We are back in Yendi; it was shortly after 8:00pm when we arrived at the mission house. We were not happy that we had to drive after dark but our flight from Accra to Tamale was delayed by more than 2 hours. Of course no one could or would tell us that it was delayed. It was a good thing for us that it was delayed because we had hard time getting checked in. We were standing in line when the hotel manager called and said that we had forgotten to turn in our room key. Steve quickly called Bismark, the guy that usually drives us to and from the airport. We paid him to come to the airport, pick up the key and take it back to the hotel for us. Our luggage this time became a problem. We had so many pieces. We decided that the guy that was checking us in just did not seem to know what he was doing. I personally think that he was afraid that we were going to balk on the cost of the extra luggage because he only put bag tags on the first piece of luggage that he weighed; then he weighed and set the other 10 pieces aside. We cannot pay for excess luggage at the check-in counter; Steve had to go to the other side of the building and stand in line to pay. Steve then brought the receipt back to the check-in counter and stood in line again! By the time they got the bags tagged it was time to board our plane. We were happy when we found out it was delayed because this plane is small and the overhead space is tiny so we always have to check our roller bag carry-ons. Steve’s backpack and my purse always go inside the plane with us. The guy told me that my personal item was too big and I would have to check it! What! I can’t check my cameras and money! I told them that I was not putting it overhead but under the seat in front of me. I was told that it is not “advisable” to put anything under the seat; he really wanted me to check it. When I explained what was in the bag the female supervisor said that I could remove everything of importance and carry that on with me! I just looked at her and asked, “What do you expect me to put all the things in when I unload my purse?” She then said that I could take the purse if it only weighed 5 kilos which is 11 pounds. I took my big camera out of the bag; put the biggest lens I have on the camera; removed ½ the money and put it in Steve’s backpack (I bet his backpack weighed 25 pounds) and put the other lenses in a bag from one of the stores. We had to weigh it several times but I got it down to 7 kilos and she said that she would let it go. As soon as we got checked in I put the cameras and lenses back in my purse.
We were just taking off our shoes and preparing to go through the security check point when this same agent said that they needed Steve to come with them to open one of the bags because they saw something suspicious in it. Really! I went ahead and went through the security check point while Steve went downstairs and opened the bag. They have an
x-ray machine that they run the luggage through. They saw a set of hedge clippers; you know the ones that look like huge scissors. I guess they thought that it was some sort of weapon!
We still had to wait for over an hour for our flight to take off but if it had not been for the delayed flight we would have probably still been in Accra. We are happy to be safely back in Yendi.
Thank you for all the prayers that you have sent up for a safe trip for us!
In HIS Service,
Steve and Kandie
