Keep it on the QT
by Loreli There is a ban on all noise-making as declared by the Ga Traditional Council. Effective today, May 7th, to June 7th, there is to be no drumming, no dancing, no merry-making... no noise-making at all on the streets of Greater Accra. For one full month we have to be quiet or suffer the consequences. I've heard those consequences range from hefty fines or confiscation of alleged noise-making equipment. But I've also heard whispered rumours of injury inflicted by the Chief's warlords on the more rebellious offenders. Don't worry though, most people observe the ban and we certainly plan on it. There are a few who don't, though. I was surprised to hear it is a couple of larger churches who refuse to obey the ban. My friend Kassim explained to me that some churches ignore it because it is a fetish custom. The Council consults the spirits for the date for the ban and it is in honour to the gods of the harvest. At the end of the ban, there is a large festival called Homowo, which literally means "hooting at hunger." Homowo is celebrated to remind the people of their victory over a great famine from years ago, when they were migrating to the settlement in Accra. When the famine came to an end, they had a good harvest and hooted at the hunger they had suffered. Bascially, Ghanaian Thanksgiving. Kassim says that one large church posts massive bodyguards at its doors during this period, so that they can worship in freedom. They consider this ban an imposition on their worship and liken their actions to Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego refusing to bow to the idol of King Nebuchadnezzer. Shadrach and his buddies never needed bodyguards. Just sayin'... Our church will obey the ban. Pastor Charles advised us yesterday that there will be no loud singing and no hand-clapping or tambourine-banging. Our right to worship God has not been removed and we believe that we must "make every effort to live in peace with all men" (Heb. 12:14).
In other news, we believe we will have our project bank account open TODAY. We went this morning to open the account, but were missing two documents from the church. Two elders went back to the school to locate them and J-M is right now picking those up and taking them to the bank. Folks, it's been four months that we've been in the process of acquiring all the necessary documents (remember my bureaucracy post?) to get this thing opened. This is the point at where our project can take off (complete negotiations, receive donations, drill well, complete survery, etc., etc., etc.). We are getting SLIGHTLY impatient about it. J-M may have to muffle my loud Hallelujahs if this thing actually happens! | 
