train adventure.

We finished the youth conference Thursday around lunch, and it was time to say our good-byes to wonderful new friends and make our way with Phillip and his assistant, Maryam, back to the capital city.

Before leaving, one of Phillip’s friends picked us up at the hotel and drove us downtown for lunch. This man and another man we ate lunch with are medical doctors and board members of the mission agency.

One of our reasons for traveling here this summer is that they’ve asked David to be the sole non-North African member of their agencies’ board. This is a great honor, and one of the reasons the trip has been so meaningful. Truly God is knitting our hearts together as we learn how to serve Him with these brothers and sisters, and brainstorm about how the U.S. church can best support and encourage them as they do this remarkable work.

The two board members wanted to get to know us better, so we all met for a delicious North African lunch — David and I agreed that it’s been the best of our entire trip. We ate from shared platters of “Mixed Grill” (but you need to pronounce it “Meexed Greel” and roll the R), which means flame-grilled steak and chicken kebabs flanked with vegetables and a mound of steaming white rice.

There was warm pita and hummus dripping with olive oil and fresh lime wedges.

It was delicious.

We also got to walk outside to the building next to our restaurant, where one of the board members lives in a beautiful flat overlooking the sweeping river. He and his wife showed us the guest room that they promised will be ours next time we visit their city.

Seeing the river in real life was one of my hopes for our trip, and it did not disappoint.

 

 

 

I apologize that you’re going to see mainly pictures of David and me, when I’ve taken so many more of all the people we spent time with.

After lunch, we had our train adventure.

I’ll admit: I wasn’t thrilled to learn we’d be taking a train back to the capital city, and that it would last 5-6 hours.

I had in mind a couple of train experiences from India which I wasn’t eager to repeat.

But there the four of us were: Phillip, David, Maryam and me, loading with our carry-one suitcases and bags, weaving through packed crowds at the dusty train station. I literally did not see one foreign-looking person in that city, and so I felt that we were extra conspicuous. I’ve never been more aware of my elbows and forearms in a sea of women who were covered head-to-toe (although Maryam and other Christians dress in Western-style clothes).

We found the correct train platform, and suddenly a cluster of police men appeared, talking to Phillip. They had quite an exchange, of which we understood nothing, but we began to feel a bit nervous. The policemen were on their phones, gesturing toward David and me and talking animatedly. And once Phillip finished talking to them, one just stood there, with us.

Apparently, he was our escort.

Phillip explained to us that they wanted to know where we’d come from and they wanted to call ahead to the capital city to inform the security there when we’d arrive so someone would meet us. He said, “Don’t, worry, we can bypass them.” Bypass them?

We stood there on the dusty platform in waves of oven-hot, 115 degree sun, waiting for the train, with a police officer watching us on one side, and crowds of North Africans on the other side.

The train pulled up and our car was air-conditioned, with spacious, comfortable seats. We all four breathed a sigh of relief and took long naps. Then David and Phillip sat together to brainstorm about ministry, and I got to bury my head in my novel for a couple of lovely hours.

 

 

Let me tell you about the tea and coffee habits here, at least as far as I can understand them.

At breakfast everyone drinks a small cup of hot, black tea with lots of sugar.

It’s what I drink at home (with a little sugar), so I love the habit. It seems that tea is offered throughout the morning and late afternoon.  The other beverage of choice is “Nescafe,” which is instant coffee. Though we can be coffee snobs at home, somehow we fell in love with drinking tiny cups of milky Nescafe here, right along with everyone else. It doesn’t hurt my stomach, and it just reminds me of being here, with David and with these friends.

We both decided we love the small drink portions, because you can drink a few hot beverages over several hours and not feel jittery with caffeine.

The train ride was actually quite relaxing after a grueling conference schedule, and when we arrived in the capital city, it was about 8:00 at night.

As the train neared the station, Phillip hurried us to gather our things and stand right by the exit while the dark city rushed by. He told us that as soon as it stopped, we’d jump out and walk with our heads down to find the taxi to “bypass police.”

This is my Enneagram 1-but-trying-to-be-a-7 (The Adventuresome Enthusiast) face before I jump out of a train:

 

 

It wouldn’t have been terrible if the police found us; it just would’ve been highly inconvenient, because they’d insist on knowing our itinerary until we left the city, and would follow us to the team retreat location the next day, which we did not want.

So we jumped out and wove our way in the packed station, heads down, following our friends, and thanks be to God, Phillip spotted a taxi. He made David and I jump in first while he and Maryam loaded our bags.

Crisis averted!