Blog 25 28/09
If you have yet to hear, I am home.
After 36 hours, 3 blessed flights and a wonderful day in
Brussels I arrived in Cape Town on Monday morning.
My disembarkation from the M/V Africa Mercy was brought
forward on Saturday due to extra security measures needing to be taken,
resulting from the political strikes happening in Conakry. There was a chance
that the other Mercy Shippers on the same flight and I would not be able to
reach the airport as a result of these.
After much prayer and planning we were blessed with a smooth
and secure airport run. Once there though, I was shocked with the realisation
that I was lacking the Visa exemption. Unlike
the other people in the group I was with, I was the only one to have not flown
into Conakry and was therefore not emailed this important document. The first
man was most unhelpful and would not try and help me, simply sending me away.
Praying a lot I passed this man to another lady who had just
opened a booth. After some time she allowed me through, relieving my acute
stress.
From Conakry we flew to Banjul- The Gambia- to allow
passengers of and receive more before departing for Brussels. Arriving early in
the Belgian capital, I met a good family friend, Laurent. We went to the
apartment he was staying in, ate and went to a large market with the best looking
produce I have ever seen!
We then dropped his friend at the train station and
walked around the richly historical and cultural areas of Brussels, seeing
Cathedrals, quaint streets, the famous Mannekin Pis and many state buildings. After
much walking on the cold Sunday morning, we went for mussels. Laurent had
always told me about ‘The mussels from Brussels’. They certainly were
delicious!
He then dropped me at the airport where I caught my light to
London. From there it was a hurried passage through the large terminal five to
my gate where I was one of the last to embark.
The Lord put a wonderful man in the seat next to me (or me
next to him!) and we chatted at length about Mercy Ships and the functioning of
such a religious organisation. He really helped me to digest some of the
experiences of the last 8 months.
Having my bag checked twice (and passing the check both
times!), I met my family at 8 am. I was very glad to have my Grandma and Betty
there as well.
The Lord filled my flights with safety, comfort and good
company. My bags met me in Cape Town and nought was amiss!
Now for the last days aboard Africa Mercy.
As the baker was taking leave, I volunteered to make breakfast
and bake in my last week. This meant rising at 3am in order to prepare porridge,
boiled eggs and French toast/crumpets/pancakes/cheese scones/biscuits for the
crew. I sincerely enjoyed this different experience of the galley. With Zamani,
a day worker experienced in the bakery, we would bake about 80 loaves of bread
and then by lunch I would be finished, giving me time to sleep or complete the
things that needed to be before I left. It also meant I had the evenings off to
go to talks or socialise.
I hosted a small, 3 course dinner for friends a few days
before leaving. We had salad with a Dijon dressing, prawn curry over cinnamon rice
and chocolate coffee cake with cookie-dough-ice-cream. I was blessed with
unexpected speeches and a few tears.
We also had a pizza and games night and cinnamon roll
breakfast. The last days were very relaxing and pleasant.
Again, thank you for reading this year. Thank you for
praying and supporting me. If you would like to meet up to chat about my
experiences or email me, please do.
Now I will be working as a waiter at the Cavendish branch of
the Food Lovers Market and helping around the house. I must also confirm my
studies with UCT in the coming days.
This Upside Down Pineapple Cake was on the menu the first night I arrived on the ship. It looked delicious but I was sick. The chef promised to make it before me before I left- she left it to my last night aboard :)
Love Ben
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