Every time I think of up-dating you on the progress in getting a vehicle here for the clinic, I have images of Where's Waldo? In my head. I hear about people shipping their vehicles around the world and I start to cringe..... I knew from the beginning that it would be a process, but instead I have had an ordeal!!
As many of you know, I started the car process to save money. I was able to purchase the vehicle in the states for about $16,000 less than I could buy the same vehicle in Ghana. I thought this was a no-brainer. The cost of shipping was about $5,000 so, I would still be way ahead, right? I was told shipping would take anywhere from 10-12 weeks. Ok, no problem...that's not soooo bad, right?!
Well, my Ford Escape left my possession on April 15th, and to date, I still do not have the vehicle in my possession. The number of weeks which have passed are 23!!!!!
The fact that the shipping company lost the car key around week three was the first indication that we were in for a frustrating time. Of course, I was requested to send them another key. Well, if you are familiar with the new anti-theft features for cars, you know that you must have the vehicle and one key in order to make a new key. I did not have the car and they did not have a key....I was very fearful to send them another key. (for some reason, I had made a 3rd key before leaving the states....at the cost of $130.) At this point the car was in Central America.
I had several conversations with the shipping company and it was decided that the vehicle would continue on it's trip to Africa as a "tow-vehicle". Of course, several people at this point were fearful that I would never see the car again. And at times, I also wondered if it was already stolen, but then I realized that I was wrong to put my trust in man and should be trusting in the Lord. So I found relief in talking with my Heavenly Father and decided to let him take care of the situation. The car slowly made it's way to Belgium.
After being told the car was being loaded onto a ship...no wait...it wasn't loaded....it will be on another ship in another week.....no, missed that ship so now it will be in another 4 days....no, sorry...Belgium won't ship it as a tow vehicle!! They are insisting on a key. So after a few conversations again with the shipping company, I Fedexed another key to Belgium. Once they received the key it only took about 6 more weeks before I received confirmation that the car was finally on another ship to Ghana.
The car arrived in Ghana on September 5th. So, now I can go get it, right? Not so fast!!!
Ghana has paperwork they must do and I must pay import taxes to the government. Well, if I would have known more about the government here BEFORE shipping the vehicle, I would have understood why cars are so expensive in Ghana. They want $7,500 for taxes!! I expected $4-5,000. But it is about double that. Dan was told we could come to pick up the vehicle on Sept. 16th. So, he arrived at the Tema Port first thing Monday, Sept. 19th. The plan was for him to get the car or Monday or Tuesday and return home with it on Wednesday.
Hold on to your horses!....he filled out paperwork all day on Monday. Was told that he would have more paperwork to file on Tuesday and since Wednesday is a holiday...he would be able to get the car on Thursday. Well, on Tuesday the computer's at the Port were down all day, so all the Tuesday paperwork had to wait until Thursday. The tax payment was made on Tuesday. Yesterday, Dan continued with the paperwork. He told me he was finally able to see the car! But it wouldn't start....
At 5pm last night, Dan sent me a message which said that after getting the car started and waiting in line for 3 hours, he was still not able to get the import stamps! So he checked back into a hotel (because Tema is a port city the hotels are not cheap)and would try again today. By the time all the shipping, import taxes, and expenses from being at the port for a week are paid, I may have saved about $2,000. Worth it? I think not......
I am praying that I will be able to show you a picture of the clinics car within the next couple of days.......but, I am not holding my breath.....
No comments:
Post a Comment