free(town) at last!
David and I had our last McDonalds breakfast meal before we headed to the Brixton Faith Home. We were prayed for, and were driven to Gatwick airport. We arrived at the airport at 12:30 PM. The line to the Astraeus check-in counter was rather long and we were a bit worried that our bags might be over-weight. We are only allowed one check-in baggage weighing under 32kg, and one carry-on weighing under 5kg. I also had a laptop case. My luggage made it without a hitch.The flight, Astraeus 5W 071 arrived at Gatwick a bit late, and we took off almost two hours late. The seats were so crammed that even I (as skinny as I am ;)) found it hard to move my arms around. It was a 757. The meals were not bad at all!!
We were supposed to land in the Freetown International Airport at 8:20 PM, but we landed at 10:20 PM. It is an airport where you have to de-plane and walk to the main building. There was a shuttle bus waiting for us as it was raining heavily. The locals are very helpful and kind. We had no problems with the officials, and Bro. John was waiting to pick us up. There is an Elizabeth Morgan who is a security officer in the airport, and with her help, we were not even checked by the customs officers. We did however, wait long for our luggages to come out the luggage belt. We had to rush to catch the last ferry to Freetown. We were the last ones to make it into the ferry. Had we not made it, we would have to find room in a hotel. There was barely any room in the ferry to drive the TATA 4x4 in. There were a ton of other cars already parked on the deck. Bro. John managed to squeeze the 4x4 in, but broke the right side mirror. We couldn't get out of the vehicle as all others had because we were crammed into a corner. There were people resting all over our vehicle snacking on tender coconuts. The ferry ride took 30 mins. When we finally reached shore and managed to back the vehicle out, we could not go anywhere as the taxi's very rudely parked themselves in the middle of the street, and would not move till they picked up passengers. We
finally arrived at the Faith Home at 1:30 AM. Sis. Norma and Sis. Sheila greeted and thanked God for our safe arrival. They also had meals ready for us.
Rice, beans, fish balls, chicken, and Orange Fanta. Yes, fish balls! De-boned, skinned, mashed fish made into balls. There was also locally bottled water. Bottled at a spring in Grafton - not an hour away from Congo Cross. It tastes as good as the water from New York. No lie! Apparently Pastor Don said it was better than NY water. Thank God for that!
By the time I got to bed, it was 3:30 AM. After dinner, I had to use the bathroom, an 8x4 room with only a toilet bowl. There was a bucket of water and a mug to wash with. In the middle of my business, they shut off the generator that powers the entire Faith Home. It is a Craftsman 3----. They have two other Colemans generators that continue to break down. Sears is after all as reliable as they say it is! They use generators almost exclusively for power because municiple power is very rarely delivered. People live for weeks on end without electricity. (Maybe that's why it's still refered to as the Dark Continent?) Well anyway, I had to feel around for the bucket, wash, and stumble along to my room to find my flashlight. I found a kerosene lamp, light it, cleaned up the toilet, brushed my teeth, washed my face, and headed to bed. But first, you have to mount up your mosquito net.
It is terribly hot here (and it's winter) and you sweat profusely doing nothing. At about 4:30 AM, I was knocked out. Woke up at 10:30 AM.
I have yet to have a shower. The last shower I had was at 2:00 AM on the 15th at Aunty Susy's.
posted by bthomas24 @ 6:37 PM
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