Africa Journal Day 9

Sunday, May 1, 2005
Day 9
Jos, John and Esther Orkar’s home

John and Esther picked us up in Mkar at the prearranged time. After saying our farewells, we were off in John’s Toyota Land Cruiser, loaded to the roof with our baggage, and produce. John asked if we had a chance to see inside our old home; he didn’t mind going to the door and inviting ourlseves in. We did, and had a chance to see the old house, and Andrew’s bedroom. The children’s wall paper with lions, etc. was still up! We took his picture in the room.

The journey from Mkar to Jos took about seven hours, with several stops along the way. One stop was for lunch-pounded yams and "bushmeat." They call it "grass cutter" as a pleasantry, but I knew this critter as a "bushrat," something close to a muskrat at home. However, all cooked up, it is not bad meat. Andrew seemed to enjoy it, not really knowing its dubious lineage as a rodent.

I enjoyed the climb up the plateau, an ancient volcanic mountain range that reaches over 4000 ft above sea level. Driving up is a nightmare though, with overloaded lorries (trucks) in first gear, smoking billowing everywhere, holding up traffic. It is so tempting to pass when you shouldn’t; people do it anyway, although John was the most cautious driver we have had so far. Sometimes I just have to close my eyes and desist the urge to be a backseat driver.

The landscape on the plateau is almost dessert-like, with cacti and large rocks everywhere. Jos is a large city, with more modern buildings and architecture than Ggoko. For supper, John and Esther took us to the Cedar Tree Restaurant, a place I remember from years ago, run by a Lebanese. We overate on Lebanese Mesa, leaving plenty over for takeout. We met some important people there, and a missionary who I recognized from years ago, Dick Seinen. He was entertaining visiting Mission brass from America-I thought it would be more appropriate to have them try out the local culture (like our bushmeat experience).

From the restaurant, John was anxious to take us to the Internet Café. If we thought the one in Gboko was another world, this one was on another galaxy! The interior was very modern, it was air conditioned, and everything worked! And it was high speed.

It was great to spend time with John and Esther. I already mentioned the long history of our acquaintance. They are wonderful hosts, and people of strong and deep faith. I look forward to worshipping with them today.