Carlos Brandao

21 dez 2018.

updates: 15 jun 2021/ 13 Jan 2022. 17 April 2023.

I lived in North Africa with my wife and two children for ten years. When I arrived in Morocco we bought a four by four vehicle, a 1993 Land Rover Discovery in Marrakech. It had space for seven adults with the extra two jump seats in the back.

I decided to add a huge roof rack for all the luggage, made of pure heavy iron, designed by myself, and made by a local blacksmith in a small village in the mountains, fifty five km away from Marrakech. The vehicle was reliable, but needed some mechanic work from time to time.

I remember the occasion when a Scottish mechanic friend came all the way from Scotland with two backpacks, one of them with tools and the parts to replace the broken ones. He stayed for a couple of weeks. He did a brilliant job. In the end of his stay, we throw a party for him. He surprised us all arriving wearing a kilt, the traditional Scottish men clothing. Later during the party he worked hard convincing me to wear the kilt. When I finally appeared in the big salon wearing it, the local Moroccans could not believe their eyes. It was fun. Allan is a fantastic man, and did an excellent job fixing the Discovery’s clutch, so it never gave any problem again.

Later the vehicle needed extra help. The problem was bigger. The gear box needed replacement. My friend Michael came from Wales, UK, driving a land rover, towing a trailer with a used gear box to replace mine. What a remarkable job he did helping us in such a good way. We used the Discovery for ten years. When we left Africa for good, after our arrival in 1999, our children almost cried when I told them we were not taking it with us back to the country of our passports. If I wanted to import it to Brazil, I would need to pay a tax equivalent of the cost of a brand new land rover, and in the country it is an fairly expensive vehicle. So, we decided to sell it to a Swiss man in North Africa.

We still miss the Discovery. It was part of our family, a great participant of so many travels and adventures in the country and also crossing the strait of Gibraltar into Portugal, Gibraltar and Spain. I would love to drive a Discovery again. A four by four 7 seats land rover Discovery is a fantastic vehicle if you have the money to afford one, and a taste for adventures. I also drove a 110 land rover when I was working there in Africa.

The four by four capabilities were very useful in the mountains and in the deserts across Morocco into the South, going through the land of Western Sahara, a territory annexed by Morocco in 1975, and then arriving in Mauritania further South. If coming from Tangier, the gate to the Strait of Gibraltar in North Africa, until Marrakech, it would take you about 570 km or 6 hours driving. Now, from Marrakech to Laayoune, it would take you more 880 km and 11 (or 12) hours. And then, from Laayoune to nouadihbou in Mauritania, another 883 Km and 11 hours. I did many times the traveling between Marrakech and Laayoune. But only once Laayoune to Nouadihbou and back. May be one day I would write about those travels. Nowadays the roads are better. I remember when the road between Tangier and Marrakech was not as good as today. And also how dangerous was to travel between Marrakech and Agadir, the first big town towards the South in the way to Laayoune, facing a narrow road in the mountains, with many bends and a high number of trucks on the road. Now that the highway is duplicated, it is much better and safer to travel.

Living in another country dealing with different cultures can be the same as getting a college diploma. In the other hand, to live with a different person could open our minds. Life in the desert can be a picture of our pilgrimage on planet earth. There will be fantastic times, when we enjoy streams in the desert, or in oasis where one can refuel and carry on. The stars at night, shining in the dark. The conversations around the fire in the campsite. But there will be battles along the way, the defeats and victories. The stress. The Looking around for water. And finding the inner source of water that only the followers of Christ can have access to. The tears, and the comfort there is in the inner life with the sweet and all powerful Holy Spirit. The blood Jesus shed on the cross is the basis for the peace and for salvation of all men, but also the way for the healing we can find in Jesus. The suffering along the path we follow on planet earth, and the encouragement in the midst of it. And despite all circumstances, and the dealing with bad and good people, one can know for sure that there is a presence available to anyone willing to touch God and find in Him the true source of life.

The best of all would be the experience of knowing Him, to grow in intimacy with Him, learning to trust the Lord, crossing oceans of suffering knowing the Captain is in charge, knows the route, and is more than able to take us to the other side safely. There is the precious time when we learn to stay calm in His presence, even when the world is falling apart around us. No doubt one can see his own mind expanding by traveling abroad. In the same way, there is a strong possibility God will make good use of geography, tough situations and people (not exactly in that order) to improve human beings like you and me. It is true that life is good, but finding deep relationship with God is much much better. Life on planet earth is short and full of delusions. The real life is elsewhere. If you are not there yet, you may agree with me later, when you find perfect peace and the true life only found in Him.

After living in the desert, away from relatives and from our country, I came to the conclusion that there is a parallel with the life we face in our daily routine. There are many of those moments, when there isn’t water available, nor food as far as your eyes can see. And what I mean is, there are those tough times when your only hope is God himself. No one can help you. Nothing you do works. Only God can rescue you. Lucky you if you have God in your life. And then its the time you realize there is a God you can call upon. It is the sweetest thing to get to know Him. To the point that you would seriously say a prayer to thank Him for all the trouble you just faced, as because of it, you came to get in touch with Him. Then you come out from your desert, or just endure the trial. Not only alive, but thriving, as you realize there is life and hope within.So, do not waste your time. Do know that trials are opportunities for you to grow, and became who you are meant to be.

And then, after your pilgrimage comes to an end here on Earth, you will overcome death, because Jesus did it for you, and you will live forever there, in heaven, where all tears, sadness and suffering is no more, only true love towards God, and all the good things He has there awaiting for you.