At last!
It’s Friday morning. Luckily the suitcase arrived at the prearranged time. It was registered in Christine’s name, so she went to pick it up with Pastor Israel. The travel time has beaten all our records: 62 hours is more than enough for our tastes and we’re not eager for any more. The next day our schedule was changed yet again, because we were invited to the funeral of a 15-year old boy who’d died of typhus. The family are church members and their children attend the school at the project. It was hot, very hot and the service was held outdoors under plastic tarpaulins. The temperature quickly rose to between 33 and 35 degrees. There were certainly 400 to 500 people present according to Pastor Israel. We tried to let the smallest breeze blow through our clothes. As usual, we had to take our places and be introduced by Pr. Israel.
Earth was shovelled onto the coffin as soon as it was put in place. Within 5 minutes the grave was filled. We walked back to the parents’ house and were given a small meal. It is deeply sad, but an experience like this can’t be planned for.