Running through the streets

Toady was quite a day. My Malagasy friend and I spent over an hour sitting in two lane traffic trying to get into town, to try for the second time to start the process in getting a small car registered. We were stopped about 5 miles from where we wanted or NEEDED to be because of ROAD BLOCKS and did not, could not figure out what was going on.

We turned around, found a parking place and ran/walked as fast as we could to get into the office before they decided not to receive paperwork for the day anymore (this particular office only receives registration paperwork from 8:30 am until 9:30 am Monday through Thursday and if your paperwork is wrong or insufficient then you have to try again the next day.

We had about 15 minutes to get there, get inside, get inline, turn in our paperwork and then rest as we waited to hear back from the processor on the other side of the plastic window. We made it and were able to place the papers inside the window, turn around, sit down, then noticing the CLOSED sign being put up, even earlier than usual... Thanks be to GOD that we were there in time.

Oh, the reason that the streets were blocked is that the Malagasy military are all getting ready for Saturday. You see that is Madagascar's independence day and it is a very big deal here. For over a week now things have been going on that resemble getting ready for Christmas Holidays. There are special things being sold in the streets that resemble paper lanterns in all shapes, designs and sizes. More vendors are out in the streets trying to sell you anything that they can get their hands on.

We actually were able to walk and run through the street circling the lake in the center of town and it is usually filled with traffic as far as you can see so it was a sort of errie feeling. Then we walked past Mounted police all carrying Malagasy flags about 10 of them. As far as I could see down the street were the military personell all dressed to the best and standing in formation... I am not sure if this was a practice for Saturday but from what I am hearing everyone will be out in the city that night celebrating independance. I am praying about going out as well and will be smart. Don't worry...

Have a blessed day and when you have to wait in line or turn in government paperwork, or go online to fill out an application for something, remember how very blessed that you are to live where you live and to live with the freedoms that you have. May you be blessed today!