I leave team
Frontline’s guest house at 8:30 A.M. My bus leaves Dar Es Salaam for Iringa at
10:30, but traffic is horrible, so I’m leaving early. I get on a took took and
head for the bus station.
I arrive there and I’m greeted by a crowd of aggressive
African men who want to “help me” and be my “friend”. After weaving my way
through the crowd I make my way to the place where my bus is leaving, but find
out that my bus apparently broke down and will not be leaving today. This is
after arriving at the bus station the day before only to find out that all the
buses were full. Thankfully, I find someone to trade there bus ticket today,
with my bus ticket that will leave tomorrow. God is always providing.
get on the bus and will be at Team Calvary and Pneuma’s location in ten or so
hours. I’m actually writing this on the bus ride as a large African man is
sleeping on me (notice not on side of me) and we’re
following a bus with a huge picture of Barack Obama that
says “already family” plastered on the back of it. Every time I look to my left
there is a little girl staring at me, I don’t think she’s blinked once. She’s
probably only seen a few white people in her life and is trying to take in the
experience for as long as she can. Only another nine or so hours on this
non-air-conditioned bus.
Hopefully this guy doesn’t start drooling, that would
be too much…
(Hours later
and now standing up because I gave a woman and her kid my seat)
We just
entered the national park which is beautiful, but it just so happens to be on
fire at the moment. There’s smoke everywhere. As the bus approaches the flames,
which are on both sides of the road, the driver decides to pass a semi carrying
petroleum. Ok…I made it! To the left of me is a don’t feed the baboons sign and
right pass it is about thirty baboons. I’m caught off guard when I look to my
side and notice the lady besides me has decided to breast feed. I turn my
attention towards the window and see a bunch of giraffes, cape buffalo, and
acacia trees.
(A couple
hours later…still standing)
The bus
driver is FLYING around curves, I’m surprised we’re still right side up. It was
quite the challenge to keep my balance, hold a lady up, and move out of the way
of the guy selling juice and cookies as the bus driver dodges traffic and
speeds around the curves!
(Thirty
minutes later)
I’m just
trying to stay on my feet as I prepare for this bus to flip. Dang it! The
ladies breast feeding again…note to self, the baby cries don’t look! The little
girl in front of me just puked from the wild driving. It wasn’t enough for it
to be a hot bus ride with just B.O. to deal with, now I have the wonderful
smell of puke lingering right in front of me. Just a few more hours to go. Six
hours and zero bathroom breaks! Thank you Immodium A.D. you are my friend. Just
stopped on side of the road to pick up about twenty school kids, I guess this
doubles as a school bus. Africa is the land of unlimited possibilities. Praise
God for memories!
