Our last working day! We travel a little out of town today to Kwapa, but find a huge crowd awaiting our arrival. Apparently people had heard where we would be and had come early from other areas. Then local people had arrived to swell the numbers. Another good venue, a large airy church, but the crowds looking in the windows meant we had to close the shutters. That did not deter people crowding around so Pastor Christopher attempted to get some order by shouting out the window. It became harder and harder to control people coming in the door and to have some semblance of order in our registration. People were being crushed against the door by others crowding in behind.
Finally we made the difficult but sensible decision to close down the clinic to prevent a further breakdown of order. Then of course we had to pack and move our equipment and supplies out without making it too obvious what was going on. Luckily our taxi had stayed nearby and most of the team piled in. Unfortunately Tim still had teeth to extract for 4 people who'd had their anaesthetic shots: never has a dentist worked quicker! By the time he finished and Paul's car was packed with the remainder of our gear the crowd had abated: they had no malice towards us, the only threat coming from sheer numbers and a certain desperation to be seen.
We were all disappointed to finish this way, but relieved that we escaped without more trouble occuring. It also gave us an unexpected free day to pack our equipment and belongings, relax at Paul and Jean's, investigate the town and pick up a few more souvenirs. Our mood had brightened by the evening when we were entertained by a local singer and instrumentalist.
