Midnight Trek! Our welcome to Sierra Leone!
There is nothing quite like stepping off the plane into the humid muggy air of West Africa! Even at 11:00pm the sticky and humid night air made us begin to sweat instantly. The rain was a very refreshing and welcome relief as we loaded our bags into the small bus. The sights, sounds, and smells as we made our way to the ferry and across to Freetown brought back memories of my first and only visit to Sierra Leone! The highly anticipated day was finally here. I am back in Africa!
It was all very much the same, familiar and yet new all at once! Nationals ready to help with our bags to receive a tip, cool refreshing rain, sounds of horns and shouts of people passing by, the darkness of the night made more pronounced by the limited electricity throughout the city. Our senses were on high alert as we made the midnight trek to the Orphanage!
The rainy season, which is now coming to a close had washed out allot of the already rut filled road leading to the Lords Mission Church and the Girls dorm at the Wellington Orphanage. As we came to a stop out front of the dorm and unloaded, all children were just as excited by our arrival as we all were. They greeted us with big hugs, exchanged names, and took our bags. Helping us as we climbed the remaining 400 yards of un-drivable road up the hill to the boys housing of the Wellington Orphanage and our home for the next 10 days!!!
Our American Part of the team before heading to the Newark Airport and Final Destination Sierra Leon!
Rose Finley
.jpg)