After a wonderful breakfast
in the hotel’s outdoor café, Carol and I took a walk around the hotel
property. Family Kingdom is a perfect
name. There are playgrounds, sports equipment,
two pools, and a menagerie of live animals roaming the property. We met the proprietor (he corrected us when
we asked if he was the owner) and learned that he was originally from Dearborn,
Michigan. He is a Christian and
explained that God owns the property and he oversees it. Wow! I’ve never heard a hotel owner in the
States say anything close to that. When
we checked out of the hotel, he had a staff member give us a bag in which he
had placed a hematite necklace for each of us. 
As promised the night before, the bus pulled across the street and gave
everyone a chance to go down to the ocean and put our feet in it. I loved it but was surprised that no one was
swimming in the ocean or even sitting on the shore. I was disappointed that there were no shells
but so happy that I got to walk in the water and along the shore for a few
minutes.
From there, we made our way
to King Jimmy’s market. The two-story building was huge and Carol, Lucy and I
only shopped in a small portion of it.
Negotiating with each vendor is time consuming but expected. In fact, it is considered rude to pay the
initial price. Nothing is actually
priced so you have to ask. There is one
small booth after the other and many vendors selling the same items and
competing for business. Wow! I would never have made it without Lucy. I didn’t have time to shop for everything I
planned on so I guess I will have to return next year. I spent so little and came away with so much.
Time to return to America. We
unloaded our luggage at Aberdeen Bridge and waited for the water taxi. The 45-minute ride on the beautiful water
gave me a chance to look back for the final time at Freetown. I had seen the wealthier part of the city as
well as what would be labeled as the “slums.”
I realized that Americans could come to this country and never see the reality
of poverty and isolation of the villages outside the big city. Yet, they could also miss the pride of these
resilient, courageous, resourceful people who know the true meaning of
community. I feel like I have been to
the birthplace of humanity and I am enriched or having doing so. As James Taylor once sang, “I am going home
by a different way.”
We made it through every
security checkpoint—7 from the entrance gate at the airport to the boarding of
the plane. Carol faced the hardest time
of all of us—I guess her Bohemian look caused alarm. She was questioned at every point more than
the rest of our group but in the end, we boarded the plane and began our
journey home. After a 6-1/2 hour flight,
we arrived in Brussels at 5 A.M. (local time) this morning (Saturday) where we
had a 6-hour layover. I hadn’t been able
to sleep on the flight so I found a couch and took a two-hour nap. Debbie Jelks awakened me and we proceeded
through security with our carry-on luggage.
After a few more hours, we took off for Washington DC.
As I sit here on the plane, I keep thinking
back to the past nine days. I have gained so much from the experience. I know I will be more patient when I return home. I know I will want less, realizing that things do not make me happy. I will also enjoy and appreciate some small things so much more--like ICE. On the plane, I asked for water but also a cup of ice. I have decided that any beverage is better when it is ice cold. It doesn't take much to make me happy--just a cup of ice.
Since my computer is almost dead, I will share more of my thoughts in my next post.
Since my computer is almost dead, I will share more of my thoughts in my next post.
Until then, take care…
jane
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