Monday, Nov 25.
We’ll, I made it back to Lexington. This last post will give
you an update on my travels from Ganta back to the US.
I left Ganta at 7:45 am on Saturday morning. Fannia Freeman
and Madison, my driver and owner of the vehicle I rented for the week, headed
off to Monrovia and the airport. I was really dreading the trip back to
Monrovia because of the terrible road. I sort of forgot how bad it really is
but within just a few minutes after leaving the city limits of Ganta I was
reminded when we hit a big pothole and I felt a really sharp pain in my back.
The trip back to Monrovia was long and bumpy but was
uneventful. I decided not to concentrate on the road so much and to look at the
scenery and the villages that we would pass. I saw lots of pigs, goats,
chickens, and dogs. I also saw a squirrel cross the road. Fannia said that they
do not have many squirrels in Liberia. I even saw a mother duck with 5 or 6
little ducklings that were right along the side of the road. Most of all, I
noticed the poor living conditions that most of the people have. I noticed for
the first time several places where it appeared that families had built what I
would call a lean-to (made of several wooden poles and palm leaves) beside the
highway and were living in them. I also saw lots of children that were out
playing, carrying baskets full of bananas and other produce, and carrying water
cans.
Saturday is obviously a busy day in Liberia. People get up
very early and go to the market to shop and to sell and trade their goods. At
various places along the road, we would encounter large groups of people
walking and carrying various items (mostly on their head) on their way to the
market. We also saw lots of people washing their clothes, cars, and motorcycles
in nearly every river or stream that we would cross. Every five or ten miles we
would come to a village that had what I would call a “flea market” area where
people would be selling all kinds of food, clothes, and other items.
When we first left Ganta, the road was not very crowded with
cars and trucks. Mostly what we saw were lots of people walking along the sides
of the road. But, the later it got and the closer we came to Monrovia the more
cars, big trucks, and motorcycles were on the highway. By 10 am or so, it was
flat out dangerous! Because the road is so bad, everybody drives on whichever
side of the road has the least number of potholes. It was crazy! Not only do
you have to dodge the potholes but you also have to watch out for people that
are driving on YOUR side of road and won’t get over. It is sort of like the
survival of the fittest out there. I
thought several times that our driver was going to have to go into a ditch to
miss being hit by someone on our side of the road!
At 2 pm, we finally pulled into the Monrovia airport. I was
really, really glad and thankful to have made the trip safely once more. Thank
you God! It took us a few minutes to locate the terminal building and find
exactly where I needed to check in for my flight. I did not leave until 8:50 pm
and was told that I could not check in until 5 pm and could not wait in the
terminal building. So, Fannia and Madison took me to the airport restaurant
that was only about 50 or so yards away so that I could get some lunch and wait
there until I could check in. We said our goodbyes and they got back into the
vehicle and left for Ganta.
While waiting at the restaurant, I ate a club sandwich and
drank a Sprite, then spent some time reading. At about 4 pm, I looked out the
window of the restaurant and noticed a huge storm cloud heading directly for
the airport. I decided to go to the terminal building and find a place where I
could wait outside the building but we out of the rain. I’m glad that I made
that decision because about 15 minutes after I walked back over (with my
luggage in tow) to the terminal building it started to pour the rain and did
not stop for several hours. At 5 pm they opened the doors to terminal and I
checked in, got my boarding pass, went through customs and the security
station, and found a seat at the gate (one gate) to wait on the flight.
We started boarding the plane a little after 8 pm and
departed right on schedule. It was a good flight to Paris and I was able to
sleep most of the way. We landed in Paris at 6:45 am and I would have to wait
for several hours since the flight to Cincinnati did not leave until 10:55 am.
After I got off the plane, I had to once again go through security. Once I did
that, I got on the tramway and rode to the terminal and to find my gate for the
next flight. This terminal must have been recently remodeled. It was very
beautiful and appealing (and must have cost a fortune!). It had lots of shops,
newsstands, restaurants, and plenty of places for people to relax and enjoy
themselves. I noticed that nearly every other seat or bench had places where
you could recharge the batteries for your laptop or cell phone. I found the
Starbucks and got a cup of coffee and headed to my gate to wait.
At about 10 am, they came on the intercom to announce that
flight to Cincinnati would now start boarding. So, I texted Michelle to let her
know that I was on the final leg of my trip and to give her a heads up on when
to pick me up, then I boarded the plane.
This last flight was pretty good. I was very tired and after
the bumpy road from Ganta and the first flight, my back was killing me!! The
plane arrived at the Cincinnati airport at about 1:45 pm, which was 45 minutes
early! I got off the plane and had to go through customs. This took me about 30
minutes, so I was ready to go by 2:15 pm. I had told Michelle to pick me up at
around 3 pm. So, I had to wait a few minutes for her to arrive and pick me up.
Michelle, fortunately, was a little early and arrived at 2:45 pm and we were
off to Lexington. We arrived at the house at a few minutes past 4 pm. My trip
is now complete and now back home! Thank you Lord for your blessings!!
I’m grateful to be back home. It is true, there is no place
like home but I already miss the folks back in Liberia. They are truly some of
the most loving and generous people that I’ve ever met and I’m looking forward
to going back again next year. But mostly, I’m looking forward to seeing what
fruit will grow from the seeds that have been planted there.
Thanks for your prayers and support. I am forever grateful.
Blessings!
Fred
