Stateside

I'm home! I'm tired, as I expected I would be, and not super motivated to get through all the things on my to-do list today. In fact, I haven't even ventured outside, but that may be denial in action as I come to terms with 5 degrees instead of the 88 degrees I got pretty used to this past month.

The good-bye was tearful as we boarded the SIL plane to begin the first leg of the journey back to Minnesota. Many of our colleagues and friends, and even Saliou's father, were at the airport to see us off and as I hugged Remi and William goodbye, I missed them already. In a few short weeks, I had not only grown to respect and admire them and the work they do so well, I had grown to love them as friends and brothers. I expect another trip to Ngaoundere will be in my future, to go back and see Remi and William, and so many others who have become a part of my life now.

Saliou's father at the airstrip

L to R: Emmanual, Duoada, Bouta Lambert, Saliou's father, William, Me, Remi

The SIL plane touches down in Ngaoundere.

As we waited for Darryl, our pilot to arrive at the airstrip, we were all pretty nervous that he would be able to actually fit all 5 of us and our luggage in this pretty tiny plane. As the plane appeared into view, and I saw how really small it was, I got even more nervous. Darryl weighed EVERYTHING, and we snuck in a few kilos under the limit, and then he magically fit the bags into nooks and crannies, and we got on board. A few last minute instructions about where the machete and emergency satellite phone could be found in the unlikely event that we would be making an "unscheduled" landing, (which only made me wish I had brought some ativan with me) and we were off! It was soooooooo fun!

Coming to Yaounde

Me with Darryl, the pilot, AFTER our smooth and safe landing in Yaounde. It's the first flight that I have been on where the pilot gathered us in prayer before taking off. I was cool with that! And that was before I was instructed on where the machete was located in case of an emergency. 

A view of Yaounde from the lower part of the city.

We were picked up at the small SIL airport (also the Cameroon Air Defense Station) by Felix, the driver who got Jared and I around Yaounde safely on our arrival a month ago. He was wearing his heavy, green, wool army suit, and smiling big. He brought us to Anne and Willie Landgi's, the ELCA Mission coordinators in Yaounde, to hang out until we had to catch the flight to Paris at 11:30 PM. It gave us a chance to take a nap, repack our luggage, have dinner. Felix came back in the evening and proceeded to get us through all 8 or 10 security check points. I think we'd still be there, bribing people to get on the airplane if we didn't have Felix. Everyone at the airport knows and loves him. It was like traveling with Moses through Egypt.

The road outside Anne and Willie's house. This is a totally typical scene, people walking with huge and heavy loads on their heads, like this lady with the suitcase. They must have the strongest necks and backs! 

The view from the other direction from Anne's home. Anne and Willie's home is surrounded by a 12 foot high concrete wall with barbed wire along the top and they employ a 24 hour security guard. Safety and security is really a concern. 

I thought this final posting would have more to it, but I'm finding I'm just kind of depleted today. Pictures are maybe the better way to end. I think back to over a year ago when I came home from a frustrating day at work and happened to read an article in the New York Times by Nicholas Kristof about healthcare in Africa. It was then that the idea that it was time to leave my comfort zone and see something different registered. It's been a series of conversations and connections and timing, on and off and on again, that culminated in what I would count in the Top 5 Most Significant Experiences of My Life.

Luck. Fate. Destiny. Blessings. Gratitude. Peace.

The door is shut and the plane pulls away.  With tears and smiles, I wave until I can no longer see the bright yellow and blue spots that are Remi and William.