Day One in Bangui

The Team doing the Paris thing

Thanks for all of the prayers for the luggage to be ticketed all the way through to Bangui. It would not have been fun to have to pick up all of the trunks in Paris. But, the gal at the United desk in Cleveland happily checked on getting them checked all the way to Bangui. She questioned her superior on the ability to do this since we had such a long layover, but since our flight to Bangui was the first, (and only I may add) she could do it. It was so easy. I didn’t have to beg, plead and cry, as I was prepared to do just in case. God answered those prayers!

We had a good flight to Paris where we found the Ibis Hotel, were able to check in by the hour, drop our carry-on’s, freshen up and head into the city. The subway is fun to navigate (ok not really). Once you learn that arrows pointing up actually mean you go down and arrows pointing down mean to go up, it gets better. We did retrace our steps a few times to get on the correct tram. We saw all that the team had requested. Heidi wanted to see Notre Dame. The architecture was amazing. Everyone wanted to see the Eiffel Tower, so that was our next stop after lunch at our favorite cafe. Then Barb and Heidi requested the Arc de Triumph, so we stopped there. We finished the day off with Zac’s request to see the big Golden Arches and have some real FRENCH fries. Then it was back to the hotel to check out and grab our stuff and head to the airport.

While waiting at the gate, we were able to practice our Sango. Some of the Africans returning home on the same flight surely wandered way three women and a child were on their flight. This gave us an opportunity to strike up a conversation. There was one man named Israel who approached us and spoke to us. I asked him if he knew about ICDI (in Sango, I am so excited) and he did. Then Zac said, “Nzapa aye ti mu na mo matabisi ti fini ti lakwe lakwe.” Which means, “God wants to give all men eternal life.” Israel was impressed Zac also knew some Sango. He stopped back a few more times before boarding to talk to Zac. He didn’t speak much English, but it was fun to watch the interaction.

Our flight down was good as well. Zac had a cold before leaving and experienced great discomfort when we descended on both flights. After a little rest this morning though, he is doing better.

We had a great breakfast after greeting many old friends at ICDI and meeting new ones. Maurice is our guest house director and team organizer, so we had a meeting with him after breakfast to go over the schedule. A highlight of the trip will be Saturday when we will host all of the children sponsored by our church for a time of games and lunch. We will present gifts to each child, many sent by their sponsors, and create a display with their handprints similar to the one made by our orphans at Grace Place.

Today yet, we will be helping with an English lesson and possibly taking a tour of Bangui. Ok, I just went into our room and all three of them are sleeping. I am fighting the urge to do the same fearing that I will not sleep tonight. Perhaps the tour may wait for another day.

Thanks for all of the prayers!!!

Jeana Harley