"Wasn't there a window back there?"

While sitting on the bus headed to Njala, I thought I’d catch you up on our journey.  If you are wondering about the title for today’s blog, you must read to the very end to discover “the rest of the story.”

We landed in Freetown at sundown yesterday.  The “veteran” team members had done their best to prepare those of us on our maiden voyage on how to navigate the Lungi Airport, including passport check, baggage pickup, and going through customs.  While it was hectic and somewhat chaotic in comparison to U.S. airports, we moved through easily which surprised everyone who had previously entered the country.  It reminded me of when God parted the Red Sea for the Israelites.  Although customs has historically been difficult with officials going through all the luggage, this year we were motioned through and not one bag was opened.  Our team member, Jusufu, was God’s instrument in helping us with a smooth passage.

We exited the airport and went by bus to a boat dock where a water taxi was waiting to transport us across the bay into Freetown.  Standing by the water’s edge, I was awestruck as I felt the strong breeze and saw the sun setting out over the water.  I had already gotten a glimpse of the poverty in this country and now I was seeing some of its beauty.  Wow!  This is going to be an incredible experience—a mixture of sadness and joy.

After a “ride on the waves,” we piled in a van and made our way from Aberdeen Bridge to the Tai Resort, our lodging quarters for the night.  A bed looked so inviting but first we needed a bite to eat.  Sam Pieh, his niece (Betty Carew) and a friend of Sam’s (Josiah Perris), joined us.  Around midnight, we finished our dinner and said good night.  A shower, albeit cold, was refreshing and around 1 A.M. it was lights out (NOTE: after putting in earplugs).  Why earplugs?  There was a wedding celebration taking placing outside our room.  The music and dancing really kicked in about 11 P.M.   It was a joyous occasion but for weary travelers, it was less celebratory at 1 A.M.  Thank goodness fatigue took over and we drifted off to a deep sleep (so deep that we overslept the next morning—oops!)  Carol and I made it to breakfast in time for the devotion and afterwards, Bishop Emmanuel, prayed for our mission.  The devotion from 2 Cor. 9:12-15 and the beautiful prayer got us off to a fantastic start.  We loaded everything into a bus and that brings us to the place this post began.  

The bus ride took about four hours total 
with about an hour of it traveling slowly through busy 
Freetown. I saw many more people in this one city than I have ever seen before.  Many were selling their wares on the streets and within small street booths.  Others were bathing children, hanging clothes out to dry, sewing, cooking over open fires, and cleaning trash out of gutters.  I grasp for words to describe what I witnessed.  We passed schools, government buildings, church, mosques, many houses, and the most memorable to me, an enormous tree in the center of the city where slaves were once sold.  The tree stands as a memorial now and is home to a huge number of bats.  

On our way, we stopped at Ju‘s home for Dr. Debi to treat an injury that one of Ju’s nieces had sustained.  The young woman was so brave during the cleaning of the wound and Dr. Debi treated her so gently and compassionately.  We also got to see Evelyn and comfort her as she recently lost someone she loved dearly.  We all got a huge surprise during our visit.  We learned that Ju had married almost two years ago.  None of us knew this.  He has a beautiful wife, Maria, and a lovely eight-year-old step daughter, Antoinette.

 

As we continued on our way to Njala we passed through many small towns and villages.  We stopped once for our driver to add water to the radiator.  I saw thatched roof homes, numerous buildings partially constructed, and many small dwellings made of mud and sticks, clay bricks, or metal sheeting.  As we traveled, team members who had been on previous trips commented on the improvements they were seeing.   Whereas the first mission groups drove over dirt roads, we now had a paved, two-lane road until we got almost to Njala. 

We arrived at Njala University and after settling quickly into our rooms, we began sorting all the medicine and supplies we brought with us.   We filled four suitcases with an assortment of medicines and supplies for tomorrow’s clinic in Njala.  After we finished, we went to eat dinner that had been prepared for us.  Pastor Francis Ngagba stopped by to greet us and tell us how happy he is that we will be coming across the river to his village, Pujehun.  He prayed a beautiful prayer that brought tears to my eyes.  The people we are working with in Sierra Leone love their people so much.  They want to do everything they can to make their lives better.  I love their sense of community and passion for people.  They have big dreams and may they never let go of them.  They motivate and inspire me.  

The rest of Saturday evening was calm as we settled into our living quarters for the next 5 days.  We enjoyed dinner, conversation, and laughter together.    

Now that this lengthy writing draws to a close, I will explain the title of today’s post.  Only those who have read up to this point get to find out.  At what point today, our group had to separate so that we could pick up medicine from a pharmacy in Bo before it closed for the day. Robert, Dr. Debi, and Ju got into a taxi and we parted ways with the rest of us continuing on to Njala and to the University.   It isn’t enough to tell you that they didn’t make it to Bo even though they didn’t. Their taxi ride was an adventure.  While riding in the first taxi, a bus passed and so much dust came into the taxi that Robert looked up and said to the driver, “Wasn’t there a window back there?” Yes, the back window had disappeared.  The driver was not happy, to say the least and he started backing up to look for it.  They were almost hit by a forward-moving truck and when they finally found the window, it was shattered.  They knew they couldn’t take a chance on putting supplies into the car where they could blow out so they had to go to back and get a different taxi.  That one ran out of gas about seven miles later and they called the University to get someone to come get them.  What an adventure they had!   Empty-handed and disheveled, they returned to us and we decided that God had just wanted us to stay together.  Robert was able to work out everything regarding the medicine.  They will be able to get it in time for tomorrow’s clinic.

Time to shower and get to sleep.  Don’t want to oversleep again tomorrow.  Love to all of you from Sierra Leone.

Jane