One of my local friends, Daniel, brought us to his church today. We took a ferry plus two vehicle rides for almost three hours to Lungi. We had eleven people tightly squeezed in an eight person van driving on potholed roads. I wish I can post photos and videos.
The service was another three hours long with nice contemporary, gospel music. It was quite the African church experience, very different from the church in Pede, Benin. This one is Pentecostal and we could not tell if the pastor was trying to cast out demons or call upon the Holy Spirit. His quick English was in a heavy accent. The offering collection seemed to happen twice..? Something I should inquire from Daniel.
The pastor and wife graciously prepared us an African meal consisting of plantain, fried chicken and couscous. It was a dream come true as I've always wanted to visit a local home.
Just as everything here takes longer to do than usual, we missed our 2pm ferry ride and decided to take a water taxi. The taxi drivers and Daniel quarrelled as they wanted to give us the "white man's price" which is double what the locals pay - except that I'm the only non-white. It was considered an insult to Daniel. Anyway we made it to these water taxis which are small motorized wooden boats. An African man came and carried each of us by his arms so we did not touch the water, lol. We were thrown with life jackets (thank God!) and off we went! The entire time I felt like the white water rafting experience in Ottawa - why God just seems to have prepared very step of the way for me... thankfully I did not flip or fly out of my seat. Today has been quite an exciting, sunny and exhausting adventure.
Just for kicks, one African "proposed" to me as they like to call it.. "beautiful lady, I like you and if you like me too..." Daniel interrupted him. lol. Happens all the time to all of us.
TIA - this is Africa!
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