Tuesday, August 12, 2008

"International Incident"

OK... So I finally decided to post something. I've been procrastinating because I didn't know what to write first. There is so much to say! But I decided to start with something light-hearted... namely, the infamous "international incident" that I got mocked for throughout the trip. =)
To preface this, let's just say that this was my first time out of the country. I had not even been to Canada. So I was pretty ignorant of international travel. Not only that, I was extremely excited ("We're in Africa!!!!!! =) ). That's my disclaimer. =)
As we left Rwanda and headed for the Congo border, I was crammed in the front of a vehicle halfway on Pastor's lap and halfway on the middle console. Florimond was driving, and we were laughing and having a good time in our vehicle. Bonnie took my camera and took a picture of me sitting precariously in the front seat. Then I snapped a picture of Florimond driving... on the right side of the vehicle, which I found pretty entertaining. As we approached the Congo border, I said excitedly, "We're in Congo!" while snapping a picture of the road ahead of us.
That of course, is when things went downhill. A guy who apparently worked for customs saw me take the picture, and immediately started yelling "No Photo!" while walking toward our vehicle. I held up my camera so he could watch me put it in the case, and apologized profusely. He was not to be consoled though, and continued shouting angrily about how I shouldn't have taken the photo. Looking back, I wonder why he didn't simply take my camera & delete the photo... but it was Africa, after all. =) I started squirming when I realized how livid this guy really was. Florimond got out of the car to talk with him. They weren't speaking English, but anger can be understood without words. He was gesturing wilding and still visibly upset. Senator David, who had been riding in a different vehicle, joined the discussion as well. A few minutes (which felt eternal) passed, and Pastor Baker went and talked with them too. I was feeling awful by this time, and wanted to crawl under the seat of the car and pretend it never happened.
Finally, Pastor walked up to the car and said, "Katie, I need you to get out of the car." I thought he was kiding at first, so I was like, "Are you serious?" He said, "Yeah, get out of the car." I honestly thought that their debating had been futile, and that I was being arrested. I reluctantly got out of the car, only to realize that Pastor David had smoothed things over and I was simply switching vehicles to give us more room. Talk about relief! So let's just say that my time in Congo started with a bang! I debated on posting "the picture," but have decided against it. =)

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

Thank you for posting your story Katie. Now that you have the first story done, the next should come easier!
To all of you: please keep posting stories and pictures. I, along with many others, are thoroughly enjoying them!
Kath