Beautiful Buea

hello world!

The Cameroon team has safely arrived in Buea, Cameroon. We are all doing quite well...tired but that is to be expected after a 24 hour journey. Let me introduce you to the team...
Jessica Cooper
Kelly Smith
Meredith Thomas
Emily Watkins
Sharon Penquite
Jason Book
Roan Williams
Mike & Pat Caven

(Having a hard time uploading photos...patience they're coming soon!)

Oh...the stories are going to be fun on this trip. Our flights from Atlanta were relatively uneventful. We enjoyed AirFrance hospitality and spent long enough in Paris to enjoy pain au chocolat. It was good to be in France again-- my heart for the nations seems to always quake louder on European soil.

As we landed in Douala, you could feel the anticipation rising in the team. The humidity greeted us with a warm sticky 80 degrees. We are in Africa!

Sherri Lewis, our host and leader of Bethel Atlanta School of Supernatural Ministy --Cameroon (BASSM-CAM) AND MOST importantly my dear friend, greeted us with a hug smile and glowing face. A welcome we were all longing for after this extensive journey. That is when the chaos began...baggage claim. Hundreds of exhausted people clammering for their luggage. The high school cheer was running through mind..."BE Aggressive...B...E...Agressive." The mother hen in me was instantly in overdrive. We each brought an extra bag with donations for the orphange and school...18 bags! Bumper carts is a mild way to explain the process. Then it was time to face the gauntlet. The masses congregated at the exit...two lines where security officers check your bags before you exit. We were surrounded by men clammering to carry our bags, forcing their hands upon our luggage. We became masters at saying, "NO" without apology.

The security officer looked through a couple bags and suddenly surrendered to the idea to let us all through without further examination.

The anxiety in the team was rising, and this mother hen was praying for PEACE. I tried my best to get them to "hear my voice." It is amazing that when fear enters in how we (speaking in general)lose the ability to hear the voice that will bring peace and direction. I got a better of understanding of the Word..."my sheep with know my voice." As we got the steps...yes steps --with 18 bags all weighing 50lbs we faced our greatest challenge...we are surrounded by young men begging forcefully to carry our luggage. It is customary for locals to beg/work for money by carry your luggage. Can you see the picture now? 10 Americans carry huge bags...we screamed "money!" We persevered. We made it to our taxi van and piled in for a 1+ hour journey to Buea. We piled the 18 bags on the roof, and as Jason quipped, the luggage pile on top of the van was as big as the van. We prayed for angels to sit on the luggage...and off we went.

The road trip to Buea was uneventful...Praise God. The only obstacles...huge speed bumps and the cattle being herded down the road at...midnight?!

We arrived...each of us drained from the airport adreniline rush...settled into each of our host homes. Bucket baths greeted us this morning along with amazing beautiful hostess. We are lounging today...wearing off our jet leg, eating traditional foods, spending time together as team...and preparing for a week of loving Africa.