Covid-19 Vaccinations...a surprise event

We woke up.  It was Saturday (March 6, 2021) and time to get ready for a morning at the market with our friends.  There is a market the senior missionaries like to go to.  It has local arts and crafts of all kinds.  It also have a few things to eat.  It is held under these huge and tall trees whose limbs stretch out overhead touching each other creating this grand, shaded spot where vendors below set up their tables and booths.  It is not a small place.  Women's clothing, women's accessories, men's clothing, paintings of various sizes, wood products of various uses, brass products, drinks, honey, pies, desserts and even bagels.  The bagels are really good.  A guy will measure your foot and make sandals to your specifications. Ladies find cloth they like and arrange to get a dress made.  A guy makes various things out of brass.  There are some wall hooks of animal images and other things I will get sometime soon.  Everything is made by the vendors and most everything has an African flare about it, of course.  There is even a small café that serves breakfast, lunch and dinner.  And it's a place where the guys can sit down while the ladies are out and about.  At least that is what Elder Kittelson and I did yesterday near the end of the outing.  We ate a scone and talked.  It was great.  

A couple of weeks ago I bought an elephant carving out of wood with brass pounded into it here and there.  It has a place on top where I can put my keys.  It looks pretty good.  That place on top where my keys go is also designed to set cigarettes on (a glorified ash tray).  I don't smoke but I have keys that fit just fine in it.  Elaine has purchased a few things.  The fans she got are high quality made of cloth and leather.  Two are decorative right now.  They hang on the wall along with a really big fan that is purely decorative.  They brighten up our living room.

During our market visit we met and learned from Elder and Sister Dick that Covid-19 vaccinations were starting.  They started that morning and would also be available on Sunday and Monday.  Everyone in our group wanted to head over to the hospital as soon as possible.  We finished shopping, got in the car and went back to the apartments then off to the hospital as soon as we were ready.  We got there about 12:15 and met some other senior missionaries who had been there quite a while that morning.  Since around 9:00.  Those waiting for the vaccination were many locals, some nurses, as well as our friends.  Soon after arriving, we were told by those in charge that their capacity had been reached for the day and that we should return tomorrow.  Disappointing. As we talked a bit with our friends, a lady came out of the building with number tags and began handing them out to those waiting on the benches.  We acted very interested.  We got number tags too!  We also took our seats on the benches. Socially distanced, of course.  It took until 3:30, but we got our first vaccination.  The facility was a maternity clinic or hospital and we waited outside under some canopies on wooden benches.  Every time someone went inside to get their shot, we all got up and moved one seat ahead.  We were numbers 72 and 74. While waiting, we visited. I talked with a guy who was watching a Premier League Football match on his phone between Arsenal and Burnley (it ended in a draw).  Did I mention we are the same time zone as London?  It was hard to see much on his phone.  Sports is an incredible draw all around the world, especially football (soccer).   Even our apartment guards (gate keepers) listen to matches on the radio and I talk with them.  The guards listen mostly to La Liga.  Barcelona is their favorite team.  Barcelona is doing very well this season.  Number two at the moment.

Here is the clinic, some friends, and us. 

We hadn't planned on getting our vaccinations on Saturday but are very glad and thankful we did.  One big giant leap toward loosening the Covid-19 restrictions.  If we had stayed home in Bountiful and waited for the vaccine there, we would have gotten it about the same time.  We are glad we came to Accra when we did.  I was so anxious to get here that I couldn't wait in Bountiful, even for a few weeks.

The second shot is scheduled for May 1.  Also a Saturday.  Maybe we will get the shot first and then go to the market.  For lunch.