"Thanks" Giving dinner.....

I have to brag on the most awesome people I've ever had the good fortune to be mixed up with...

We are taken to our clinical site by MAF who are, by far, the best group of people I've been blessed to run across.

There I was...stranded in the middle of a 3rd world country....during the most coveted gluttonous holiday in the US. No ride, no family, nothing....Out of nowhere, my buddy John (one of MAF's pilots and our IT specialist) asked if Max and I would like to come over and have Thanksgiving with them. Without sounding too desperate and excited at the prospect of having my first real meal in a month, I happily accepted.

Without going too in depth, it was about one of the best times I've ever had. We had about 40 people (adults and kids) and more food than I'd seen in a long time. I was so maladjusted to eating that I was almost full after the appetizers. By the end of it, I was pretty sure I had done some internal damage, but it was soooo worth it.

Afterward, we went back to Johns and hung out, watched movies, played guitar, swapped pictures, and had some really great conversations.

Again, be breadth and depth of the generosity of all the folks at MAF (especially John and Marilyn) was endless, and I am truly grateful. Much like my family's move from Alaska, more often than not, the best times were had due to the unceasing kindness of our friends and family.

As I have said before, the doors are always open at our house if you find yourself weary of traveling and in need of a reprieve.

Exodus

We had a truck...they told me they had seen it, it was running...I saw it. Then I got that feeling. Like something wasn't right. Like I'd been in the Congo too long to take anything for granted. I told my interpreter to go check on the truck. He protested. I told him to go check anyway.

An hour later he returned to tell me that not only was the primary truck broken beyond repair (FUBAR) but the Bishop's private vehicle (which we reserved as back up) was no where to be found. 30 minutes before the plane was supposed to land, we decided to cut our losses.

Max and I gathered all our personal belongings and tethered them to the back of the 100cc Yamaha motos and made for the airstrip. Imagine this if you will...

2 white guys....driving through droves of congolese as school let out....with the back of the bikes loaded with bags and guitars and cases.....taking a 30 minutes exceptionally slow trip to meet the incoming plane.

Needless to say we were not low profile.

We met our replacements with the bad news. In fact, it was so bad, that they thought it was a joke. Sad to say, when reality hit, no one was laughing. With over a dozen boxes, 2 people, personal bags, and assorted items, there was no humor to be had....

I reflected on that as the plane lifted off....so sad...I cried a little inside...ok, maybe not, I was out of there....and it was sweet.......