for the street children that come begging and coins for those who are crippled.  They roll down their windows at the lights and chat with many that they know well.  They are always so kind to everyone.  They have had us over for dinner and let us use their dryer and carted us all over while we still wait for our car.  They have shown us around Accra, where to shop for different items, how to get to the Africa West Area offices & Temple, different churches, the dry cleaners, the french bakery, and lots of sight-seeing wonders.

Our trip last Saturday was to "The Pit" which is a section of buildings in Accra consisting of tiny shops where many artists sell their wares.  There are painters, dressmakers, & jewlers, but we went to see the wood carvers.  They carve the most beautiful items out of Ebony or Teak wood.
(This xylophone is made of calabash gourds and wood...then tuned.  It really sounds good!)

 Then they sand, wax and polish the wood to shine.  John brought us some of these carvings home on his first trip and  I was "in love".  Today we were mainly just looking to see what was there.  Every shop owner wants you to come and look at his wares and they love to bargain.

(Large elephant carved  out of a tree stump with shells imbedded in the wood along the ears.)

(Young man waxing and polishing a carved Elephant)

(John outside the Wild Gecko artisans shop with two wooden/metal elephants)

 The Kleins are very good at bargaining because for the sellers it's all a game, but I just want them to tell me the price.  In South Africa they call it the Thieves market because if you pay the original price...you've been robbed.  This time I bought a lovely ebony walking stick, some notecards,


a woven wide-brimmed hat (which I needed), a woven fan for church and some placemats for our glass table.  The Senior missionaries have a few favorite carvers which we shall visit in the future.  We visited the french bakery today and had panini ham and cheese sandwiches and Elder Klein finally found his jazz cd.

Last Friday night we were invited by Dr. Sampong to the annual University of Ghana Faculty Dinner.  It was held at the university in their "Great Hall" which is actually a large patio outside.  It was a lovely evening and not too hot.  The tables were decorated and there was music and twinkly lights everywhere.

There was a wonderful buffet of Ghanaian food.  Good but spicy!

Ann & Dr. Sampong at the dinner.

This is the large tower at the University.  Kind of like our Old Main.  It's even up on a hill too!
You know, we decided goat doesn't really taste all that bad!