Saturday 22nd October

We got our tickets to Bor yesterday and they had two times written on them, 7am and 8am.  Being organized westerners we wanted to be at the airport at 6:30 am at the latest.  Abraham was not convinced and tried to talk us into getting there at 6:50am.  He did agree to be ready by 6am, but our driver did not turn up til 6:45, and we needed two trips to get everyone to the airport.  After frantic packing the men set off with the luggage to get it checked in.

Any worry was wasted, as the airport had not opened, and did not open til about 7:30.  We found the right check in desk and got stuck behind a couple of police doing long negotiations to get the commissioner (a big man, more about that later) onto the fully booked flight.  This went on for over half an hour as we listen to the final call for Bor come over the PA and all our luggage still not checked in.  We had some concerns about luggage as the tickets specified 15kg per person, about half of our actual weight.  The plane departed as someone came around to ask why our baggage was not check in.  He asked how many there were of us, and felt sure that it would be enough of us to be less than 15kg per person.  We readily agreed.  He then weighed it all but did not mention that we were double the limit.  We then find out we will go on the second flight, so into the domestic/ international departure lounge.  Two hours later, we get the call and have to push through a packed lounge and walk about 500meters to the waiting plane. 

“You and you guy’s (Greg and me), up the front!”  Greg thought it was great to be given this privilege, not realizing that the needed the heavy guys up the front of the narrow plane.  I went up first, quickly assessed the situation and grabbed the single seat on the left, leaving Greg the honor of sharing the double seat with the before mentioned Police Commissioner.  He was a very friendly man, but took up a good 1.5 seats, leaving Greg with a little edge to perch on.  No chance of him delving for his seatbelt, he was not going there.  Then we were put in line to await our turn to take off.  There was no air and it was like being in a little oven.  After the first five minutes we all were soaking.  Ruth was stuck in the sun with her back pack wedged on her lap, not a nice way to be.  For me this was the longest 20 minutes of the day, praying to get down that runway and get some ventilation. 

Eventually we were off, and got our first view of the Sud.  A good flight, and views of the cattle camps.  On landing, there was an official delegation for the police commissioner, but once their formalities were over, a line of singing children weaved out for our official welcome.  You will see it on video.  Our welcome was much louder and more energetic than the police one, and drew a much bigger crowd.  Speeches and prayers on the tarmac, and we were then packed into three vans and we were off.  The singing group did not stop for the next 45 minutes, at each stop out they would get under the nearest tree and keep singing.  We met our host Professor Robert Deng, and then set of to pray at the church.  More speeches, prayers, singing and dancing (Ruth proving to be a repressed groover) and it was off to pastor Peter’s traditional home for lunch.  Rice, chips and four varieties of goat and we were all well fed.  It was our first hot day.  After avoiding the toilets at the airport (Ruth did not like the man in the Ladies who just stayed in there), I don’t think we actually needed a toilet for the rest of the day, despite regularly downing 600ml water bottles.  We will have to work harder at drinking a lot.

After lunch it was back to Professor Robert’s, who is proving to be a great host.  He is very relaxed and friendly, making us feel very much at home and taking us for a walk at dusk.  We only have power from 6pm til 9:30pm, so I will have to stop this section now to take a shower while I still have a light.  Our first day in Bor, and we have been made very welcome in an environment that is quite different from our experience.