On Monday of this week our family needed to travel to “town”
which is two hours away to do some banking and check on post. We were also
going to spend some time with fellow YWAMers that are doing a Kings Kids
outreach there this week. Our lovely Bush Beast as we call our vehicle is not
yet running and needs a bit of work before it is functional. We had to take
public transport to get there. In Niger you have two man public transport
options. One is a Toyota minivan that they shove as many people as possible
into it (like a clown car) and then on the top and sides overload the vehicle
with all of the passengers belongings which can include and is not limited to
many forms of livestock that you wouldn’t normally attach to the top of a minivan.
They cram as many people as they can into the vehicle and you likely end up
being squished into a pretzel like form in between two large housa women with
babies in their laps. This is the slower option as the vehicle makes many stops
and will likely break down a couple of times before arriving at your
destination. The other option is the
bus. They have busses like greyhound except you have about as much seat space
as when flying economy on a small plane without the reclining seats and the
cushions are well past their prime. We like to call this Mr Toads Wild Ride in the steely
trap of death. If you are not of the praying persuasion you will likely
be during this wild ride.
The road between Abalak and
Tahou is not really a road it is more like an exhibition of the many different
potholes that can destroy what once was a road. Some of them seem like
they are big enough to swallow a small car. These potholes don’t deter the bus drivers
in the least from getting ready for their racing career. As they speed along and through the pothole
exhibition you are praying that the bus will not tip over, or that you won’t
shatter your kneecaps or your skull as you are lifted off the seat.
The steely trap of death was
our choice of public transportation. Micah tried to nap while on the bus but he
wasn’t too successful. Every time he bus would plow through a pothole and he
was lifted off his seat his eyes got as big as saucers and he said hold me
tighter papa. We were thankful to put
our feet on solid ground again after two hours of Mr. Toads Wild Ride. While
waiting to get our bag from the luggage compartment four men were hard at work
under the front of the bus hammering and wrenching on something that wasn’t right.
We just wanted to share a Niger travel moment with you. Have
a great weekend!
