This time we were heading South West. I tried finding any of these towns on Google Maps but not a one shows up? Are you surprised! I was not. Basically if you find Baie de Moustique (Mosquito Bay) on the Northern coast and go straight down and inch or two and that is sort of where these are located.
We went past the Port-de-Paix airport and found ourselves facing Tois Revier (Three Rivers). We have followed and crossed this river several times over the past 4 days but each crossing was over a nice big bridge. This time . . . no bridge in sight! Just what I was hoping for! So we watched a few other vehicles cross as well as people and donkeys. Once Dad felt that we could make it, we “dove” in.
We went first. Mom was not thrilled about the water level and was worried about the rental truck. We crossed in sections. There was a small part of the river then a bank where the water was not covering. We made it past the bank and began to cross the wider part of the river. Now as we watched, we could see several donkeys cross and it was deeper in some places so we followed the “shallower” part. Our truck made it through just fine. The water came up to our running boards so about two feet or so. No danger of flooding the truck.
Matt had just started to cross the wider part when a small boy, maybe 10 years old or so, moved to the middle of the river and started to point Matt to the one side. Matt said he had noticed the donkey that crossed just before he started out had come through that area and it seemed deeper than where Dad crossed so he ignored the kid and kept following the direction that Dad crossed.
Often kids will direct people into the deeper parts of the river where a vehicle is likely to get stuck or stall out, forcing the driver to pay a group of men to get the vehicle out. How do we know this? . . . Personal experience from years past. Dad had a few things to say to the kid and men watching from the river bank. Matt avoided any problems but he certainly dunked his truck.
We then bounced our way to Post Metier where we met up with Pastor Christbon (His mom could not have children for a long time and then she became pregnant with her first child so she named him “Christ is Good”. She had several others as well.) Uncle Bruce Robinson was waiting for us along with three interns who had flown in the day before.
Uncle Bruce and the interns piled in our trucks and we headed out to La Coma, where Dad does Continuing Education seminars each year. This year it is in August. The seminar starts in the evening with worship and prayer time. The following day has a 4 hour morning seminar, lunch, a second 4 hour seminar in the afternoon, supper and then a worship and prayer time. The last day is a 4 hour seminar in the morning and then people are free to return home. Those who attend the seminar sleep in the local clinic for the two nights on mats in the large open waiting room. The seminar itself is held at a church about a mile or so from the clinic.
Many of the attendees come from far away to attend. One man in past years has walked 9 miles each way to attend the seminar. Now 9 miles might not seem like much to you (seems pretty much to me!) but remember that this is not 9 miles on a sidewalk or paved road. This is 9 miles on a winding and rocky road that makes those 9 miles feel like 90 miles.
La Coma was always this nebulous location that did not have a lot of significance to me other than I knew the missionaries who lived there. It now takes on a whole new meaning. It is so far removed from anything. It seems so desolate and for a country where there always seem to be people around, it felt so empty. But that clinic is the best healthcare for close to 40 miles. The closest Hospital would be CMB at La Pointe.
No comments:
Post a Comment