Before the sun’s rays peeked out from the horizon’s blanket I
stumbled sleepily from my tent in the damp darkness. While everyone
else slept myself, 5 other squad mates, Jaco, a local pastor, and Nunez
(our translator) prepared for our day.
stumbled sleepily from my tent in the damp darkness. While everyone
else slept myself, 5 other squad mates, Jaco, a local pastor, and Nunez
(our translator) prepared for our day.
Our mission – visit a local island, specifically on prayer assignment
Our plan – leave at 5 a.m. from Machanga, spend the morning at the island, leave around 2 p.m. and be back for supper
First rule in Africa – plans ALWAYS change!
Around 6 a.m. we crammed all 9 of us into Jaco’s Land Cruiser built for five and left on our
50 km drive (actually 90 km) down a ridiculous dirt road (if you can
even call it a road) with holes large enough to hide a car in (ok,
slightly exaggerated but not by much). This was the African bush you
see pictures of, simply miles and miles of land with no one in sight
(and no animals in sight either, so not quite like the pictures you
always see).
50 km drive (actually 90 km) down a ridiculous dirt road (if you can
even call it a road) with holes large enough to hide a car in (ok,
slightly exaggerated but not by much). This was the African bush you
see pictures of, simply miles and miles of land with no one in sight
(and no animals in sight either, so not quite like the pictures you
always see).
8:45 we arrive in Divinhe. However we have to
check in with the government (I thought the American government annoyed
me) and, of course, they don’t open a minute before 9:00. Second rule
in Africa – Hurry up…. and wait!
check in with the government (I thought the American government annoyed
me) and, of course, they don’t open a minute before 9:00. Second rule
in Africa – Hurry up…. and wait!
With the
government office open we informed them of our intentions to catch a
boat to the island and be gone by the end of the day. No problem but by
the time we reached the pier the boat had just left and the sound of
its motor still drifted across the water to our ears (thanks government).
government office open we informed them of our intentions to catch a
boat to the island and be gone by the end of the day. No problem but by
the time we reached the pier the boat had just left and the sound of
its motor still drifted across the water to our ears (thanks government).
We
climbed back in the vehicle and headed back to the government building
to radio the island and try to get another boat. After another lengthy
wait the pastor returned informing us that a boat should be at the pier
around 11:00 or 11:30.
climbed back in the vehicle and headed back to the government building
to radio the island and try to get another boat. After another lengthy
wait the pastor returned informing us that a boat should be at the pier
around 11:00 or 11:30.
Noon came and left with only local fisherman in sight. Apparently Nunez was hungry and as sick of African pot bread, peanut butter and jelly as the rest of us. He bought some freshly caught fish (I’m pretty certain I had just watched the guy catch them and throw them in the boat a few minutes earlier) and treated us for the equivalent of a couple of US dollars. Nunez proceeded to build a fire there on the shore and placed the fish directly on the wood to cook. Not the best fish I’ve ever tasted but certainly 100 times better than another PB & J.
About 1:30 p.m. the boat finally arrives, the sound of its motor drifting over the water just as we had given up hope and climbed into our vehicle to return to Machanga. At this point it seemed a waste of money to even try to get to the island but that was the point of the trip to begin with so we prayed. The only answer anyone seemed to hear was, “Don’t worry about the money”. No problem, later we would learn why God told us that specifically. So with all that settled we decide we are still ready to go only to discover our skipper had skipped off to go shopping.
Precious minutes passed quickly (yet slow and torture-like at the same time) and frustrated is a great word to describe our position.
When the skipper finally returned his price was over twice what we were expecting and we hesitated (long enough for him to disappear somewhere again) but in the end felt that we were to go.
At last, just before 3 p.m., we set off into the Indian Ocean for a “less than one hour” boat ride to the island…
