Back to Freetown, Sierra Leone

Saturday, March 17, 2012

Dear Family & Friends,

It is Saturday evening and we are back in Freetown, having finished our work in Kenema early and desiring to get out of the heat.  The only problem was getting into the Country Lodge because they have been so busy, mostly because of its location.  You would think people would rather stay at the many beach hotels which are all less expensive, but it seems we do most of our business up here on the hill, which is closer to the Mission Home, Mission Office, Turay’s house, and going over the Grafton Road onto Bo & Kenema.  Apparently it is more convenient for everyone else too, because there are some beautiful, less expensive hotels right on the beach—go figure…

The cool thing about our stay here tonight at the Country Lodge is that we told John Shallop (hotel manager) that he owed us a favor for kicking us out on our last stay.  We are in one of the suites because that was the only room left--one that we’d never seen before.  It is upstairs from the rooms in the wing we usually stay in.  It has a lovely living room with TV and small chandelier, a pretty bed and draperies.  The real deal is that we are staying here for the same price as a regular room.  This is what a ‘deal’ really is instead of the ‘deal’ the manager at the Capitol was going to give us.  Just for tonight we feel like the King and Queen of England.

Our good deal at the Country Lodge in Freetown, staying in one of the suites for one night for the same price as a regular room.  There’s a living room with pretty sofas, large bathroom, tables, chairs, TV, a real air conditioner, etc. 

Our bubble will burst tomorrow morning when we have to leave—no room available at all.  We will stay with the Randall’s at the mission house again and then return to the Country Lodge for our last night here (Monday) in a regular standard double room—packing, unpacking, packing, unpacking.... 

Saying goodbye to Amarachi & Jonathan Cobinah and their two daughters.  The girls are not smiling because they were so sad to see us go. 

Love, mom & dad, Jim & Karen, E/S Greding