January 11th
Morning came really quick today (guess that’s what happens
when you stay up till 4 am). I got up at 7 because I wanted to
be able to spend some more time with George. He had to
clean the place first so I waited and then it was time for
breakfast so I had to wait till that was over. We talked for a little
bit but we didn’t have a whole lot of time because we had to
leave by 10:30 to get the group to the marina in time for them
to make their boat. We traded phone numbers (though I think
considering his financial situation that I’ll be doing the calling)
and then he helped me carry my stuff to the car to load it in. I
learned to be prepared as a boy scout but not to pack efficiently
so I can never pack lightly. Rueben came along as well. I’m
gonna miss him too, he’s a good kid and I hope that things get
better for him but I don’t know how likely that is. We left just
before 10:30 and as we were pulling out we drove past a man
we had been waiting for (he was bringing one of the guests
some soccer jerseys). As we were driving by we recognized him
and all started almost yelling at our driver, Sheku, to stop the
car. We got the jerseys and then continued on our way. It was a
good thing we left early (they didn’t have to be at the dock until
1) because we sat forever in traffic that wound off into the
distance in front and behind us. It was ok though because I
wasn’t quite ready for them to leave. The nurses already left
and I was quite sad about that because they were very nice.
While we were in the car we had a little impromptu worship
session. One of them was talking about the Newsboys song He
Reigns but they could remember the words so I pulled out my
computer and played it for them, and then proceeded to play
everyone’s favorite worship songs (the ones I had at least). We
did manage to arrive at the dock at about 12:30 so we actually
managed to make pretty good time considering the length of
time spent sitting in traffic. If we had been a little later it would
have been ok because though they were supposed to be there
by 1 that’s an hour before the boat leaves they just want them
there early. We got our last photos and said our goodbyes
before Tom, Karen, Steven and I set off to go do some errands.
We spent the afternoon weaving through traffic to various
grocery stores trying to replenish the foods that we had gone
through feeding 24 people for almost two weeks. It took quite a
while we set out at 1:30 and weren’t done until a little after 5.
We didn’t spend much time in the stores; the traffic in the city
is just bad. One thing I took note of is that when I get home it
will be strange not seeing mobile junk piles on the streets. Some
of the cars people drive here would have been made into scrap
at least a good 10 years ago. I know I’ve been in Freetown but I
never really thought about that. I think with all the people
leaving it kind of made me think about America. Not that I want
to go home any time soon, I love the people here and the place
itself isn’t too bad either. After we finished out shopping (and
got some more glasses from an English eye doctor who
practices here) we set out for a hotel outside Freetown called
the Compañero Hotel which is located in a place called Rokel.
Karen said they had never been there before. In fact it’s not
even all finished but they’ve started taking guests. That’s one
thing about projects here, they don’t get the money and build,
they build as they get the money. I met the owner, his name is
Emmanuel Sesay. He was a really nice guy and I spent several
hours talking with him about the hotel and his time in America
and other things. He went to America with most of his family
when he was 10 or 11. He attended school there and worked
there for some years until he was about 23, then 5 years ago
he returned to Sierra Leone since his father was here and he
felt that he wanted to do some part to help his own country.
When I asked why his father had stayed here he told me it was
because he was a policeman, in fact he’s the third highest
ranked police officer in the country. He started the hotel when
he got here 5 years ago and has been building it as he has had
the money. Last year in the fall (not really any fall here but fall
time at home) he had a group of engineers come and he had 30
people stay at his hotel for 3 months straight. He has used that
money to complete a good portion of his hotel. He almost has
three stories finished and once that’s done he plans on adding
one more floor with a meeting room and some other things.
But it’s getting pretty late, and I’ve babbled on for long enough
so I’m going to call it a night.

Blessings from Rokel
Ryan Brooks