The Man Loves Cars

Brent is a man who loves cars. He has always enjoyed his vehicles, although he has used great restraint in what he buys because he's also a practical man. The Audi of his dreams is still on the showroom floor someplace. But...... he does love his "52 chevy" and his "salsa red" Tundra with its glass packed muffler.

It was most distressing to him when we got to Burundi and had no car at all. Then after three weeks in a taxi and much effort in working with Temporal Affairs and the Burundi Toyota dealer, we finally got word that our new (bottom of the line) twin white Hilux 4-wheel drive trucks with camper shells were ready. He was still pretty excited to get a vehicle.

Sadly, when we went to pick them up, we found that they had not been able to get the standard factory camper shell, so they had fiber glass shells fabricated in Rwanda. Somehow that didn't sound like a great idea and sure enough.......... Can you say UGLY?!

The pictures are flattering. There were no windows in the shells, without which it was almost impossible to back up. Brent called them the flower delivery trucks. Our elders wouldn't get into the back. They would rather walk five miles. They said it was a "prison." The rear view mirror was useless and the back door didn't close. The paint was already peeling off and they looked slightly used.

After multiple trips to the dealership, much discussion and becoming personally acquainted with every member of the management of Burundi Toyota, they came up with a suggestion. We should give them the trucks. They would drive them to Rwanda and have windows installed and bring them back. It would take about a week. Send our trucks with their drivers, across the border, through the jungle to Rwanda and back? I think NOT! Finally, they decided that they could cut the fiberglass at their shop and put windows in the front and back of the shells so we could see. So, back to the shop they went and the process began. They were able to take the shells off and let us use the trucks while the job was done. They looked pretty good without the shells, but security is a problem if somebody can just jump into your truck bed, so the shells would have to go back on.

It took a little longer than expected because the Muslim crew worked on them and they have to stop and pray five times a day. We'd never heard that excuse for late delivery before. But they did it stop and pray. We can hear the call to prayer five times every day. This is how the trucks look now. We can see out the back window and close the back door. They're not perfect, but TIA. All is well.

We were at the dealership so much that in the process Brent made a few friends. He started to admire the white Burundi Toyota shirt that the workers wore and finally asked if he could buy one. One of his new found friends said they didn't sell them, but they would give him, such a good customer, one for free. They did! Nothing is ever free in Africa. It was awesome. Brent now sports a fancy Burundi Toyota polo shirt and a hat to go with his "Salsa Red" Tundra.

Pretty cool!