You know you're on an African road-trip when…
-The trip begins about 2 ½ hours later than expected.
-In order to cross a bridge, all the passengers must exit the vehicle and walk across while others manually adjust the width of the bridge to accommodate the vehicle.
-You stop for a bathroom break and find yourself either behind a bush or in a complete stranger's backyard bathroom.
-All the local animals wander into the road resulting in a dead chicken, a squashed cat and a bruised cow.
-You stop a couple times to allow the driver to perform much needed repairs on the vehicle that conjure up memories of MacGyver episodes.
-You drive through a giant spider web that spans the entire road and half the passengers spend at least 10 or 15 minutes frantically looking for and trying to kill the spider that is now in the vehicle.
-You stop in a town, in the middle of nowhere, and a half-drunk local official check s your passport by shining a flashlight in your face to match your face to the photo.
-A 150 mile road-trip takes 11 ½ hours.
* The above is based on actual events experienced on July 28th by Sam and Sarah Snyder. To those who are wondering, they arrived safely with all their baggage.
Loved reading this! Thanks for the update
ReplyDeleteIt sounds like you guys made it safely to the Center! Praise the Lord. We already miss you. :(
ReplyDeleteSounds like a crazy adventure! All I could think though was: did you find the spider?
ReplyDeleteWhat an experience! I can only imagine how crazy that must have felt and what a long trip! So glad you are there and we'll be praying!
ReplyDeleteYeah...Did you find the spider or is it still in one of your suitcases? I think I don't really miss those road trips!
ReplyDeleteHa! Hilarious. Bumpy. Don't forget very very bumpy! :)
ReplyDeleteWow! Your blog today shed some interesting insights into what it is like traveling in another country. Your spider web story made me smile. We are praying for you and remember fondly our week together in MN when you did your training!
ReplyDeleteKathy Mann, for the Mann Clan
That's funny. And sobering at the same time. We are so glad you guys made it safe. We will definitely be praying for you. Thanks for remembering to add us to the list.
ReplyDeleteSue and mark
So glad to get the good news of your safe arrival. Thinking about a spider loose in your vehicle gives me the shivers. On a trip to the Dominican Republic we had a similar experience of having to get off the bus to cross the bridge on foot. We were told that just in case the bridge collapsed only the bus and driver would be lost. Oh my!
ReplyDeleteSam & Sarah, What an adventure traveling in Congo is. So thankful you arrived safely. Looking forward to reading and seeing more blog posts from you.
ReplyDeleteSam & Sarah, traveling on the Congo roads is quite the adventure! So glad you made it safely. Praying for you and the Larsens as you reconnect with the dear Congolese sisters & brothers. Looking forward to hearing and seeing more from your blog. God bless,
ReplyDeleteSo glad to know you made it safely. God bless you guys!
ReplyDeleteThat's hilarious! (Reading it, that is. I can imagine living it would be another thing altogether.) My patience would have been wearing thin...
ReplyDeleteThanks for the update.
That brought back memories!!! Tell Rachel Hi from us!
ReplyDeleteThe Reynolds
Oh the local "officials!"
ReplyDeleteHappy to hear ya'll made it safely and I hope the first few weeks of getting back into things there, goes well!