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As you may remember from Greg’s last Shanksteps,traveling to or from Africa is always and adventure.One would think that after his narrow escape fromCameroon 2 1/2 weeks ago that he would have beenallowed easy passage back home to Koza. Here is thestory of his return…As you know, Greg returned home to the US just in timeto be with my mom before she passed away.  He was agreat help to our family, and an incredible support tome.  The week following the funeral, we had planned toget away to the mountains to relax and spend some timetogether, however I got the flu, and Greg spent histime cooped up taking care of me.He was scheduled to leave the US last Friday.  Weawoke Friday morning to (already) 3 inches of snow onthe ground. Knowing that he had a 2 hour drive to NYCin good weather, he planned to leave (with a frienddriving him) early to catch his plane.  They plannedon leaving at 1pm for a 7pm plane.  By then, the newssaid that planes from JFK were leaving 5 hours late,but after checking with the airlines, he was told thathis plane was scheduled to leave on time.  So, off hewent, into a winter wonderland.  After 2 hours on theroad he called to say that they had gone only 40miles.  They decided to keep going and miraculouslymade it to JFK by 520pm.  I was still really skepticalthat his plane would leave on time.  His layover inBelgium was only 1 1/2 hours, so if his plane evenleft a little late, he might have missed hisconnection.  I was trying to convince him to come backto Connecticut and reschedule.  He decided to keeptrying, knowing that he needed to get back to thehospital as soon as possible.So, lo and behold, his plane took off only 10 minuteslate (despite the fact that much of the easternseaboard had been shut down with snow and ice).  Afterbeing in the air for 20 minutes, they made a wideU-turn, dumped off fuel, and returned to JFK.  Theywere told there was some kind of mechanicalmalfunction and that they would have to change planes.After reloading all the baggage and passengers, hisplane finally took off over 5 hours late.  Of coursethis meant that he missed his connecting flight intoDouala, Cameroon; and SN Brussels only flys in toCameroon 3 days a week.  So, he was told that heneeded to wait 2 days for the next flight. He was putup by the airlines and was fortunately able to meet upwith an old med school buddy stationed in Germany.Finally, Monday morning he boarded the plane to Doualawithout problems.  They landed in Douala only to findout that Douala was in the middle of riots due to ataxi strike and that protestors had set fires to cars,created barricades on all major roads, and people werebeing told to not go outside. Six people had alreadydied that morning. Greg had no where to go, and no wayto get there as his contact was unable pick him up.One of the passengers on the same plane called his owncontact and was told to get back on the plane andreturn to Europe.  Greg finally saw a Catholic sisterin the airport and asked if he could get a ride towherever she was going.  He left the airport with herand the driver of the Catholic mission, who drove”like a crazyman, not stopping for stoplights orstopsigns.”  He was told that rioters would stop carswith a fire barricade and attack those in the car.Greg said that the usually very busy, noisy Douala waslike a ghost town.Today is Tuesday, and he is still a “captive” at theCatholic mission in Douala.  He believes that he issafe as long as he doesn’t leave the compound.  Peopleare still not going out in cars. The Sister he came inwith yesterday tried to make it out of Douala thismorning but was stopped at a road block and was toldthat it was unsafe to be out.  All transportation hascome to a standstill – no cars, motorcycles, taxis,busses, trains, or domestic flights in the country.He has a ticket on a plane to the north of Cameroonthat was supposed to leave last Sunday…So, as you can see, he is still living the Adventure.Please, Please pray for his safety and that he is ableto safely get out of Douala soon, and on his way toback home to Koza.I will update you as I know anything.As Always, In His Grip,Audrey (and family)

Shanksteps #85

 I’m running toward the plane, I push past a coupleslower people.  On the plane I find an open seat andquickly claim one.   Last Tuesday evening I received word that mymother-in-law was near the end of life.  On Wednesdaymorning I called a few friends, one in Maroua and onein Douala, to see if they could help find tickets forme to fly back to the USA.  I was told that there wereNO tickets available because of the Chad fighting andhuge influx of people into northern Cameroon.  Lateron I received word back that a ticket had beenpurchased in Maroua.  So I started my trip.  I wastraveling with 5 other Americans who were headed backto the US also.  We arrived 4 hours ahead of time tobe sure we were first in the waiting line.  Then wewaited.  We found out that they had scheduled an extraflight due to the number of people, and ours was thesecond.  The first came and left.  When they startedchecking baggage for the second flight.  We realizedthey had a list of people to go on the flight and wewere not on the list.  They listed first class, thenother “important” people with their families.  So the“less important” people started getting angry.  Eachone at the counter saying why they should be on thelist.  They counted and recounted the number oftickets.  Finally after much discussion the directorsaid there were places for us all and we should go sitdown.  No one moved.  After much discussion we got ournames at the bottom of the list and got boardingpasses.  We waited for a couple more hours till theplane arrived.  In the mean time another flight landedfrom humanitarian services and there was a mad rushfor the door.  After they realized that wasn’t ourflight, half of the people sat back down.  As none ofus believed that there were enough seats, when theplane landed it was chaos.  They locked the exit doorto the airport till they were ready for boarding. Then they called all the first class customers byname.  They went out but would not board the planebecause their families (8-10 children) were not outthere with them.  So they started calling families oneby one.  At this point the people left started nearlyrioting.  They forced the door open and it was a maddash for the plane.  I took the cue and startedrunning.  I found an empty seat and sat down.  Theplane arrived ¾ full.  There were 15 people standingin the isles.  Half of these melted into seats. Children were sitting on their laps, 4 people to 3seats.  Someone in the toilet stall.  The other 5Americans didn’t get in fast enough and were standing.What chaos!  Those who were unable to melt into seatsgradually got off the plane, to try another day.  Iwas so thankful to have made it on the plane.  I hadbeen called that a flight had been arranged out thatnight from Douala to New York with one stop. Arriving in Douala it was much more organized.  I wasable to check in and get my boarding pass without anyproblems.  Waited in the organized line and boardedthe plane in an orderly fashion.  I am always relievedwhen I finally lift off African soil, because it isonly then that I am assured that I am actuallyleaving.  It makes me feel humble when I think of themissionaries that do Bible translation who stay 15-30years in one location and deal with this for that manyyears. As you may know already, I arrived back in the US andmy mother in law died less than 48 hours later.  I amso thankful that I can be here to support my wife anddaughter during this difficult time.  I also thank mychurch mission organization for their understanding. Please pray for my family and in-laws during thisdifficult time.