Shanksteps #87 follow up to 86 in Cameroon
This is a follow up to the adventure and craziness that I found myself in by surprise. I would think that Air Brussels would tell their passengers about the dangers in their arrival area, but that is not the case. So I was at the catholic mission and basically under “house arrest” because of all the turbulence in the streets. Wednesday I saw 200-400 men and boys go marching by denouncing the president of the country and gasoline prices. A military vehicle was following them with about 20 army personnel. Each day up till then I had heard of burning of cars that ventured out and also of motorcycles. The city was silent other than the protesters. I also watched on the national television about things theprotesters were doing and things they were destroying. It showed burning of items in the streets, police combating unruly protesters, and the general chaos of the day. Thursday was calmer and the flight north said they would likely be going. But in the morning they cancelled it saying they would go the following day. A few private cars started moving around. Taxies and buses were not to be seen. I stayed put again. Friday things were finally moving. The airline again cancelled their flight and said they would go on Sunday. I was real interested in reaching the hospital, which had been without physician for so long. So I traveled to Yaounde the capital. All traffic was moving. I boarded a bus with about 40 others and we left the city. On the road we left I saw evidence of black spots all over the road from burned things to stop cars. I saw about 8 cars that had been burned. 4 tanker trucks that werealso burned. And nearly every Total gas station I went passed was entirely ruined and everything stolen, papers strewn all over, pumps with holes all over and pulled off their bases. Hoses cut, and storefronts demolished. I passed one in good condition. I asked how that survived, the passenger next to me said, “he probably paid off the mob to leave it alone!” It was very sad all the destruction that occurred. I had an uneventful ride to Yaounde. I found out that a mission plane was travelingto the north, and I was able to purchase a ticket on that plane for Saturday. It left as planned and I arrived in Maroua to go get my truck. I was able to make it to Koza uneventfully that night, and thank God for His protection. Praise God, after leaving the USA 8 days ago, I’m finally at home. Thank you for all of your prayers.
In His Service, Greg