Market Day

 Bernice is a woman who owns a sewing shop. She has all kinds of ready made goods decorating her shelves in her shop that she has made, like pillows, aprons, backpacks, table runners, all kinds of things that she produces. She also makes custom made items like dresses, skirts, purses, dolls, backpacks, ties....whatever is ordered. She agreed to go to the market with us and show us the shops that sold what we wanted. In my case it was material for a quilt, baby burp cloths and a winding cloth to hold a baby. One of our coworkers at the Area Office is expecting a baby. 

View from six floor up on the parking garage. The streets are one way because the market spills out onto the street and there is no room for the vehicles.

The Despain's drove over to pick up Bernice at her shop and she directed us to a parking garage (I am pretty sure Elder Depain knew where to go). We walked out to crowded sidewalks filled with....everything. We followed Bernice like ducklings through the maze of people and goods they were selling. Layers of people and goods start with tall buildings, in front of which are small areas of goods, in front of that are more goods under umbrellas or in the open and in front of that are the cars trying to navigate through the people and goods spilling into their lanes. We threaded through the tiny sidewalk between the umbrella stands and the small area goods. The sidewalk is made of bricks that sometimes are ragged and sometimes have broken potholes. I kept one eye on Bernice's yellow outfit and one eye on the sidewalk so I don't trip with peripheral vision helping to dodge other people standing, selling and walking. Several people would shout, "Mommy come buy", or the native word for white person (can't remember right now) and of course everyone has a deal or a sale. 

It is hard to describe the press of humanity - most with masks and some with shields and masks - with the smells of cooking, idling exhaust, hot plastics, and the bodies of hundreds of people. The color is vibrant and alive. It is rude to photograph people without their knowledge so I could not just video the area to show how awesome it was to be there.

Bernice, the shop owner (husband works at the Area office) and Sister Despain

Elder Despain records everything that is permitted

We went to several shops and store fronts. I got almost everything on my list until I ran out of money. It was a very stimulating, fun day and reminded me of my experience in the Philippines. It is a little different especially as COVID makes us socially distance - but in a close way at the market. Most places are open air and everyone wears masks. It is only the little shops with their small places and extra bodies that could be a potential problem though I never felt anyone was breathing on me. Life is good.

Makola Market in  Accra