Wednesday, October 22, 2008

Trip to Guinea, escorting Pa Barrie Widow (Day 1)





Travels to/from Guinea: by James Mansaray, Freetown:

Writing this makes little sense for it's the worst and best trip that I had ever made. Worst in the sense because the roads are very bad, risky to travel on, broken bridges, hostile check point's guards on the Guinean side, passengers jammed packed like sardines together with goods and most of all spending ten hours in what supposed to be two hours.

Best trip on the other hand, for it brought us (NHA) and Pa Barrie's family much closer --seeing us all as one family. This does contribute to the work of NHA here in Sierra Leone and beyond taking peace in the midst of turmoil through prayers and love. Not counting the warm welcome and appreciation I got from this people when we got there.

My pity was for the old Mama Marianna (Pa Barrie's widow) who was struggling to handle the pain of her husband's death and the struggles to get there. Climbing up and down whenever we get to a bad point on the road. Sometimes, the driver's apprentice would have to go stand into the huge pool of water to make sure it is safe to drive on. Can you imagine doing all this at night? She could not say a word till we make it to Kambia town the following morning, where she asked for water. There was pain and fear all over my body on the first day.

(to be continued next post...)