God answers Little J’s prayers……… for French fries!

Finally we’re in Sierra Leone (SL) !!!!!!!

We eventually checked in 4 suitcases averaging 35 kg each onto the flight. The charge for being overweight was US$250.00 for the 50kg excess. Again, local currency was not acceptable – remember the ‘visa saga’. There was however, a ‘small’ problem since Kenya Airways would not accept a credit card for payment. At least that was what we were told at the check-in desk even though their partners KLM previously accepted the same credit card for excess weight – a fact we pointed out to the check-in clerk. We only had travellers’ cheques on us at the time….so we had a small problem. There was a stalemate since we were not in a position to do anything else, and were asked to stand to one side whilst other passengers checked in. We had no choice but to pray whilst trying to reason with the check-in staff. Finally, after nearly 15 minutes waiting, our excess luggage were checked on to the flight and we thanked the check-in clerks with a ‘modest gift’. Whether the check in clerks were expecting us to ‘dash’ them (grease – palmed the Ghanaian way), we will never know because we did not ask and were determined not to pay. We consider this another miracle of God – because it was a risk to take all the luggage with us. We were the last people to be checked in and we had to race to catch the plane. The flight made up for the rush, as it was short, earlier than scheduled, and the crew were very accommodating. We sat together and Little J even had a seat for herself.

Flying in to Sierra Leone was interesting. The landscape seen from the aircraft is nothing like the city. We flew over a wide expanse of green forest – mostly palm trees, criss-crossed by rivers flowing into the sea. This is because the airport is on a strip of land - island really - away from Freetown. The view coming into land was mostly green expanse of land with ‘houses’ sprinkled – few and far between. Our flight was the only one at the time, so going through immigration and getting our luggage was a relative breeze. We had a representative from the church waiting for us – identified by our name on cardboard.
Getting from the airport to the city is an adventure by anyone’s standard. We had a choice of the ferry (2 hours), the hover craft (1 hour), by car (a 60 + mile merry –go – round taking a few hours) or by helicopter (7 minutes). Of course, we took the helicopter – not that we had a choice since both the ferry and hovercraft were out of service. This turned out to be a larger than normal army looking, privately run helicopter (picture M.A.S.H.), which transports approximately 12 people and their luggage with each trip. Therefore, for any one flight they may have about 4 – 5 trips (or more). It was a noisy and bumpy affair. In all that palaver, Little J fell asleep. She amazes us!!!

The route to Freetown from the helipad took us beside the beach. Now, this was nothing like Accra or Cape Coast – this was a nice sandy beach. There were people jogging and walking on the beach and the waves reminded me of Negril. Surprisingly, really nice. Freetown was bustling with people selling wares and (at the time we landed) trying to get home. It was hot, but nothing like Accra.
Our ‘hotel’ is in the hills overlooking Freetown. The road reminded me of Mobay, going up to the hills to Cambridge. Very narrow, winding through the hills, with gullies to the side, and in those gullies are peoples’ houses. It feels like Mandeville – cool.
The ‘hotel’ turned out to be a guest house owned (but not operated) by the Catholic church. So, our vision of a hotel by the sea, with A/c, some modcon, (like tv and phones) and maybe internet access was not really that. We have the natural a/c, a transistor radio and mobile phones (which we bought), definitely no internet facility available. We are provided with 3 meals, hot water (for bathing) and breakfast as early as 7 a.m. Electricity is via a generator which has a operating regime – lights/electricity out at 11 a.m, 5p.m and 11p.m. So, we have to work around those times if we want to do anything related to the use of electricity. Good practise for our own generator in Segbwema.
The first night was hard. We had to get our heads around the electricity, lack of tv and the remoteness of the place. We can’t just go down the road to buy neccesities. Our nearest neighbours are those working at the new American embassy, sprawled over more than 100 acres. They’re not that friendly anyway.
Little J’s craving was for ‘fries’. After one day in the city we saw no Mcd, Burger king, Nandos etc etc which might sell this highly demanded fries. But lo and behold, without saying anything to the cook at our hotel, our dinner that evening was chicken and fries!!!!!!!!!! Now, this was confirmation that God does answer prayers – even of a nearly 2 year old toddler!!! He will provide for even our wants and of course our needs.
We are still trying to understand the system. We are being ably and patiently helped by the church and hospital staff and transported in comfortable vehicles.
We will be in Freetown for maybe an additional week as we try to do all the paper work (work permits, registering with the nursing council and trying to get a vehicle for our own use). This makes sense as it is an 8-hour journey to Segbwema, and once we’re there we need to use most of the first few months to try to settle – esp. to sort all the books we had shipped.

For the prayer warriors – continue to pray for a swift settling as we try to understand the system, attempt to communicate and become apart of the community. So far, so good.

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