The Bus Ride

Well what a weekend it has been.  Friday, Big E and I left for Lilongwe, we had to make it there early because I had to submit my ballot to the US Embassy.

Along the way we saw lots of children walking and Big E was telling me that these children could not afford their school fees and were leaving school.  Since the devaluation of the currency, there has been great inflation and it is still going up, this is including school fees which is making it difficult for kids to go to school.


After the US Embassy we ran a few more errands and then went to Teresa's house.  We spent the whole weekend there.  Of course we had a list of things to do.

While there we had ordered more medicine from the pharmacy there because we are running health clinics this week.  So we went by on Saturday to pick it up but lo and behold they were not there, although they had told us they would be.  So not getting upset because we were used to this in Malawi, we continued on the rest of the day.

I went with Teresa in the afternoon to go buy food at the market and then go and see a house she was building.

That night I held a talent show with Teresa's four daughters and it was wonderful.  They performed all sorts of magic acts and plays and different songs.  I had brought some candy for them so I handed that out.

The next day Big E and I went and visited the sisters and had a long talk with them.  We then headed to see a fellow Nigerian priest and see what he was doing.  While being introduced Big E told them my name was Luke and there was a big Ahhhhhhhh so you are Luke.  I asked them what they meant by that and they said the Archbishop has visited them during the week and was talking about me.  So I am going to have to call up the Archbishop now.

After finishing there we went home and I ended up getting a bad case of allergies and spent the rest of the night in bed.  Although I did come out to split a beer with Big E.

The next morning we were up at 5 (Today) and Teresa took me to the bus station.  We got there and the next bus leaving for Mzuzu (Bowe is a stop on the way) was not until 11.  We told them forget it and went to another bus station.  Those buses left aonly to Blantyre in the South.  So we tried one more station and there was a bus going to Mzuzu at 8.  Perfect.

It was about 7 in the monring when we got there so we paid for the ticket and Teresa left me there and I just sat on the bus waiting.  Well as it turns out there are some very shady people that hang out at the bus station.  I wrote down in my journal the full length description of what I saw but to censor for everyone I saw a handicapped man get robbed, two guys start hitting each other and then one guy get mobbed by two guys ( I think he owed them moeny) or at least I figured that after they started hitting him.

So I was glad wehn the bust left an hour later and we were on our way.  I sat at the front which turned out I think to be the best seat because nobody was standing next to me.

The total trip took 2:37 which was not too bad.

I am not back in Bowe and have prepared all the medicine to be taken out tomorrow.  Big E is returning from the airport as I type this with the 4 Texans and we begin our trip tomorrow.

On reflecting back on this weekend I realize how much of an effort it is to raise 4 girls.  I was there for 2 days and they wore me out.  So I commend and congratulate all the parents out there for what they have done.