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Published: April 4th 2007
waiting at the airport
Here we are waiting at the airport terminal for some sort of answer to what is happening to us! Welcome to my adventures to Africa which are no short of excitement from the first plane to the day I got actually to Liberia on the Anastasis Mercy Ship. I must begin by telling you a bit about how African travel is here with my story of the layover. I left from London in the afternoon in hopes to be at Monrovia, Liberia where the ship is stationed at Freeport. Knowing that I would have a quick stopover in Freetown, Sierra Leone I decided to not worry too much. People get off the plane, people get on and we take off!
WELL, that is not the case that happened. We were told first that the passengers that were supposed to carry on would stay on the plane and wait, then all of a sudden we were told there were some "engine" problems so we would have to get off while they fixed the plane... okay... typical I was thinking... AFrica, nothing is reliable, so we waited.
As soon as I got off the plane, instantly my memories took me back. All the sites, sounds, smells, and instant stickiness I felt just flooded back memories of being in Ghana.
Waiting!
Matt, Leah and I (well I\'m taking the photo) sharing chocolate covered Almonds to pass the time! It was amazing and I knew at least I WAS definately in Africa... it was a really exciting moment for me as the realization actually hit me at the airport in Sierra Leone that I WAS IN AFRICA. My dream was reality.
There were a few missions groups from America and some independent people off to Liberia to do various mission type things. So, we chatted and shared our stories of why all us "whities" were going off to Liberia stuck in this same situation.
We were never really told anything, but someone heard from one of the flight attendants that we were boarding the plane at 10p.m. And, there was a couple visiting their daughter on the ship so they were in contact with their mobile to them at the airport in Monrovia that we were saying that we would not be leaving until the morning... great! spending the night at Freetown airport... my favorite thing to do!
But then 10p.m. rolls around and we see people bused over to the airplane boarding the plane... but not us... then I hear the plane start it's engines... then I see the plane take off... without us! I
Gettin on the helicopter!
This is us slowly loading on the helicopter for the first time. We were all a little unsure where it was taking us, but we just trusted that it would take us where it was supposed to. Apparently becuase of the location of Freetown to the airport, the only way to get there is by helicopter or taking a ferry which is more common I'm sure, due to the cost. The ferry would take about an hour... the helicopter.. about 5 minutes! guess what had happened is that they decided with the engine problem they had to skip the Monrovia stopover and just travel straight back up to London... so I Guess we would have to wait!
No one knew what was going on, next step... we were ushered to pick up our luggage... all there! Next we were told to make a choice to stay in a hotel close to the airport or go over to Freetown, Sierra Leone across the water to a hotel. Umm... well we decided for the Freetown route! At least I would get to see it!
We were then ushered on a bus and we drove about 500 feet to A HELICOPTER! THis helicopter flew us over to the landing pad in Freetown, where buses took us to this amazingly nice hotel called the Cape Sierra and we stayed with airconditioned rooms and breakfast for us the next morning... then we were bused back to the helicopter pad... flown back over to the airport, and where we waited for a 16 passenger charter plane to fly us to Monrovia, Liberia!!! THis charter flight had to make 3 trips all day back and forth to
Matt and I
My happy face that I am actually going to ride a helicopter in AFrica... not the best place to be riding them I'm sure.. but excited nontheless!! take all of us who were stranded!
It was really neat. and I know I should have been scared or worried, but I honestly really wasn't. I couldn't help it cause I was just so excited to see Freetown, and most of all to fly in a HELICOPTER.... hello!!!! how cool is that. I know that we were protected and I really got to meet some amazing people doing really noble mission work to make a difference for the Liberian people, so God was there! No doubt! I got to the ship in one piece and one heck of an explanation as to why I was not at the airport when I was supposed to!
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Rob and Sarah
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Glad to hear from you!
Melissa we are so glad to hear that you are okay and starting this amazing journey. We are even jealous about the helicopter ride! Keep us up to date on your journey. Love you!