Oh, Mondays

Here is a recap of Monday as Living Hope tried to get to camp with 90 children. Now, as you read this timeline remember that we saved R 5,000 (The equivalent of $35,000) and now have quite the story to tell so perhaps it was worth it. These events are all true and nothing mentioned is an exaggeration. It was just one of those days.

8 am: Arrive in Massai to leave for camp at 8:30.

9 am: Still chilling in Massai waiting to leave thinking, “This is Africa so an hour late isn’t that bad.”

9:30 am: Starting to wonder if and when the buses would ever arrive. By this point, had heard the buses were in Fish Hoek since 8:30 which is only 15 minutes away. Losing hope quickly.

10:30 am: Buses finally arrive in Massai to pick us up two hours late, but we are still thinking “This is Africa” so two hours isn’t awful.

11 am: Arrive in Capricorn to pick up more children. All are excited to be headed to camp only 2 hours late.

11:15 am: Buses are stopped. Not going anywhere. Questions start to be raised as to why we aren’t leaving.

11:30 am: Find out the Bus Drivers refuse to leave until they are paid even though Living Hope has paid the bus company.

11:45 am: Two LSEs drive to the house of the bus company’s owner to ask for the money to be given to drivers. To their dismay, the bus owner is not there.

12:15 pm: Starving children are on the buses quickly losing patience. Hand out the fruit hoping that will get them through the wait.

1 pm: Still no sign of bus owner with the payment. Children are starving. LSEs have lost all patience. We are all praying for a miracle at this point.

1:15 pm: Make children get back on bus because there is word that the bus owner is on his way! Feed the children some more and wait.

1:30 pm: Bus owner arrives with payment. We are ready to drive 3 hours to camp. Praise Him!

1:35 pm: Realize the battery does not work on one of the buses.

1:40 pm: Concern that one of the bus drivers has been drinking while waiting for the money.

1:50 pm: Finally on the road headed to camp. Ready for the 2 ½ hour journey. Now over 5 hours behind schedule.

3 pm: Our bus cannot go up hills. Literally is going 5 mph up the hills. Now mind you, almost the entire journey is uphill. We are being passed by runners and walkers on the side of the road!!

4 pm: Slowly getting closer…about an hour away.

4:15 pm: Girl gets sick on bus….lovely smell.

4:45 pm: Finally to Stanford which is close to camp. In Stanford word on the street is that we may be lost.

5:15 pm: Arrive at camp. 6 hours late. Throw up still on bus and bus driver does not clean it. Children are crazy and hungry. LSEs are delusional and exhausted after journey. But thankfully we arrive all in one piece. Let camp begin…

Hope you got a laugh from reading about our journey. It was quite the day. Camp itself was great, and I will blog more about thoughts on camp once I've caught up on sleep. :)