Covid testing for travel

The tales told of covid testing lines felt daunting. I was not particularly looking forward to the possibility of standing in line all day for a covid test. But everyone was praying we would find favor. Dejoy asked around but knew no one at the testing site. So, we set out early to get a what we hoped would be a jump start. We pulled into the neighborhood of the testing site (there is a steady stream of people on foot heading to the site), turned down a side street, and standing there was a friend of Dejoy’s from their old neighborhood.

Miracle of miracles – he works at the testing site. He “expedited” my application (which apparently is the longest part of process) while we sat in the truck. I forgot my passport but found a picture of it on my phone. The whole process for me, testing included, took 2 hours. Praise be!
Dejoy said it was my day to give him instructions since every other day he has told me where to go and what to do. I wanted a late breakfast, so we went to his sister-in-law’s restaurant for fish, chicken and rice at 10:30 am. And it seemed normal. Maybe I really am partially Liberian. While the restaurant is basic, it has nice and clean, with soft drinks in a cooler and fans circulating the warm air. Our server seems to not care particularly if we order, but I think this is not unusual service. I walked through the kitchen to use the bathroom, and I could see the pots of fish parts waiting to go on the roaring fires (just a tad unbearably hot in the kitchen).
We were in the heart of Monrovia – and there was opportunity to shop the vendors. We walked up and down the street in the heat, mostly people watching and guarding my purse. Hawa in front of me, Dejoy behind me. Of course, it was crowded and chaotic and you dared not let your eyes linger on any item for sale for long. Otherwise, there would be hopes dashed when I did not stop to purchase. And if you stop to look and touch, it is hard to walk away without buying. Still, it is fun to be a part of the energy of the commerce happening there. Dejoy took pictures for me as they didn’t even want me to take my phone out. There was an endless sea of what used to be rainbow colored umbrellas over each vendor, the vibrancy dulled long ago in the sun.
Oh, and I have a negative test result and a certificate to show it!

Prayers:
* Safe, and on time, travels home
* Prayers for a quick adjustment to home - traveling west is harder, I think
* Thanksgiving for the day and testing