Packing our bags for Africa yesterday was like something out of a James Bond movie.
B, can you see what I'm carefully wrapping in a towel here? To be carefully stashed in the bottom of my bag, intentionally surrounded by and covered with innocent-looking packages of stickers, rubber bands, T-shirts, band-aids, Play-dough, toothbrushes, soccer balls, hand sanitizer, Tylenol, sock puppets, fabric, baby blankets, and so much more.
Our trip is partly to transport things to MCF--like some much-needed (and slightly illegal) medical supplies, computers to network a satellite connection so MCF is communicado,
clothing, Bible materials, hygiene products.
Last time ABC tried to get computers to MCF, customs demanded a "$700 fee" to let them through, or give them 1/2 the equipment we were trying to take through. Having to give up so much stuff to greedy "officials" was a tough lesson.
This time, we're being a lot more intentional about
our packing, and going through customs individually rather than in pairs or even worse an obvious group. We got a pep talk on playing "dumb", being courteous, brief, and stalwart as we go through customs with our loaded luggage so that we can get every single much-anticipated and highly-needed items to MCF.
I can so play the part of an international secret agent.......
2 comments:
Seems like that might be tricky since you all have matching bags...but definitely play dumb and be super-duper polite. Though Ed always has to bribe them no matter what. :)
Have a fabulous trip. I am soooo jealous of you guys even though I've already gotten to go. It makes it so much harder not to get to go again!! You will love it!!
Hope you have a fantastic trip! Looking forward to hearing about how every moment captured your heart.
Post a Comment