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 #86 US to Cameroun