The sun is now down, it’s dark and hard to identify people without the light of a torch. Semoli’s vehicle goes to town to find a tow. John calls, he’s in Town, we arrange for him to pick up the tow, find Semoli to bring his vehicle back to tow us. And we wait some more. Pat checking in on us every now and again. My phone now working again after taking out/putting back the battery (thanks, anna!). I turn the hazard lights on so that other vehicles can see us. Various trucks and bodas stop to see what the problem is, and can they do anything to help.
Then the glow of brake lights ahead as the party wagon (now quiet) backs into position to hook us up to the tow John had arrived with. They turn the engine off this time and hook up the tow. John brings out a Tupperware with dinner thanks to his fabulous wife (thanks Loren)! After unloading the things from our vehicle into Johns, deciding to take the Zoolander to the Bishop’s place in Bumadu (safer than leaving it in town overnight) and having a mechanic come work on it there, I gave John the keys for the Zoolander and he got into the drivers’ seat, and I got behind the wheel of their vehicle. And we waited. There were lights, but no movement. The party wagon begins to move in reverse towards the Zoolander, John yells for the driver to stop. He gets out and goes to talk to the other driver, then comes to tell me that the reason the party wagon had kept the party going before heading to town in search of the tow was that their starter does work. But before hooking up the tow they had turned the engine off and now that the tow was hooked back up, they were going to need to roll start the vehicle…requiring them to, of course, remove the tow hook up…again, we laughed, and waited…
After a while everyone got back in their vehicles and we began to slowly make our way through a dark but somehow bustling Bundibugyo Town branched left before the Police station and to Bumadu. Janet came running out with smiles and hugs all around, then the Bishop and his wife came out to greet us. We tried our best to express our gratitude to each of them and eventually got on our way. Pulling into our driveway safe and sound at about 10pm Bihwa offered to carry Lydia, who remained very patient, calm and quiet throughout the hole ordeal, home. We accepted the generous offer and unloaded our few things from the Clark vehicle and made our way inside, turning on a few lights. HOME. Home sweet home.
As we went to put our veggies from Fort in the fridge Anna noticed the propane was out. Nice. Fun. Perfect. I love changing propane tanks and relighting the fridge at 11pm. But God was gracious and the fridge lit on the 1st attempt. We stumbled down the hall, opened our shutters, took showers, and climbed into bed. Thankful for friends, for laughs, and for safety – all gifts from God. Did that really just happen?! Yes, yes it did.
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