We are finally safe and sound on the mission station in Ngaoundere. We departed Montreal at 8pm and arrive in Casablanca at 6:30am. Our flight to Douala did not depart until 5pm (1 hour late). It was a long stopover, but Royal Air Maroq has a transit area, where one can lay down and catch up on lost sleep. Casablanca’s Mohammed V airport is very nice place. Our arrival in Douala was not as nice, as our prearranged transport did not arrive and we were subject to harassment from many dubious characters: some even claiming to be custom officials. We finally crawled into bed at the Ibis Hotel at 3am and were up at 9am to catch a bus to Yaounde at 11am. We had ordered a taxi to take us to the LeCar Bus to Yaounde, when a more serious incident occurred. Two taxis vied for our business which resulted in a small riot among taxi drivers (others joined in). Our luggage was being used as weapons, which resulted in a handle being torn from one suitcase. The hotel manager finally intervened and the Hotel Bus conveyed us to safety and our bus ride to Yaounde. A wheel was yanked off of the other!!! In the future I will suggest avoiding Douala, if possible, and fly directly to Yaounde. When we had booked our flight initially there had been a possibility of flying to Ngaoundere, which is now not possible. (Airline financial problems). We arrived in Yaounde with just enough time to buy our tickets and be on our way at 6pm for a 17 hour train ride. Jim Noss met us at the train station, brought us to our home for the next two months, and then Karen Noss prepared lunch. The language problem here became an issue when I (Jack) inadvertently bought 10 kilos of pomme de terre. Valerie is not too happy as she says we have enough spuds for a year. Val decided with friends Mary Ann & Karen that we would have a 'potato party' - all different recipes ---- Jack says lots of potato pancakes!! We have said many prayers thankful for a safe arrival. We also brought the first good rain as the dry season was still here. The EELC Hospital internet system is in limbo and we must travel into town to forward messages. We are making arrangements for a cell phone. We are with Etienne in a small cyber cafe in a 'hole in the wall' place within the Petit Marché.
God’s blessings, Val and Jack.
PS. It is HOT - Etienne returned yesterday from Maroua up north, the temp was 45C. I, Val, am not complaining yet, but I see by our opening CBC that the 'peg' will be 13C tomorrow.
Shalom... with God Blessings --- Val & Jack Frederick
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