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.