Struggles of travel to Sierra Leone (Day 4)

Posted on October 24, 2008 by vicki


By James Mansaray, Freetown:

We managed to get to the borders again and I had to pass the night there once more since the border was already closed. Sleeping place was the problem. A call from Mama Vicki lights me up a little since it was very cold there that night.

I finally found a sleeping room of ten for just three thousand Leones a night (a dollar). Very cheap but was it worth it? This I found when I got in there and this I wrote that night as I sat on my part of the ten man bed.

” As I write this down, it is still dark here. 2:35 AM I am right at the borders between Sierra Leone and Guinea. I just cant handle sleeping with ten strangers on the same bed in this hut, fearing theft or something else. My clothes still on, fearing more mosquito bites, the guy next to me rubbing and scratching all over his body. The other on the left side snoring like thunder signifying sound sleep in the mist of mosquitoes and bed bugs, he must be very comfortable with it.

At a distance a man talking at the top of his voice in Fula and a woman laughing. They, too, just cant sleep. The man next to me is up and he is talking to himself. I am scared, so I answered him, pretending to not be scared of him and as if I am used to the place. It is a long night and my flash light in my mouth to help me see what am writing. All these struggles in the name of Pa Barrie, yes, he deserves it.

Writing is good and it’s a stress killer right here in this hut. Still killing time, still no sign of the morning light. Seems quite now, no sign of man talking in Fula. Tons of snoring this time from the nine guys. I love sleep– but not here. My camera well held, you never know what might happen”.

So it was that dreaded fourth night.

To be continued on next post tomorrow…

Posted in Freetown, Guinea, james mansaray, leones, mama vicki, pa barrie | Leave a comment

Struggles of travel to Sierra Leone (Day 4)

Posted on October 24, 2008 by vicki


By James Mansaray, Freetown:

We managed to get to the borders again and I had to pass the night there once more since the border was already closed. Sleeping place was the problem. A call from Mama Vicki lights me up a little since it was very cold there that night.

I finally found a sleeping room of ten for just three thousand Leones a night (a dollar). Very cheap but was it worth it? This I found when I got in there and this I wrote that night as I sat on my part of the ten man bed.

” As I write this down, it is still dark here. 2:35 AM I am right at the borders between Sierra Leone and Guinea. I just cant handle sleeping with ten strangers on the same bed in this hut, fearing theft or something else. My clothes still on, fearing more mosquito bites, the guy next to me rubbing and scratching all over his body. The other on the left side snoring like thunder signifying sound sleep in the mist of mosquitoes and bed bugs, he must be very comfortable with it.

At a distance a man talking at the top of his voice in Fula and a woman laughing. They, too, just cant sleep. The man next to me is up and he is talking to himself. I am scared, so I answered him, pretending to not be scared of him and as if I am used to the place. It is a long night and my flash light in my mouth to help me see what am writing. All these struggles in the name of Pa Barrie, yes, he deserves it.

Writing is good and it’s a stress killer right here in this hut. Still killing time, still no sign of the morning light. Seems quite now, no sign of man talking in Fula. Tons of snoring this time from the nine guys. I love sleep– but not here. My camera well held, you never know what might happen”.

So it was that dreaded fourth night.

To be continued on next post tomorrow…

Posted in Freetown, Guinea, james mansaray, leones, mama vicki, pa barrie | Leave a comment

Struggles of travel to Sierra Leone (Day 4)

Posted on October 24, 2008 by vicki


By James Mansaray, Freetown:

We managed to get to the borders again and I had to pass the night there once more since the border was already closed. Sleeping place was the problem. A call from Mama Vicki lights me up a little since it was very cold there that night.

I finally found a sleeping room of ten for just three thousand Leones a night (a dollar). Very cheap but was it worth it? This I found when I got in there and this I wrote that night as I sat on my part of the ten man bed.

” As I write this down, it is still dark here. 2:35 AM I am right at the borders between Sierra Leone and Guinea. I just cant handle sleeping with ten strangers on the same bed in this hut, fearing theft or something else. My clothes still on, fearing more mosquito bites, the guy next to me rubbing and scratching all over his body. The other on the left side snoring like thunder signifying sound sleep in the mist of mosquitoes and bed bugs, he must be very comfortable with it.

At a distance a man talking at the top of his voice in Fula and a woman laughing. They, too, just cant sleep. The man next to me is up and he is talking to himself. I am scared, so I answered him, pretending to not be scared of him and as if I am used to the place. It is a long night and my flash light in my mouth to help me see what am writing. All these struggles in the name of Pa Barrie, yes, he deserves it.

Writing is good and it’s a stress killer right here in this hut. Still killing time, still no sign of the morning light. Seems quite now, no sign of man talking in Fula. Tons of snoring this time from the nine guys. I love sleep– but not here. My camera well held, you never know what might happen”.

So it was that dreaded fourth night.

To be continued on next post tomorrow…

Posted in Freetown, Guinea, james mansaray, leones, mama vicki, pa barrie | Leave a comment

Struggles of travel to Sierra Leone (Day 4)

Posted on October 24, 2008 by vicki


By James Mansaray, Freetown:

We managed to get to the borders again and I had to pass the night there once more since the border was already closed. Sleeping place was the problem. A call from Mama Vicki lights me up a little since it was very cold there that night.

I finally found a sleeping room of ten for just three thousand Leones a night (a dollar). Very cheap but was it worth it? This I found when I got in there and this I wrote that night as I sat on my part of the ten man bed.

” As I write this down, it is still dark here. 2:35 AM I am right at the borders between Sierra Leone and Guinea. I just cant handle sleeping with ten strangers on the same bed in this hut, fearing theft or something else. My clothes still on, fearing more mosquito bites, the guy next to me rubbing and scratching all over his body. The other on the left side snoring like thunder signifying sound sleep in the mist of mosquitoes and bed bugs, he must be very comfortable with it.

At a distance a man talking at the top of his voice in Fula and a woman laughing. They, too, just cant sleep. The man next to me is up and he is talking to himself. I am scared, so I answered him, pretending to not be scared of him and as if I am used to the place. It is a long night and my flash light in my mouth to help me see what am writing. All these struggles in the name of Pa Barrie, yes, he deserves it.

Writing is good and it’s a stress killer right here in this hut. Still killing time, still no sign of the morning light. Seems quite now, no sign of man talking in Fula. Tons of snoring this time from the nine guys. I love sleep– but not here. My camera well held, you never know what might happen”.

So it was that dreaded fourth night.

To be continued on next post tomorrow…

Posted in Freetown, Guinea, james mansaray, leones, mama vicki, pa barrie | Leave a comment

Road home from Guinea (Day 3)

Posted on October 23, 2008 by vicki





By James Mansaray, Freetown:

The third day and I am back on the road. A slight misunderstanding and language barrier, I mistakenly took the wrong vehicle finding myself in Conakry. Luckily for me I met a man that speaks krio and he said this is Bambeto and not Coyah; at the other said you will smell the ocean and the huge structure of the U.S. Embassy. Had in not been the intervention of Rafiou Jalloh, I wonder what it would have been like for me in this strange place. He helped me board the right cab to a place called Madina where I got a vehicle heading straight to Pamalap which is the border town between Sierra Leone and Guinea.

While waiting for another three hours in this noisy park, I noticed an old man selling meat with tons of flies on it. Every minute he kept shaking a piece of cloth to scare the flies off his meat. Soon it was all sold, including the intestine, which I conclude he was giving as a bonus, so it is here in Sierra Leone.

Later that evening, we were off again on the road leading to Salone. Five of us at the back seat; a sitting place actually meant for three. The driver sharing his seat with another making it four in front. His left arm way out of the windows as he struggles to control the steering. The roads are like “In the pond, out of the Pond”. Several wrecks on the road and every time he has to go under the car to fix something.

(To be continued next post, tomorrow…)

Posted in butcher, Lazarus Sierra Leone salone Outreach | Leave a comment

Road home from Guinea (Day 3)

Posted on October 23, 2008 by vicki





By James Mansaray, Freetown:

The third day and I am back on the road. A slight misunderstanding and language barrier, I mistakenly took the wrong vehicle finding myself in Conakry. Luckily for me I met a man that speaks krio and he said this is Bambeto and not Coyah; at the other said you will smell the ocean and the huge structure of the U.S. Embassy. Had in not been the intervention of Rafiou Jalloh, I wonder what it would have been like for me in this strange place. He helped me board the right cab to a place called Madina where I got a vehicle heading straight to Pamalap which is the border town between Sierra Leone and Guinea.

While waiting for another three hours in this noisy park, I noticed an old man selling meat with tons of flies on it. Every minute he kept shaking a piece of cloth to scare the flies off his meat. Soon it was all sold, including the intestine, which I conclude he was giving as a bonus, so it is here in Sierra Leone.

Later that evening, we were off again on the road leading to Salone. Five of us at the back seat; a sitting place actually meant for three. The driver sharing his seat with another making it four in front. His left arm way out of the windows as he struggles to control the steering. The roads are like “In the pond, out of the Pond”. Several wrecks on the road and every time he has to go under the car to fix something.

(To be continued next post, tomorrow…)

Posted in butcher, Lazarus Sierra Leone salone Outreach | Leave a comment

Road home from Guinea (Day 3)

Posted on October 23, 2008 by vicki





By James Mansaray, Freetown:

The third day and I am back on the road. A slight misunderstanding and language barrier, I mistakenly took the wrong vehicle finding myself in Conakry. Luckily for me I met a man that speaks krio and he said this is Bambeto and not Coyah; at the other said you will smell the ocean and the huge structure of the U.S. Embassy. Had in not been the intervention of Rafiou Jalloh, I wonder what it would have been like for me in this strange place. He helped me board the right cab to a place called Madina where I got a vehicle heading straight to Pamalap which is the border town between Sierra Leone and Guinea.

While waiting for another three hours in this noisy park, I noticed an old man selling meat with tons of flies on it. Every minute he kept shaking a piece of cloth to scare the flies off his meat. Soon it was all sold, including the intestine, which I conclude he was giving as a bonus, so it is here in Sierra Leone.

Later that evening, we were off again on the road leading to Salone. Five of us at the back seat; a sitting place actually meant for three. The driver sharing his seat with another making it four in front. His left arm way out of the windows as he struggles to control the steering. The roads are like “In the pond, out of the Pond”. Several wrecks on the road and every time he has to go under the car to fix something.

(To be continued next post, tomorrow…)

Posted in butcher, Lazarus Sierra Leone salone Outreach | Leave a comment

Road home from Guinea (Day 3)

Posted on October 23, 2008 by vicki





By James Mansaray, Freetown:

The third day and I am back on the road. A slight misunderstanding and language barrier, I mistakenly took the wrong vehicle finding myself in Conakry. Luckily for me I met a man that speaks krio and he said this is Bambeto and not Coyah; at the other said you will smell the ocean and the huge structure of the U.S. Embassy. Had in not been the intervention of Rafiou Jalloh, I wonder what it would have been like for me in this strange place. He helped me board the right cab to a place called Madina where I got a vehicle heading straight to Pamalap which is the border town between Sierra Leone and Guinea.

While waiting for another three hours in this noisy park, I noticed an old man selling meat with tons of flies on it. Every minute he kept shaking a piece of cloth to scare the flies off his meat. Soon it was all sold, including the intestine, which I conclude he was giving as a bonus, so it is here in Sierra Leone.

Later that evening, we were off again on the road leading to Salone. Five of us at the back seat; a sitting place actually meant for three. The driver sharing his seat with another making it four in front. His left arm way out of the windows as he struggles to control the steering. The roads are like “In the pond, out of the Pond”. Several wrecks on the road and every time he has to go under the car to fix something.

(To be continued next post, tomorrow…)

Posted in butcher, Lazarus Sierra Leone salone Outreach | Leave a comment

Travel to Guinea for Burial Rights of Pa Barrie (Day 2)

Posted on October 23, 2008 by vicki




Meeting Pa Barrie’s extended Family: James Mansaray, Freetown

Day two was a little bit relaxed for we were on the better side of the road to Coyah town linking the capital Conakry and the Provinces. Here I finally got hold of Mama Vicki and my family back at St. Laurence house before heading to Kindia in another full car. After two hours we were there and we met several family (Barrie) members waiting, some crying and mourning together. I was greeted with peace, love, and tears of joy. At the grave side we said a prayer and back at the house I greeted the family and explained that I was sent by Fr. Hick’s, the best friend of the late man. Their mouths were full of thanks and love for us to come that far to mourn with them.

After greeting and spending time with them, arrangements were made to mark the grave well, food and transportation money from NHA given to see that Mama Marianna and Jaria returned back to Freetown after the funeral rights were all observed. I was off again on the road. This time alone and it was the third day.

They all escorted me out of the compound with tears still on. I tried to keep mine but could not control it and at the end was in tears too, till I reach the bus station.

Tomorrow: more discomforts of the road

Posted in Fr Seraphim Hicks, Guinea, james mansaray, pa barrie | Leave a comment

Travel to Guinea for Burial Rights of Pa Barrie (Day 2)

Posted on October 23, 2008 by vicki




Meeting Pa Barrie’s extended Family: James Mansaray, Freetown

Day two was a little bit relaxed for we were on the better side of the road to Coyah town linking the capital Conakry and the Provinces. Here I finally got hold of Mama Vicki and my family back at St. Laurence house before heading to Kindia in another full car. After two hours we were there and we met several family (Barrie) members waiting, some crying and mourning together. I was greeted with peace, love, and tears of joy. At the grave side we said a prayer and back at the house I greeted the family and explained that I was sent by Fr. Hick’s, the best friend of the late man. Their mouths were full of thanks and love for us to come that far to mourn with them.

After greeting and spending time with them, arrangements were made to mark the grave well, food and transportation money from NHA given to see that Mama Marianna and Jaria returned back to Freetown after the funeral rights were all observed. I was off again on the road. This time alone and it was the third day.

They all escorted me out of the compound with tears still on. I tried to keep mine but could not control it and at the end was in tears too, till I reach the bus station.

Tomorrow: more discomforts of the road

Posted in Fr Seraphim Hicks, Guinea, james mansaray, pa barrie | Leave a comment