Monday, November 13, 2006

Smooth Sailing

Tarmac.

Black,sticky tar. Crushed gravel.

I just plain love it.

For nine of our years in this country, the road to medical care, fellowship, groceries, pizza and ice cream wasn’t even paved with good intentions…

It was dirt. Rutted. Pitted. Narrow. And dusty.

Unless it was raining. And then it was muddy. Rutted. Pitted. Narrow. And slick.

Our trips to the capital city from our small town took 5 and ½ to 6 hours, then. Hard hours. That left us utterly spent, covered in dust and exhausted.

Not so, anymore.

Trips to Kampala take three and a half hours. On smooth tarmac road.

Delightful.

I haven’t ridden the road once without an overwhelming sense of amazement. Covering ground minus the bone jarring bumps and dangerous curves.

It is a gift.

As with most good things in the third world…they are temporary. The heroic men who laid the road have gone. And will not be maintaining it. The huge overstuffed lorries will continue to roll. And eventually, the potholes will develop.

But, in this moment…the road to good things is a smooth one. And that is a precious blessing.

Three things (of a very long list) that I will never take for granted after this jaunt into the third world:

1. Time with family
2. Hot baths
3. Paved roads

6 comments:

Kelly Vaughn said...

Yea! Your back!
I can relate 100% to the appreciaton for paved roads, hot baths, and time with family! This life in Africa which certainly has its perks is missing those three things!
Glad you have returned to blog world!
Kelly

Kristi said...

Nothing compares to the first drive to Fort Portal (back in, what was it?...1994?) in your matchbox wanna-be-car, bouncing in the back, while you sat up front one bounce from vomiting. Ah, good times, good times.

Aimee Jo said...

YAY for paved roads! I can't wait until we are there driving them with you--even if by then they are all pot-holey again. :)
Love you and miss you.

Patty said...

I told Edwin the road was finished and he laughed-- "You mean the one that was all torn up 'cuz they were working on it when we went in 1990?!" Yep, that's the one. No one does slow like African road crews.

Anonymous said...

Cheryl, Congrats on the road, enjoy it while it is smooth. Thanks for dropping by my blog. Its good to be in touch.

Procters in MOJO land said...

I'm sure glad the road between here and Sterling City is paved and smooth. If only there was a quick,smooth road between my house and yours.......
Love you!