I am going to attempt to write all about our experiences over the week we were there, but just know that my writing will never - ever in a million years - do it justice.
We arrived in Sierra Leone on December 28. We got of the plane and the humidity hit us. It felt so nice to not be in Salt Lake City's freezing temperatures for once! We made it through customs, got our bags, and went outside to find Marcus (the mission driver/Isaac's friend). For a minute we couldn't find him and that made us a little nervous, but we finally found him and it was so cool to see him and Isaac see each other again. Both of them were so happy! We made our way to an old bus that took us to Lungi water taxi dock. We all piled on the boat, they gave us life jackets that could in no way save our lives if we went overboard, and were off across the ocean to Freetown! Even though it was pitch black (it was midnight or later when we got to the water taxi), it was so gorgeous! My first real sight of Sierra Leone was the stars. Of course, we were crossing the ocean so the stars shown brighter because there were no lights around to ruin it. I have honestly never seen the night sky so clearly than I did that night. Every once in a while I would look over at Isaac and I can not tell you how excited he looked. He was finally back in the place he constantly thought about since he left. I imagine he was so happy that I would be able to understand him whenever he talked about his mission. Let's be honest, Sierra Leone isn't a place you can really explain to someone. It is beyond the imagination.
Let me say: I was pretty nervous about going to Africa in general. Excited-but nervous as I've ever been to travel. As soon as we arrived at the Freetown dock, we were given our bags and Marcus led us to the car. This was the first time we met our driver for the rest of the trip, Muhammad. Let me just preface the rest of the trip with this: Muhammad. is. so. great.
We arrived on a Friday night, so the streets were a little crazy. This made me a little more nervous than I was to stay in this place for an entire week, but Isaac assured me that nothing would ever happen there. He was right. We went through the entire week without being threatened or even close to it. The people are so amazing, and would never do anything to hurt someone intentionally.
We stayed at the Country Lodge hotel whenever we were in Freetown. This was at the top of a mountain and up a curvy dirt road. We finally got into our hotel room and crashed. Except this is what we slept under:
Even with all of those things, I still can't believe how blessed I am to have been able to experience that incredible place with the best husband in the whole world.
