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Pastor – crocodile and naked- belly- trouts. Notes of the Black brief case about the black continent (The journal of the African trip 2013) Day 5

We started early in the morning. We’re heading to the mountainous area to the people who are called “Pokad” here. There are quite big mountains around us and even not far from the tops we can see the hay roofs of houses. At times we could see tin roofs (that is a sign of wealth).

Life here (4 hours away from the missionary base where we live) is even poorer than there. The medical team of sister Freeda joins us in this trip. Our donations gave opportunity for them to be able to purchase medications and to serve kids and adults in this place. The locals stand in line and after being examined by the sisters of mercy and having received the prescription they go to another table where they can get necessary medications.

  While our mobile clinic was functioning we went up to the riverside. While we were walking towards it, the number of kids, surrounding Muzungu people grows.  Playing with kids and approaching the river, I see them pointing on the branches of the trees hanging over us. As it turned out there are quite a lot of dangerous and big (over 10 feet long and up to 8 inches wide) snakes. It made me run away from the trees. A week ago a man was stung here and he barely survived, it is a miracle.

  Finally we are by the mountain river, not very deep one at this time of the year, but nevertheless very dangerous since any minute the tsunami can rise there. It is possible that 30 miles from here it was raining and the huge mass of waters was sent in this direction to cause the tsunami. It happens quite often here and it causes lots of tragedies.  There is a bridge across the river which was built by missionaries and was dedicated to Steve’s father and to Freeda’s husband whose mobile hospital we took along. They took a direct part in building it and it has helped lots of people to survive here. In the rainy season the streams of waters in this river make it impossible to cross it. Very often the attempt to cross over it (in order to get some food and at least some kinds of medicine) ended tragically. The safe way to cross it can be found only at the distance of 20 miles down the stream and this is why the bridge has become such a real joy for the locals having united two banks.

We met the local elders and their interesting traditions. We danced amazing chorographical pieces with the Pokad inhabitants. We had a look at some really weird devices and we were a bit confused at times but it was fun.

 The special joy of the day (you must watch this video) is a solemn moment of turning me from a pastor into a crocodile and the beginning of my hunt for the naked- belly –kids in the river! It is an extremely amazing scene. Regardless of my weight I can move quite fast in the mountain river and to the great delight of the black “trouts”! The process was such a fun that part of the team joined me in it and the kids had the most amazing time – just like we did!

 On our way back to the village I suggested to brothers to try to repeat what I had tried before – to carry a bundle of firewood for about a hundred yards. This experience impressed them quite a lot. For those unfortunately numerous victims of brainwash who considered that the reason of poverty in Africa is their laziness I recommend to try to do what our brother Moses was doing (you can see it in my video blog). We saw him on our way to the river and contemplated the way he was working! All the day through under the hot sun he makes bricks from clay with his own hands and produces more than 100 of them per day!

 In the end we gave away candies to the local kids and once again we got convinced (due to the fight it provoked) that we need to do it discreetly, we headed back to the base.

On asking on our way back to drive the 25-year-old jeep I was sorry about it very soon having realized that the car practically has no breaks! I gave the right to drive back to the driver pretty soon (he can drive very fast along these mountainous serpentine roads) and to my regret I couldn’t calm down after that to the level of a normal person who hasn’t driven without breaks. We do drive here on prayers only!