Saturday July 7, 2012 Africa:  Day 27

            Today was the first day in a very long time that I could enjoy a leisurely morning.  I still woke up early (people here in the hostel seem to always be up early talking in the hallways), so I just laid in bed reading for a couple of hours.  I took my time getting ready and even tried to do my hair (again, another thing that hasn’t happened all summer).  After a few attempts of trying to straighten it, I again ended up surrendering to the humidity-induced waves. 

            Kelsey and I then set out around 11 to try and buy the football tickets.  We went back to Koala, and they told us that they weren’t selling the tickets, but at least they confirmed that there was a game today. They sent us to Frankie’s, a restaurant down the road in Osu.  We went there and the people looked just as confused as the five other places we have been sent to for these elusive tickets.  One man told us that they sell them at the stadium. So, after two days and six attempts at four different locations, we were finally able to buy tickets for the game that started in a couple of hours.  Kelsey and I decided to just hang out and eat lunch at the stadium until the game started.  We also got tickets for some of our other friends who showed up at various points during the club match between the Ghana Chelsea team and a team from Egypt.

  Kelsey and I again started thinking that we were crashing a bro fest.  It took some work to find another female in the stands.   I was just as entertained by the crowd as the game.  I would love to see the reaction if I started to walk around a US stadium somewhere selling plain loaves of bread from a bowl on my head.  I also think that African drumming groups offer twice as much as marching bands.  They provided excellent music and brought more energy to the crowd than a cheerleading group ever could.   The game was tied during most of the second half, then the Ghana team made the winning goal in the last couple minutes of the game.  The stands went crazy!  People were screaming, cheering, and slapping hands with everyone around them.  I think because we were female Abrunis, Kelsey and I got a lot of the celebratory attention.  All these guys kept giving us high fives, shaking our hands, and cheering with us.

 After the game we decided to go to Labodi beach. The beach was nice and relaxing.  I think it was more relaxing this time because Kelsey and I were surrounded by five local guys and the vendors didn't seem to bother us much. We all walked along the beach just as the sun was setting.  There’s something extra amazing about watching an African sunset over the ocean. 

            Arelo suggested a place to eat in Osu, so we eventually ended up at our the Thai place again. Some of the other guys that we went to the game and beach with had left by this point, so  Kelsey, Stephen, his cousin, and I enjoyed a delicious dinner of pad thai.  Most of the dinner conversation was a heated debate about religion and politics.  It was great to have so many opportunities tonight to teach more about the Mormon faith, share some of my own testimony about different principles and practices,  and clear up some misperceptions that some of them had (like  reading that when you become a Mormon you are given a Mercedes- how come I haven’t ever received my car???)  I love all the missionary opportunities I have been able to have on this trip, but I will admit that sometimes it would be nice to be around another Mormon once in a while so I don’t have to be constantly be under a microscope and have to explain every action.  I am very excited, though, because Kelsey is going to come to church with me tomorrow and Stephen said that he would come another time.