Tuesday 22nd January 2013

Our last posting said that we were almost ready for the off and now we are here in Bunia DRC and so much has happened in these last two days!!

The weather was uppermost in most peoples’ minds at the end of last week and particularly so ours!

Friday’s snow all day left us with about four inches of snow and Heathrow reportedly in chaos. Our son Peter, who works there, told us that the reported “closures” were only to clear the runways of snow and a lot of the cancellations were either local flights where there were alternative flights available or caused by flights from the continent where conditions were much worse that in London. Saturday was overcast all day but with no more snow and a slight thaw we were confident what all would be well.

On Sunday morning our flight was reported as “on schedule” so we made our way to Terminal 5 at Heathrow Airport and were directed straight to an empty check in desk, through security, and to the departure lounge. We had a coffee and our flight was called to the gate and everyone was on board, doors closed ready for departure on schedule.

That was when the fun started!!

As we were being driven to the airport the snow began to fall lightly and continued to do so until we finally departed. It didn’t seem to be heavy enough to be a problem. After we were all locked in the pilot told us that we were in a queue to be de-iced and would be de-iced on the stand before moving off to departure. Time went by and drinks only were served, because it is not possible to serve food on the ground and it was announced that we would go to a de-icing point rather than wait for a crew to come to us. In the queue we stood stationary a number of times for so long that the engines were switched off. We finally took off five hours late having sat on the tarmac for five and a half hours!! On the plus side this meant that we spent five hours less (we had expected to be there for 12 hours) in the “Transit Office” at Entebbe Airport trying to sleep on a row of chairs which was not long enough for both Janice and I to lay full length.

The MAF handling team arrived at about 8.30am and were “processing” us (weighing baggage and checking details) when we were asked if four Norwegians were travelling with us as there was a pilot looking for them and they could not be found. It turns out that they had booked two flight dates and forgot to cancel the one which they didn’t need!! We were given the opportunity to take this earlier flight, Just Janice and I in an eight seat Cessna Caravan. This meant that we were in Bunia about 3 hours before schedule!

We were able to contact Nancy and let her know that we were arriving early so that she could meet us and escort us through customs which was just as well as for the first time they opened all five of our cases! We were taken to the home of Mele and Rose, with whom we are staying where we received a welcome from all the family and had time to relax - - - - - - - - unknown to us the “Motor Bike Safari” team were in Bunia and were due to be present at CECCA16 (the Swahili speaking WEC founded church) for a service and meal in celebration of the Centenary and a send off for the rest of their Safari. If we had been on the scheduled flight from Entebbe to Bunia it would have been straight from the plane to the church.

This service was a fantastic time of worship very much in the African style, of looking back and of looking forward. It also was an unexpected opportunity for John to meet up with the three Australians for whom he had been getting visas.

We are already very much at home with all the family and enjoying the new experience of staying with a Congolese family!