The plane ride was long and as always uncomfortable, because of the time change it actually took 2 days to get here. Eating nothing but airplane meals for 2 days is not a pleasant experience. Shawn and I are the only team members that are flying together, the other 3 are already there. We landed for the first time after an 8 hour flight in Rome and quickly realized that it was just a fuel stop and would not be aloud to exit the plane. We then took off for the next 6 hour leg of the journey to Addis ababa. When we landed we were able to get off the plane just long enough to get to the new gate, go through security once again and followed the voices saying Lusaka Lusaka to the gate we were told. A mere 5 hours later we landed and felt so great that we were done with flying till we head back home. We got to customs and had to pay $30s each for our work visas, which is 20 less than we thought it would be. After paying and getting our passports stamped…suddenly realizing that we are in Zimbabwe (an entirely different country) We frantically thought back to figure out how we could have ended up on the wrong airplane! We told the people at customs and they called for someone to come and help us out…they said there was no other flights out this day. Shortly a couple of security people came down and said that they had been looking for us… apparently we were supposed to stay on the plane that was then continuing on to Zambia. Luckily they had held the plane for us and quickly got us back to the gate. We did not get a refund for our visas…so we like to think of it as our contribution to Zimbabwe. We got back on our plane and took off on a short 1 hour flight to Zambia. Once we arrived we paid 50 each for our work visas, grabbed our luggage from baggage claims and were picked up by Troy, a missionary here in Lusaka and he took us to the Mission house we would be staying at. As we were leaving the airports it was strange to see men and women of the military holding fully automatic assault rifles like they were toys, I have a feeling this will be a common site here. It is dry and warm, and just like any movie you’ve ever seen based in africa! As we drive down the wrong side of the road it is incredibly diverse from house to what I can only describe as garbage piles made into homes. People on bicycles, walking, driving, women with big baskets on top of their heads and angry africans honking at each other because a car accident is apparently time for some to stop get out and talk in large communites about. Kids on the sides of the road play football (soccer) with balls they’ve made themselves out of grocery bags, they are actually pretty great soccer balls. We get to the mission house which is set inside of a fenced/brick wall, as are most building around here. I have my own room with a twin bed and a big mosquito netting wrapped around it. I do have internet access, but it is quite slow…at times worse than dial up. I met the rest of the team, Matt, Jessie, and Ethan. We went out to the local grocery store and stocked up on bottled water and some snacks. The people here stare, I’m not sure if it’s because I’m white, or because of the camera around my neck. The guys look like they are angry, but I’m not sure if that’s what it is or not. We got back to the mission house and started a meeting about the next 8 days. I suddenly realized how incredibly tired I was and couldn’t stop nodding off. I was trying everything I could to keep my eyes open, but I didn’t get much sleep on the planes so it was definitely time for bed. Good night! Goto the photos page to see pictures from the trip to Africa.
Tags: Africa, Italy, Lusaka, Rome, Sincera, Zambia, Zimbabwe