In the Heat of Harmattan

After School Psychedelia with Francis and Maggie Boakye

Archbishop Emeritus Thomas Mensah

The Heart of Blessed Trinity Leadership Academy 

Con Ms. Paige Sin Headmistress Sr. Martha Fosu Dansowaa

With Recently Professed Sr. Patricia (left) and Sr. Georgina (right). Two of my best friends; if I know how to live well in Ghana it is because of their guidance.

Boss #1 Sr. Martha (left) and Boss #2 Sr. Lydia (right). Joy is their most natural reaction to pretty much everything.

Kindergarten awkwardness of the sexes. Sheryl (left) and Stephen Twomase (right)

Ask me where I found this moth. 

Lunchtime chaos. Featuring James.

Anonymous parent at our last PTA meeting. 

Kwame and Mom at the PTA meeting.

Liberated from uniforms and class schedules at the PTA meeting.

These bugs rock. All that 'crap', quit literally, on its back consists of dead insect parts, leaf tidbits and other trash-like insect treasures. Their presence was a highlight of my last retreat at the Centre for Spiritual Renewal.

Taking care of business. 

Blood of life. 

There are two seasons in Ghana: the wet/rainy season and the dry season/Harmattan.  This picture is fairly illustrative of Harmattan...dry is an understatement. These lizards don't seem to mind. 

Crows are crows...awesome anywhere.

I had the opportunity to be a seminarian for a day. At the Lake Bosomtwe Grotto.

My homie and future traveling companion for April's adventures: Soon to be Father, Mr. Evans. 

Lake Bosomtwe. Originally formed by a meteor, it is reputed to be the largest naturally-formed lake in all of Africa.

Boat full of future priests.

Priestly cruise.

Favorites. KG2'ers from right to left Olivia, Manuella and Abrafi. 

Sr. Marie and Sr. Pauline came to visit for the month. Pictured here with Nursury 2 kiddos. 

Feasting party for the celebration of Sr. Martha and Sr. Christie's ten years of religious life anniversary at the convent. 

So cool.

Holy sandwich. Sr. Christie (left) and Sr. Martha (right) celebrate ten years as FST sisters.

In the newly improved, equipped with thirty laptops ICT lab. Prince (front), Charles Tutu (middle) and the ever-joyful Richmond

Anokye. I think he had fun eventually.

As Harmattan fades out, the millipedes are appearing in droves.

I don't appreciate how routine my visits to the hospital have become, but I have always been fond of the apartment complex that backs it up. 

Yeah, round two of malaria, with two more parasites in my blood count than the first time is unfortunate. My bed for the first day. After about a week and a half of bed rest and paranoia, I am back in the game.

Marie's description of the end-of-Harmattan rain storms as 'violent' is not an exaggeration. The Parkoso Junior HIgh School post-storm.

Term two at BTLA is coming to a close. Marie and Pauline's recent visit has been enjoyable and they are both very pleased with what they have seen at the school. We are in the process of converting all files to digital format, and this term's reports will be our first trial run at the print out-as-opposed-to pen method. In spite of my recent bout of malaria, the kids have been doing very well in computer class. They are getting the hang of typing with more than one finger and are creating documents using text and object illustrations. Although the rain has been detrimental to roofing in the village, the plants and air are more than gracious. As the Ghana goodness continues, I also find myself in a place of utter gratitude. 

And so on and so forth...

Wendy and Stephany at the FST first and final profession ceremony.

Auntie Millie and a drained John Bosco.

With the Inkum's for Sr. Georgina's first profession. Three of them are students at BTLA -Margaret Mary (in my arms), Cosmas (front left) and Anthony (third from the left, bottom row).

The newly professed Sr. Pat (far left), Sr. Mary, and Sr. Georgina.

Only the beginning of Francis' song of himself. 

Yeah typing.

After-school chores.

Benedicta and Michelle doing their part.

 Romeo (left) and Stephen. BS4-humble kings of the playground.

Nursery. 

James

Fun day in the lab with shapes. Come the end of February, the students will no longer have to share computers. The remaining twelve laptops will accompany Sr. Marie Ego and Sr. Pauline Albin on their upcoming visit.

Felicia (left) and Paulina. Both boarders and BS4 students.

Kwaku (left) and Gerard-BS4. It's funny how when students have the liberty to create anything they want out of shapes on the computer, the majority still resort to the archetypal triangle and square house. The circular windows are a nice touch.

Raymond.

Seller shot for Loretto Computer Education, Richard and Ben. 

Mad. Leticia, Mad. Monica, Mad. Abena, Mad. Francesca, Foster and Adjei. The backbone of Blessed Trinity Leadership Academy. 

Sweepin'.

The expense of introducing students to Photobooth. Just another day in the office really. 

Martin and Akokoamong. 

Oh Kwame.

  The Kindergarteners...they never cease to grab, hug, laugh, pester, etc. but they sure make life look fun.


The school is good. The kids are learning. I'm smiling and my teaching job is as demanding and full of the unexpected as is teaching anywhere. The Ghanaian non-linear perception of time has helped me replace highways with meadows and for the most part keeps my control-freak tendencies in check. Overall it's an ode to the grace of letting it all be.