A couple of days ago I returned from a Taskforce trip in Lomei, Togo (Missions trip to work with MKs).  The Taskforce trip went rather well...a few minor hick-ups but the time with the MKs was awesome!  They lost 12 bags of our group on the way there...6 personal bags and 6 programs bags.  We arrived on a Tuesday, so most of us were without clean clothing and all the supplies for our individual age groups at the start.  In the end things worked out...the hotel had a laundry service and most people either had a change of clothing or were able to borrow clothes from others...so we made it without smelling too bad.  For the older youth we played many games like cuncha cuncha, snaps, magic and many others that kept everyone entertained.  Friday afternoon the bags arrived so we were able to wear our clothing!!! and then get all the candy and music to the youth before they left on Sunday.  So yeah...all in all it was a blast and everything went really well.

Then came the trip back...

Starting at 4am (Togo time) we headed over to the airport where we were some of the first passengers to check in.  Obviously the Togoleese know something we don't.  When we were checking in our bags we spent like 5 minutes going over what seats we would like with the ticket man...don't know exactly why because our boarding passes didn't have seat numbers and it was a free-for all when we got on the plane.  Just a pleasant reminder of being in the third world where no good effort goes unwasted! 

Security process at the airport:   Arrive walk through a metal detector but don't x-ray the bags because the machines don't get turned  on that early...heck...metal detector beeps...who cares...too early for the security guard to care evidently as well!  Check in our bags where the counter guy obviously checks our passports and gives us our boarding passes.  Walk 20 feet and go through a checkpoint where one guy looks at our passports and boarding passes.  Walk 15 feet and then you have the regular passport guy who stamps it.  Walk 20 feet and another guy checks our passports and boarding passes but this time we also pass our hand bags through an x-ray machine.  Also, walk through a metal detector but evidently the beeps still have no significance to cause any effect.  Finally, we arrive in the gate boarding room...and we sit and wait.  Ironically, everyone else waits just outside the gate boarding room....why?  Who knows...maybe they are going to that other gate just before coming in to this waiting room?  Maybe....but no.  They know something we don't!  30 mins before take off time they start another security check...but in order to do so everyone has to leave the waiting room and line back up to get in the waiting room...needless to say being one of the first in the room made us one of the last in line...which wouldn't be too much of an issue except for the whole free for all to find a seat...ofcourse when you get on the plane everyone is spread out and acting like they are sleeping so hopefully people won't try to sit next to them...clever!  So back to our security check point....one guy checks the passport and boarding passes (because since the last 4 checkpoints I've decided to adopt a false identity and sneak on to the plane) and the second person scans us with a hand held metal detector...but again...evidently some beeps have more significance than other beeps...she only questioned about half of my beeps...I'm sure glad she didn't ask about the uzi underneath my shirt...or the explosives in my shoes...

Fly to Morrocco...get off the plane...get on a bus drive about half a mile in one direction and go into a building.  Let it be noted that from where we get off the bus there is another bus about 20 feet away at a different exit in the building.  Walking about 70 feet through the building only to get a security checkpoint where one guys checks our carry on, passports, and baording passes (because yes...once again I've decided to switch identities since I just got off your plane right over there...oh yeah and I found explosives on the bus on the way over here which I put in my carry-on) and another guy gropes me for that uzi (thankfully I ditched that!).  So the pat down was too efficient that's for sure but this time there is no metal detector...walk out the door and get on the bus (yes the one that was right next to where we got off the other bus) and drive back half a mile in the direction we came from to board a plane to fly to NY.

Needless to say I was glad to get back to the states where they check my passport once and when I get screened...they only do it once but they pay attention to all those little beeps!  The TSA may miss things here in the states but atleast you don't get checked half a dozen times and I know they are paying closer attention than say in some places!

Ofcourse, arrival in NY lifted my spirits only to be dashed when my personal bag was the only bag not to show up...(still missing by the way...or as the pre-recorded voice says "Your status is still pending").  Fly back to Springfield without any glitches...at this point I've been traveling for 25 hours.  Get back to springfield...wait for the luggage to come through baggage claim to get the bag that I brought home for a missionary (my bag...yep...still not here).  Then I go to the ticket counter to file my claim...to add insult to injury I have to wait like 30 mins.  Not any particular person's fault...just the way it is.  Springfield is a small airport so the ticket counter people also do the luggage and check-in and everything for their respective airlines.  So, I have to wait for them to finish with the airplane and luggage and return to the ticket counter...

So...yeah...that was fun!

I'll have more third-world stories later!