October 11th 10:53 (UTC +1:00)

Hey, getting to freetown was crazy. I had to fly for what felt like forever. First to Brussels which was eh, I didn't do anything there because I had no Euros so I couldn't get food, really glad for those snacks. So I pretty much went right to my gate. The Brussels airport sucked because they didn't offer free internet or anything like that. I was hoping to write a few letters and stuff but I didn't bother since I couldn't send them. After brussels my flight had to stop in a place called Dakar in Africa. That was about a five hour flight. Then a little more than an hour to freetown. Once in Freetown things didn't get much better. I got off the plane and it took so long to get my lugagge I was sure I lost it. It finally came out and the guy from the airport helping me led me out to the pelican taxi, then he took me off into a side room, asked for the ticket money, then a 20 dollar tip, then he said he needed one for himself, so I gave him 10 because I was just overwhelmed and a bit scared. So I'm starting out $30 I hadn't expected to use. Anyway, I had to wait forever to get on the water taxi but once I got on that was scary too, the water wash very choppy and the boat kept bouncing up and slamming down, I thought for sure we were gonna sink. But we made it, I met Dr. Asher and then we proceeded to wait another two hours because we thought there was a family coming, two doctors with two kids sadly 8 and 10 so not really good friend material. They never came and here they had other arrangements. So we left and stayed at a place in freetown for the night, I didn't have to pay at least, which wouldn't have mattered cause the place we stayed was only 10,000 Leones, or 2.50 for the night. I'm having some trouble with sticker shock when I see something marked 36,000 leones I keep forgetting thats only like nine dollars. Anyway, so we set out in the morning for Kamakwie. The road to Makeni wasn't bad, it's paved and so we made good time. When we got to Makeni we did some grocery shopping, I didn't get anything that I feel like snacking on because my stomach is in a foul mood with all this stress. Anyway, then we ate at this place, chicken in fries. It was good but spicy so my mouth hurt. From there we headed to Kamakwie, which was the worst part of the ride. It took forever to get here because the road is dirt and has so many ruts and trenches we had to slow down a lot and all the bouncing gave me a killer headache. I haven't had a headache since arriving which is good, though it's only been three days. It's crazy here, the hospital is a big campus with several houses, I'm staying at the doctors at least for now instead of my own place because I couldn't take it, being alone and in the dark is what triggered my panic attack on Saturday evening, which was my first night here. I got to see the village some which was interesting. It's very poor, everything built of wood and mud brick. I got to see the house of the former president, the one in power before the war. They never finished building it which is sad because I think it could have really been nice, instead it's pretty much a dump. Anyway, thats about all I have for now.
By His grace
Ryan Brooks