Well... it's been a while since I have had a chance to finish the stories of my trip! I've been a bit busy since we got back! So here is how the rest of my week went:
We arrived in Accra, Ghana early in the morning. When we got off the plane the African heat and humidity was like a wall. I immediately had the feeling that I was not actually there walking into an African airport and hearing other languages and knowing that "no Toto... we are not anywhere near Kansas anymore."
While we were in Ghana we had the amazing opportunity to meet the mother and sister of a student that my professor, Jen, is hosting through a basketball program!
The next few hours are really quite comical as I look back on the experience. We ended up being forced to purchase transit visas because we were in the country 5 hours and like 40 minutes and you have to buy one if you are there longer than 5 hours and 30 minutes so that was an interesting 20 minutes in a big Ghanaian security officer's office with an oscillating fan in the corner... THEN... after finally getting to our plane I found my seat and it was between two of the biggest, smelliest German men I have ever met in my life. Little did I know that the body odor I was smelling was simply something I needed to get used to ... and fast! The German men were very nice and teased me about going to Sierra Leone for 'holiday' but I finally figured out how to explain a mission trip to them so that they would understand what it was.
In the end we made it to Sierra Leone and got off the plane... and that's when it hit me. I thought to myself "Holy cow Hanna, what in the world have you gotten yourself into this time!"
As soon as we set foot inside the airport it was mass chaos... people moving everywhere, talking, and yelling. I grabbed Sara's backpack and just held on and followed her and the rest of our team through what I presume was customs but it was nothing like the US. Then we went to our luggage and got carts and started pulling all of our suitcases. We wheeled outside and some Sierra Leonean men took our bags, tagged them, and put them in the back of the van. Jen and I got in the van and proceeded to ride over to the Pelican Boat dock (it's a water taxi that takes you over to Freetown).
I quickly learned that if I was at all nervous at any point in the trip, I didn't have time to think about it I just had to keep moving. When I realized this was when we were getting ready to get onto the boat... the dock was moving and the boat was moving, but not together... the water was going onto the dock and I began to think "I'm not even going to make it to Freetown!" But my feet kept moving and before I knew it I was sitting in the boat with a life jacket on heading towards Freetown.
After a long journey we finally made it to the city where we met Osseh and Cari! Then we got in cars and drove through the city to the guest house! Below are some quick snaps I got of Freetown.
Selling candies.
This is a typical house in Freetown.
This is essentially where you buy things.
After arriving in Freetown we went to the guest house and got settled in. Sara met Musa for the first time! (This is the little boy her family sponsors, you can see a picture below) We had our first fabulous supper cooked by Auntie Marie. Sierra Leone style spaghetti! After that we went over to the orphanage, it's called The Covering, for evening prayers and worship. This was the first time we saw the kids and let me tell you were they happy to see you! I have never had so many kids hug me at once. These kids brought a whole new meaning to the words hug, pray, and love! I have never sweat so much in my entire life! All the kids are hugging you and the little ones want to be held and it was pitch black in one of the rooms so you had no idea who was around you. This was also the first time we all met sweet Lucy Loo! Below are some pictures from the evening!
Sara with Musa.
Jen with Lucy.
Evening worship...
Jen and Lucy again.
This was my first day in Africa... more to come soon!
