Non-Stop

So, I haven't written for a week or so because we have been gone again. That doesn't mean we have been bored.
We ran out of money and drove (just the two of us) to another station to get more.
We took a trip on a bus that was very unusual.
We enjoyed a Christmas service in an African church.
We drove home with Tab super sick.
And we lost the dog.

Before Christmas we had an unexpected money problem. You see, everyone here gets paid in advance during holidays. So, we had to pay our helpers before we left. Last week when the the cash office closed, I thought we had enough money for everything we needed until the cash office re-opened post holidays. Later, after counting our expenses again, I discovered that we did not have enough. Well, we can't exactly just go to a bank and get money round these parts (we tried- the exchange machine was broken). So, we had to drive to the only place around here that had cash- a mission station about a half-hour drive away. I asked someone how to get there  and it seemed easy enough. We had not yet traveled in this country without someone that knew where they were going and had fluency in one of the many languages of this land. So, we were going out a little unprepared. It seemed easy enough. Go to the main road, and drive 18 km til you see your destination. What they forgot to tell us about was the police check points and the donkeys, cows, goats, camels, and bicyclists on the road. The road hazards are easy to navigate once you know about them. The police check points made Tab and I very nervous as we approached the makeshift "gate" and guards checking papers. Once we got up there they waved us through. Both times. When we got to our destination and saw someone we knew, we were very relieved. And we made it home without incident. I was somewhat concerned about our trip. I don't know if that trip was brave or foolish, but since we used the car of a highly respected doctor in the area it seems that we get a free pass wherever we go. I was wondering why people seemed especially friendly.

Miniature beasts of burden filling the road. At this point we are on the dirt next to the road going around them.

Since we were going to be the only people on this compound for Christmas, we decided to pack up and find some other people to spend the holiday with. So, we headed out on a bus in the wee hours of the morning with one friends that knew the way, at least part of the way. It only cost about seven bucks per person, they provided air conditioning, a snack in a plastic bag from who knows where, all the bumps you can handle, and they even toss your bags off the moving bus when they get to your "stop". When we went to purchase our tickets we took along a lady that knows the bus system and could make sure we got the right tickets for the right day and didn't pay too much. We made specific effort to get the right day. Saturday was a particularly busy day to travel, the first couple of bus stations we stopped at were sold out. We found some tickets on the bus company with a reputation for speedy travels for 4 am on Saturday. We bought them, thanked the man, and went on our way. Saturday morning we got to the bus station and the man that sold us the tickets came up to us and asked to see our tickets. We showed them to him and he informed us that the tickets were dated for yesterday. The date was wrong on our tickets. He obviously remembered us because he singled us out of all the people there and knew what the date was on our tickets before he even saw our tickets. I never even thought to check to make sure the date was correct. Our friend informed us that this is the third time that she knew of where the date for the bus ticket was wrong. Thankfully, the man that drove us to the bus station had not yet left and somehow he got us on the bus. One minute we were standing there, the next he motioned for us to cut through all of these people and get on the bus. I don't know how he did it, but he got us on the bus. Later, before we left, the bus station manager came up to me and put his hand on my shoulder and said, "friend" and smiled. In a few minutes the bus was full. So full that they had to get people off. There were still others that wanted on the bus but were left standing outside. Finally someone yelled, "That's it, no one else on the bus." Much yelling ensued. Eventually everyone that had a spot stayed and those that didn't walked away to wait for the next bus. A few minutes later someone noticed that it was prayer time. So, most people got off the bus and did their prayers then got back on the bus in orderly fashion and off we went.

During the trip we spent a significant majority of the time on the dirt path next to the road, because it was smoother or because we needed to pass someone or something in the middle of the road. At one point the bus driver turned on the air conditioning and after a few minutes the entire bus wanted it turned off. Mind you, it was about 80 degrees in the bus and most people were dressed like it was snowing outside. After endless bouncing and several near head-on collisions, we made it. It was an experience. I have a feeling that we are going to do it again in a few months.

At our first stop everyone got off but us to pray/use facilities/buy food. We had a hard enough time getting on the bus the first time we weren't going to try and get on again. The not above the window says "bonne annee" which I think means happy new years en francaise.

When we arrived at our destination, we had fun getting to know some of the people that live and work in this country and we are going to be working with them more closely in the future. We sang Christmas carols, had Christmas cookies, took a tour of their facilities, and did a Christmas gift exchange. Christmas morning our Friend made us amazing pancakes and real coffee for breakfast. She also got us all a small gift. Tab and I definitely owe her a gift for all the help she has been to us the past few weeks.

We had good bananas too. Later we also had pineapple.

On Christmas day in Africa they have a church service. This is unusual for us, we tend to have a Christmas Eve church service and stay at home on Christmas Day. The service lasted almost four hours. I was there for the whole thing. Some of the time I had a translator. Some of the time I did not. I knew enough of the language to catch bits and pieces here and there, it helps that I am familiar with the Christmas nativity. I got there early (before it starts counts as early in Africa). I got a seat. Those that came later did not get a seat. All the churches in town have one service together.  It started off crowded and ended up packed. it was so full that people were watching from outside through the windows and doorways. At one point a shoving match was started when so many people were trying to push in through the door that it was moving pews around with people sitting in them. I would guess there were five hundred people there. I think the building was about three or four thousand square feet. All the ladies had matching outfits. They sang and sang and sang.  There was dancing, and when people danced, others would come up and put money on their foreheads. I guess it is a sign of appreciation. There were so many people that it was hard to get up there to put money one the dancer's heads. They decided to just pass the buckets around.

This is the women's group playing percussion instruments and singing. It was amazing.

We left the day after Christmas.The ride home was even more bumpy than the ride to the hospital. We saw some amazing things on the way home. One van had two cows, full size, tied down to the luggage rack on top. There was a boy who climbed up on top of a mattress on top of other stuff on top of a van driving down a bumpy road. We bought onions on the side of the road. We just stopped and traders just came over to the window to sell us stuff. After dark we saw lots of cars on the road with no lights or reflectors. Tab had been feeling sick he whole week leading up to Christmas, on the way home she was very sick. It was especially not fun to ride sickly on bumpy roads.

Can you see the boy?

While we were gone we got some news that the dog that lives at our house is missing. I guess they looked around for her and could not find her. We got back and she still isn't here. There is a concrete wall around the entire complex and the gate is supposed to be closed except when people are coming in and out. So, it is a mystery as to how/where/when she disappeared. That would make me super sad if it was my dog. I'm still sad, but I barely knew her. Perhaps she will still turn up. We'll see.

Well, this was a long post. Hopefully you find it entertaining. We were entertained.