With a packed agenda to get through, after meeting our contact, Brima Conteh, we headed for the bush and Bendugu town. It was along dusty road to our first village. We arrived at dusk, to be greeted by a dance troop. The witch doctor dancing with them impressed us by entrancing himself and sticking porcupine needles up his nose.
We were welcomed as if we were royalty. The Chief surrendered his chamber to us, which was comfortable. We gathered on his veranda for a meal, during which a band played tunes on African xylophones. We danced.
We had made it. So had the aid. We distributed the clothing in the town, and met the local leaders. Chief Kamara extended an invitation to Revelation Church, to build a deeper friendship with them. Greg and I were made Chiefs and we were given a house and some land. We moved on to the school. The school was very basic. Consisting of two shaded areas, some stools and a black board. The children were so lovely. We gave them the equipment, there was much dancing and beautiful singing. At one point I must have had twenty children hanging from my arms. I looked at Greg to see him with his head down in a crowd of children, all running their tiny hands through his long hair. I exclaimed “Greg I can’t get my hands free to take some shots!” “Sometimes you’ve just got to absorb the moment Dude!” was his reply.
