Traveling in Africa has definitely been an adventure!
Here is a quick rundown of what one of our travel experiences consist of, mind you as a logistics co-leader, I am one of the people in charge of finding the transportation for crossing the borders. This particular route we needed to cross through Mozambique to get to Zimbabwe, so two borders in Africa…here we come!
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Friday we take a local bus from 5:30pm to 1:30am
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Stand outside and wait for the next bus from 1:30am to 5am
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Board new bus and ride 5am to 8:30am
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Saturday morning at 8:30 am arrive at first border….Mozambique
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Wait in line and obtain visas 8:30am to 1pm
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Get back on bus and attempt to fall asleep in a bus without airconditioning
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Arrive at second border at 6:30pm
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Wait to obtain visas 6:30pm to 9:30 pm
*Almost didn’t make it through*
Find out later that…..They called our upcoming host to make sure we were legit, but if he hadn’t answered we weren’t crossing the border into Zimbabwe
PSA: Zimbabwe has recently had political unrest and their past president was removed, so 21 white individuals trying to cross a border in the middle of the night would turn some heads.
Back to the bullet points
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CROSS THE BORDER into Zimbabwe!
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Board the bus and head to last stop 9:30pm to 12:30 am
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Take a taxi to a hostel
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Sleep zzZZZzz
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Wake up Sunday and get on a 22 seater transportation vehicle 12pm to 7:30pm
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Arrive in Bulawayo! Meet our host!
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Take a taxi to the host’s home
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Meet the family
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Have a home cooked meal at 9pm
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It’s deliciousSsSSs (junkfood for three days makes you appreciate actual nutrition)
I have to say, my squad gave us so much grace after being exhausted, hungry, and hot for a few days, but we all made it to our destinations unscathed! We crossed two borders by God’s provision and didn’t have any accidents (that I know of).
Ministry this month will be exciting and growing. We are working with Scripture Union, reaching youth in schools and in youth clubs, teaching them Life Skills, Bible Study/Worship, Games, and English. This past week has been a blast getting to meet new children, build new relationships, and help hold a talent show. I participated as an Emcee with one of my teammates as kids showed us the gifts and talents the Lord has given them. At the end of the talent show, another teammate announced the most talented man to ever walk this earth, Jesus. So far, Zimbabwe has been good to us. Please pray that ministry is fruitful this month and that every seed planted in those children’s lifes takes root.
