Ben Abroad: Run across Togo!

Yesterday morning a few teams attempted to run across Togo. The width of the country is only 53km wide so in a relay is was definitely do-able. We left in a convoy at 5 am and arrived at the Benin border at 6. After a few photos and many stares from locals, the first stint runners were away. I ran the second 5km in a sub 25minutes- my target. It was nice to get it over with and then relax in the back of the Landrover. We played music into a portable speaker and then put that to a megaphone, allowing the team member running to hear songs pumping out of the open back door of the car! It was such good fun, moving at about 12km/h. To make up a few extra kilometres and to encourage Justin who was running 15km in mid morning heat, I got back on the road for another 6km and felt privileged to be the one to arrive at the Seamen’s centre where some ship supporters were. From there, two other team mates shared the last 8km to Ghana. The remainder of us then got a lift to the border and waited for other runners and cyclists to come in.

One marathon-running crew member, Jeroen, ran the entire distance. The national guard- Gendarmerie- was at the border when we began ended up stopping traffic for Jeroen and preceding him on big BMW motorbikes so that he had a fluid run. I spoke to him this morning and he did not support this as the locals were inconvenienced. A humble man.

We also invited the navy to have a team run it. They ran 5km each at a speed of 18km/h. Very impressive. They finished before us by an hour or so.

After that I went to Coco beach with the South African family. The current in West African beaches is very strong with rip tides so most are not safe to swim in. This beach has a road turned breaker due to the building of a harbour that lead currents to push the sea beyond the existing road. So here I could swim J it was very salty and I was rather hungry so I didn’t stay in long.

Last night a friend Justin played guitar and sang for us. He is excellent at Mumford and Sons and even performed a song that has not been released yet! It was a welcomed relaxing evening listening to him.

Otherwise I have spent my time off on my Stellenbosch university application and other odds and ends. On Friday night three of us went to the nearby German restaurant for a snack and to enquire about the deep-sea fishing that they runJ we are hopefully going in two weeks time.

Every afternoon the patients are taken to deck 7 where the elderly relax and the young cycle up and down unceasingly. Moukaela, who has been here over a month now, and I went to the other, quieter side of the ship where we played soccer in the net. When he tired of that he went up and down the slide about 20 times. He is such a gracious child. Last week when I was in the ward he made play dough cell phones and then gave one to me and called it. It was so sweet. Please pray for his healing! He needs to be healed enough to attend school without dribbling on his books, which is due to his lack of a lower lip.

I also went to my second ward service this morning. It was packed and lively as usual and Moukaela was in high spirits, it was wonderful to see. The day workers lead it so it has a nice African flair. Afterwards we were jiving to “Oh When the Saints”.

Later I will cook some fresh beetroots I found at the market yesterday and also continue my applications… UCT’s opened today!

Love benjamin