The adventures of Libby, Beth and Brad on when we didn't make the flight in South Africa

This was the worst trip I have ever been on.  Long layovers, no leg room, missed flights and lost luggage.  Long bus rides on hard and broken seats.  22 people in a mini van (Toyota Hiace) and roads that get worse the farther you go.

Wait, let me look at it another way.

This is the best trip I have ever been on.  It has taught me to rely on God and prayer, need other people to help me when I can do nothing about the situation I am in.  Trust in people to get me to the places I need to be, even if I don’t know where that is.

Like Andrew from South Africa airlines. He got us a very nice room the night we didn’t get on the flight to Malawi.  He gave us 3 meals, which was more then we could have asked for. He didn’t get us in the VIP lounge, but we didn’t need it.  Then there is Lawrence also from South Africa airlines in Lilongwe.  Andrew called him the night before or that morning and asked him to get us to Blantyre.  Well there is only one flight to Lilongwe by SAA that day.  So after the flight landed we found him and he told us to go sit and he will be with us.  After some time we were wondering if he forgot about us.  So I asked again and he said he had to close the office then could bring us to the place where the bus picks up people.  And he did, in his personal car. He got us to where we needed to be in just the right time, not our time.  After getting us a bus ticket I asked him about getting a sim card for my cell phone so I could call Will and Pam and keep them up to date.  So we asked the people at the bus counter and they said at the ``super market``, so he brought us there which was a short walk from the bus counter.   We go to the front and ask the man in charge, smoking a cigarette and playing cards, he said no we have to go to 7-eleven down the road.  So we all get back in Lawrence’s car and to 7-eleven we go.  Then at 7-eleven we go in to get a sim and I meet two people I don’t know and buy a sim card and prepaid minutes.   I said I only have US $, he laughed and said it comes to about $1.  I said I have a 10 dollar bill.  He shook his head yes and gave me a 5 dollar bill back.  Then Lawrence brought us back to the bus stop, I thanked him for the help and wished him a good day.  We then looked at each other and looked back at the super market and said we need water and snacks.  We went back in and talked to the man in charge playing cards and smoking again and said we need to buy some water and food.  But we only have US dollars and South African Rands.  He said he can`t exchange them but would do it on the ``down low`` for us.  I pulled out some Rands and he typed in the calculator and showed me.  I agreed and he gave me the kwacha.  We smiled and went our ways.  No we were not in a back alley, just in the front of the store.  So we bought our water and snacks and waited for the bus.

Then there was the bus ride to Blantyre. My seat was broken and was leaned back the whole time.  Well the person behind me didn’t have much room but didn’t mind or get mad.  Then there is Mary. She has been in Malawi for about 2 years now.  She was there to meet us when the bus arrived in Blantyre.  I saw her and she saw me and we said each others name at the same time.  But there was 20 + people between us but we knew like we were standing next to each other.  She took Libby, Beth, and me to the house in Blantyre to get some rest. She offered to cook for us, but we just needed some rest, so she just put us to bed and said see you in the morning.  I don’t remember when a two inch mattress felt so good. This was only around 10 pm.  I had woken about 1 AM that morning and couldn’t get back to sleep.  Then the mini “bus” ride down to Bangula in the morning.  Mary had dropped us off where the mini bus’s load up.  We meet Macnever and he was our escort to TMC.  He got us on a bus, but then someone decided that is not the right one so we change.  Then we are off and about a mile now the road we have to get gas.  But they don’t pull up to the pump, then get out and bring some 1 gallon jugs and fill them with gas, then put that in the van.  But we are on the way again.  

On the van/buses there is the driver and the money man.  So instead of getting the money when you get in, they ask for it when they are going down the road.  Mary had give us money for the ride down which I gave to Macnever . He paid for us, and the money man had asked the next lady on the bus with 4 children, and they were not talking our language but I could tell something was wrong.  Getting mad and getting worried are the same in all languages.  I leaned over to Macnever and said if this lady is short of money I can pay for her.  He shook his head yes and I got out some money.  He said 500 and just like that I was able to help someone I didn’t know and maybe will never see again on this side of Heaven. She thanked me and got out a tearful God Bless you and I said God Bless you back also tearing up. Remember back to the store and the Angel that was smoking and playing cards who exchanged money for us, this is why we had the money in the first place.   I was hoping to talk to her when we got off but she got off at a stop we didn’t. After about 2 hours with stops here and there to let people off and get more people on.  We made a stop by a market.  They moved our van to the front of the line to get people in and they did.  At that point we had 22 in the van.  But away we went.   After about another hour we stopped by another market and they turn off the van and said we have to get in another van to continue the trip to Bangula, so we change again. And I only counted 18 now.  But a little way down the road we get ``pulled over`` because we have 4 in each row and should only have 3 per row.  They pay the fine and are on our way again. After about 3 and a half hours we were where we had to get out.  And if felt good to walk again.  We had about a half mile walk to the gate of TMC.  But our journey was over for today.  We arrive just after lunch but they had some for us. It tasted good and the cold water to drink hit the spot.  We had some smiles with the people in the vans we were in and once again had to rely on someone else to get to where we needed to be even it we didn’t know where it was.

Brad (Beth and Libby)