We just arrived in a small village, far from any regular tourist attractions.
While boarding the train we already felt it was different, when the train staff come to see if these foreigners have got onto the right train. We might have appeared a bit lost.
The man behind me (next to Wayne) was very friendly and helpful.
When we stepped onto the platform, I felt like a animal at the circus. Some people stopped and stared, others were cheering, while some others tried in their best english to greet us, "Welcome to Egypt!", "Where you from?"
So we stepped out of the station, hoping to find our designated tuk-tuk driver waiting for us. But he was nowhere to be found. So we decided to wait in the shade across the street, to get out of the midday sun.
We haven't even had time to put down our bags before a man dressed in jeans and a white shirt approached us waving the two-way radio in his hand. A bystander explain to us that he is a policeman.
"Who are you?", "Where are you from?", "Where are you going?". The first salvo of question were fired in rapid succession. Then the instruction follows "get back to the station building".
By now tensions are running high, we can't get through to our host, the policeman's has now reached the end of his english. He is on the radio, then he tries to communicate something to us, Wayne tries to communicate with him but confusion reigns in those moments.
At last, the host is on the line, handing the phone to the policeman at least now some of his questions can be answered. By now all the kids, and I mean ALL the kids in the surrounding area has gathered in front of us. All of them want to greet and touch us, but some well placed threats from the policeman and other bystanders kept them at bay.
The policeman directed us back into the train station, back onto the platform where we just disembarked.
So what is happening now, are we being sent back to Cairo? After a few minutes a police van arrives, big enough for all 6 of us plus our luggage. By now the tuk-tuk driver has also arrived, for those who do not know what a tuk-tuk is.
Web definitions : Tuk Tuk
An auto rickshaw or three-wheeler (tuk-tuk, trishaw, auto, rickshaw, autorick, bajaj, rick, tricycle, mototaxi, or baby taxi in popular...
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tuk-Tuk
It does not have space for luggage, and 2 maybe 3 people can fit in the back.
Now we follow the driver to the tuk-tuk, when we get to the police van that arrived earlier, we are met by 2 more uniformed police officers (one of them carrying a full automatic assault rifle aka AK47). We are instructed to place all our bags on the back of the double cab pick up. Reluctant at first we are instructed a second time, so now we comply.
Having placed our luggage on the back of the pick up, we continued on foot, with the tuk-tuk driver. As we get to where the tuk-tuk is parked, the police van with our luggage pulls up next to us, the policeman with the assault rifle sitting on the back with our bags. Now three of us is instructed to get into the tuk-tuk and three of us in the police van. Where are they taking us now?
We set off, the tuk-tuk in the lead and the police van (with Christine, Howard and myself) following. The police siren gets used a lot, and then I realize, we are being escorted by the police to our destination.
Peace comes over me, and start to enjoy this ride. I can see why the politicians in South Africa like having their "blue light brigade". We ease through the busy streets, and whenever there is a person, car or donkey in the way, there goes the siren. It looks like Moses parting the Red sea, and we speed through.
At last we reach our destination, but we have to stop a distance away with the police van, the mass service just concluded and the streets are full of people. The police escort us to our place of residence and the get all the necessary details.
How different this could have ended?
My son, do not let wisdom and understanding out of your sight, preserve sound judgment and discretion; they will be life for you, an ornament to grace your neck. Then you will go on your way in safety, and your foot will not stumble. When you lie down, you will not be afraid; when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet. Have no fear of sudden disaster or of the ruin that overtakes the wicked, for the Lord will be at your side and will keep your foot from being snared. (Proverbs 3:21-26 NIV)
Father I thank You for always being on our side, I thank You for Your protection over us. And I honour You, for Your plans are perfect, even if we have no idea what is going on, Jesus is there in our situation. We can only be amazed at what is happening around us. Jesus we want to bring you the glory, for none of this was by our own might or strengh. we could not even communicate. Amen