So I thought I might fill you in on one of the craziest
travel weeks of my life.
travel weeks of my life.
DISCLAIMER: This is a long, very true blog… and this is the
condensed version.
condensed version.
So imagine if you will Saturday, October 30. It’s 4:30 in
the morning, still pitch black outside, racers are tucked away in their
sleeping bags dreaming of a direct flight to Blantyre, Malawi… if only we could
be so lucky.
the morning, still pitch black outside, racers are tucked away in their
sleeping bags dreaming of a direct flight to Blantyre, Malawi… if only we could
be so lucky.
I left on the morning flight to Africa, which involved a
nice 8 hour layover in ATHENS, GREECE! We quickly grabbed our bags, stored them
away, and hopped on the train that would take us on a 45 minute trip to the
Acropolis.
nice 8 hour layover in ATHENS, GREECE! We quickly grabbed our bags, stored them
away, and hopped on the train that would take us on a 45 minute trip to the
Acropolis.
This is the center of ancient Athens and home to the
Parthenon, Mars Hill, and much more. Words can’t begin to describe my wonder as
I stood where Paul gave his sermon in Acts 17, saw the Parthenon, and looked
out on the Mediterranean. Amazing food and company made this day one of the
best afternoons of my life!
Parthenon, Mars Hill, and much more. Words can’t begin to describe my wonder as
I stood where Paul gave his sermon in Acts 17, saw the Parthenon, and looked
out on the Mediterranean. Amazing food and company made this day one of the
best afternoons of my life!
As I sat in the Athens airport getting ready to fly to Doha,
Qatar, I got the email.
Qatar, I got the email.
The buses to Malawi had fallen through.
You see as a squad leader, I work with logistics to help
make sure we all get where we need to go. This meant we had some work in front
of us. I never could have guessed how much.
make sure we all get where we need to go. This meant we had some work in front
of us. I never could have guessed how much.
We touched down on Sunday morning into Johannesburg, South
Africa. The rest of the squad would be arriving about 2 hours after us. Daniel,
Stacey (Logistics), Lia and I immediately got to work calling, asking, and
searching for a bus ride for 65 people.
Africa. The rest of the squad would be arriving about 2 hours after us. Daniel,
Stacey (Logistics), Lia and I immediately got to work calling, asking, and
searching for a bus ride for 65 people.
Apparently NO ONE makes the trip to Malawi often in South
Africa. People couldn’t have been more puzzled as to why we would want to go
there.
Africa. People couldn’t have been more puzzled as to why we would want to go
there.
We had lots of South African volunteers such as Goodman, and
our favorite sketch man, “homeslice� who
were very eager to offer their services… but surprisingly they weren’t doing
this to be nice.
our favorite sketch man, “homeslice� who
were very eager to offer their services… but surprisingly they weren’t doing
this to be nice.
Tip #1 — Sketchy men aren’t helping you out of the kindness
of their heart. They expect some cash and don’t like to take no for an answer.
of their heart. They expect some cash and don’t like to take no for an answer.
After hours of searching, we realized we wouldn’t be leaving
that day, so God provided us an incredible place to stay. A guy knew a guy who
had a hostel who had just happened to have a large group decide to leave a day
early and had 2 vans that could shuttle us back and forth. This whole process
took about 4 hours but we had a great place to sleep provided by our Father.
that day, so God provided us an incredible place to stay. A guy knew a guy who
had a hostel who had just happened to have a large group decide to leave a day
early and had 2 vans that could shuttle us back and forth. This whole process
took about 4 hours but we had a great place to sleep provided by our Father.
The next 48 hours were a whirlwind of phone calls, dead
ends, waiting, bank visits, literally running up and down hills trying to make
deadlines, and some incredible squad bonding.
ends, waiting, bank visits, literally running up and down hills trying to make
deadlines, and some incredible squad bonding.
I could tell you the details of the insanity, but for the
sake of your time I will just fast forward to Tuesday at 3 PM. The bus arrives
but they underestimated the amount of luggage we told them we had.
sake of your time I will just fast forward to Tuesday at 3 PM. The bus arrives
but they underestimated the amount of luggage we told them we had.
TIP # 2- Luggage compartments can be small on a 65 passenger
bus. Get a trailer in advance or you’ll be driving around Johannesburg in a
giant bus to go get one.
bus. Get a trailer in advance or you’ll be driving around Johannesburg in a
giant bus to go get one.
Let’s break it down into time from here on out:
TUESDAY
6 PM – We’re ALL finally on a bus and headed to Malawi.
10 PM- Road trip games are at full throttle.
WEDNESDAY
1 AM- Stopped by police for papers.
2 AM — Exit South Africa border.
4 AM No mans land, exit bus to get surprise visas. Lucky us
the price just went up to get into Zimbabwe.
the price just went up to get into Zimbabwe.
6 AM- Writing Visas is apparently an art and our friends at
immigration need frequent breaks from all the pressure.
immigration need frequent breaks from all the pressure.
7 AM- I get to go into the offices and talk with the
supervisor about “stuff.�
supervisor about “stuff.�
8 AM- Almost done with those visas.
9 AM- Welcome to Zimbabwe.
3 PM- I think I see Rafiki. It’s actually one giant Baboon
with an attitude problem.
with an attitude problem.
8 PM- Hit the border. Its closed. That means sleeping on the
bus. With no A/C. With 65 people. It’s a million degrees. LONGEST NIGHT OF MY
LIFE.
bus. With no A/C. With 65 people. It’s a million degrees. LONGEST NIGHT OF MY
LIFE.
THURSDAY
12 AM- Squash potential mutiny due to heat from the back
rows.
rows.
1 AM- Still awake.
2 AM- Still awake
3 AM- Still awake. Think I felt a breeze. Could be my
seatmate’s gas.
seatmate’s gas.
4 AM- Still awake. Definitely not a breeze. The gas
continues.
continues.
5 AM- We ‘wake up’ and prepare to be the first in line to
have our passports stamped.
have our passports stamped.
7 AM- Through the border and waiting at Mozambique for
another batch of surprise Visas!
another batch of surprise Visas!
11 AM- Maybe 10 are done. These guys don’t really like
Americans.
Americans.
12 PM- Coca Cola bribe fails.
1 PM- Worship starts under the trees. This keeps me from
having a breakdown.
having a breakdown.
2 PM- I use my first squatty potty. A giant spider almost
attacks me. I win.
attacks me. I win.
3 PM- Finally free.
4:45 PM Bus and trailer hop curb and almost take out fruit
stand.
stand.
5 PM- We get to a giant bridge that’s under construction.
Takes forever to cross.
Takes forever to cross.
5:45 PM- Dust storm hits.
6:15 PM- Thunderstorm hits. I hope our driver can see
through rain.
through rain.
7:45 PM- Make it to the border. Except the aforementioned
storm has knocked out the power so it’s closed. Another night at a border.
storm has knocked out the power so it’s closed. Another night at a border.
8 PM- Daniel and I go looking for water for the squad. Buy
out 2 stores worth.
out 2 stores worth.
10 PM- People begin sleeping on top of the bus, in luggage
compartments, on cardboard boxes underneath neighboring semis, etc.
compartments, on cardboard boxes underneath neighboring semis, etc.
FRIDAY
1 AM- Racer gets arrested for pooping behind a tree due to
locked bathrooms. $15 bribe saves him jail time.
locked bathrooms. $15 bribe saves him jail time.
6 AM- Papa Joshua comes out and deals with the Captain of
Police, some conmen, and the nicest immigration officer I’ve met so far.
Police, some conmen, and the nicest immigration officer I’ve met so far.
9 AM- Welcome to Malawi. Nice immigration. Easy process to
enter.
enter.
10 AM- No power means no printer. Pick up insurance men who
have to ride with us to prove we have insurance.
have to ride with us to prove we have insurance.
11 AM- Get off bus for passport checkpoint.
1 PM- FINALLY IN BLANTYRE, MALAWI
So, it was kind of a long trip. You may not believe it, but
I left a lot out. If you got this far, I think you deserve a medal… and so does
the squad.
I left a lot out. If you got this far, I think you deserve a medal… and so does
the squad.
