Sunday 7th August

Today i went to a Roman Catholic Church with mumma joyce, the service went from 6:30am-9:30am we didn't arrive till 7 am though. The Priest spoke in Fanti so i did not understand what he was saying but they were singing the Hymns in English. The building is large but is not complete, most of the walls are not up yet so you can see straight outside. Everyone sits on plastic chairs the children sit in another end on wooden stools they are so well behaved through the whole service. The church was getting donations today for the completion of the building, they were getting donations the whole three hours. I felt really silly because did not take any money with me. Some people were getting up multiple times to make donations, everyone would cheer and clap. I think some must have gone home poor. Other people make donations of items to the church, if it is your bday you bring an item eg water, toilet paper food to the priest then he blesses you with holy water. I was defintely the only Obroni lol...

After church I went straight to another church with Mumma Joyce so she could test people for HIV. We sat outside the church with a table waiting for people to approach. I would then hand them a booklet and pamphlets about HIV. Then if they wanted to be tested Mumma Joyce would test them. It seriously takes no more than 2 min, she pricks them thumb then sucks up the blood which she puts on the tester with few drops of this solution with the blood. Then after like min half she can tell them the results. Mumma Joyce always wears gloves. She tested 70 people with only one positive, she does an amazing job. I was happy to be there with her, she had a lot of patience and understanding for them. There were signs up saying not to judge people with HIV, also to be bold and get checked and another one that had a guy kicking the symbol for HIV out of Ghana then it said lets work together to kick HIV out of Ghana. The symbol they use for HIV here is our Symbol we use for breast cancer. The Organisation that supplied everything except the tests (Mumma Joyce supplies them) is called Care Network (NGO) they were also finding out people's blood type at another section and blood pressure. It was so well structured the whole process, and no one was ashamed to seek results and guidance. It really was a unique experience