day 6

Time to head back. Up way too early (bus at 6) but it did actually leave on time and empty which none of us had seen before. Actually made it all the way to Lilongwe on the one bus. We took the coastal road again but were assured that the bridge had been fixed. We weren’t completely convinced but figured it was the best option as the other was to try mini-buses and the headaches that come from that. Piled off at the police stop where they thoroughly checked the bus and lots of the luggage. Not sure what they were looking for but I don’t think they found it. And into Lilongwe at 2:30. the older missionary kids go to Lilongwe for school and they get picked up at 2:30 on Thursdays so we called to see if we could get a ride back with them. We just made it. They were crossing the bridge we were coming to as we called. So we piled in…12 people in the 10 person bus. Of course it is very similar to being on an actual school bus. 8 kids all hyper after school…wow. We got to the police stop on the way to Nkhoma and got waved through. Sadly we didn’t move over quite far enough and side swiped the gate. Really. I just looked at James—twice in two weeks. No real damage done but it took a while of the police talking and then letting us go. Really two close calls and off—I can’t believe it. James and I were in the back trying to explain to the kids appropriate subjects of discussion while at a police stop and that one of them was not the fact that this happened last week. Luckily we did get that point across. One of the officers came and joked with the kids some. As we drove away the kids asked if they could talk about it now. As we were leaving that was fine and they thought it was hilarious. Rebecca told me that the woman officer told her (before letting her go) that as women we need to be extra careful driving and not to do it again…you may go and God bless you.