Update from Chicago

Well, so far my flight to Paris and connection to Douala, Cameroon are on time.  I spent the morning at the hotel that was so generously supplied by American Airlines after the delay yesterday.  It was a peaceful morning spent in getting some emails out, connecting by phone with the Abbotts to inform them of the change in itinerary, talking to Mom and Dad on the phone, and spending some quiet time with God.  It was a much needed break after the preparations for this trip. 

I have been blessed with peace about this trip up until now.  God has been faithful to keep me safe in His arms.  However, I am a bit anxious now that the international portion of this trip is coming up.  Please keep me in your prayers as I endeavor to seek God's will in Cameroon.  I was reminded in an old letter this afternoon that it is when we are doing crucial ministry that Satan strikes the hardest.  Pray that I would be mindful of that and not become discouraged if spiritual opposition does come.  Pray for the Baka team, that they would be encouraged by my visit.  Pray for the Baka, that they would be receptive and understand the purpose of my trip to their homeland.  And pray that I would have more opportunities to minister to people, whether they are fellow travelers, Cameroonians, missionaries, or others that I come into contact with.  Praise God for many opportunities to tell others about God because of the delay in travel I have experienced.

I hope to update you soon after I arrive in Cameroon.  As soon as I am able to get an internet or email connection, that is.

Delayed

What an adventure this trip has been so far.  And I have not even boarded a plane.  I am currently sitting in the SFO airport waiting for a plane that has been delayed for about 1 ½ hours (so far).  Dad and Mom were gracious enough to drop me off at the airport with my roller luggage and my Rubbermaid tub.  I proceeded to the e-ticket check-in, where I was told by the computer that I would have to check in at the international terminal since my destination is international.  That made sense to me, so I made my way to the appropriate terminal, with some difficulty.  I was unable to find the correct airline at the international terminal, so I wrestled my luggage back down to the domestic terminal.  I was able to check in without difficulty this time and relieve myself of my checked luggage.  I was a little worried about whether my luggage was within the 50 pound allowance and was greatly relieved to see that both pieces weighed 50 pounds exactly.  I proceeded through security without incident and went to my gate to await the plane. 

At about the time that I was supposed to board the plane, I was told that the flight would be delayed about 35 minutes.  After that, I was told that it would be delayed 1 hour more.  As I sit in this packed area of the airport, I have become aware that there are quite a few people affected by this change of plans.  One man sitting across from me is becoming very agitated.  Others are frantically making plans for their domestic connections. 

But praise God for giving me peace regarding this situation.  I will miss my flight into Brussels and also the flight into Douala, but there is another flight that will go to Paris and on to Douala.  My hope is that I will be able to take that flight and be only one day late.

Update at 10 pm Central time:

I'm now in Chicago after a late, but uneventful flight.  I missed both the flight to Brussels and also the alternative flight to Paris today, but I will be able to fly to Paris tomorrow and on to Douala the next day.  I'll only be one day late.  Praise God for keeping me so calm during this adjustment in my itinerary.  Praise Him also for some time to chill tonight and tomorrow before I fly again.

Sovereign over Passports

Let me tell you about the events surrounding my passport renewal. As I am leaving for Cameroon soon, I decided it would be a good idea to renew my passport, which was due to expire at the end of March. So, in January, with plenty of time to spare, I sent in my renewal application, the appropriate fees, a couple of passport photos, and my old passport. I was a little nervous about getting the new passport in time, but I had 8 weeks before I was due to leave, and passports usually take about 4 weeks to be renewed.

I didn’t start worrying about my passport until I realized that I was missing my Cameroon residence permit. You see, since I lived in Cameroon before, it was easier to just apply for a residence permit than to constantly reapply for a visa (Cameroon graciously allows their missionaries to do this). So, when it came time to return to Cameroon, I didn’t need to worry about a visa, since I am already a recognized resident of Cameroon. I keep this residence card inside of my passport (for safe keeping). I remembered removing it from my passport before sending the renewal, but suddenly I could not find it any more. After turning my house upside down a couple of times, I finally decided it must still be in the passport and it was time to try to contact the passport agency, and pray.

I first tried to check online if my passport had been processed yet, without success. So, I proceeded to call on the telephone. Keep in mind that the passport agency has been flooded with new applications for passports since the new travel regulations. I tried and tried, and after about a half hour on hold finally got to talk to a human being. She was very kind, but insisted that the passport agency had not yet begun processing my application (after 3 weeks!). I was told to call back next week. I called the following week and got the same results. This time, however, I was told to check my bank statement, and to call back once my check cleared. I checked my bank statement every day for a couple of weeks and was sincerely surprised when I finally saw the check clear about 5 weeks after the application was sent. The next day I called the passport agency once more. The kind woman on the other end was able to confirm that my application was received, but broke the news that it would take several more weeks for it to be processed. She was unable to tell me if my residence card was with my passport. I left my phone number with her and requested that I be called if my residence card was found. I also paid the additional fee to expedite my application.

About a week later, I received a phone call from the passport agency. My fears that my residence card was lost were confirmed. The woman on the phone also stated that I would likely receive my passport only 3 days before my departure. When I mentioned that I would need a visa in the absence of a residence permit, she was sympathetic to my situation and said that I would get my passport back “much sooner.” I determined that night to search every square inch of my house once more, even if it took all night. By God’s grace, I found the residence card!!! I immediately got on my knees to thank God for helping me find it. Ah, but God was not yet done. When I was at work the next day, I got a phone call from Mom. She said that she was at my house doing some artwork and the FedEx guy came with a small package. The passport came the very day after I spoke to the kind woman on the phone. I know that God wants to build my faith, but sometimes I question the methods He uses. Well, I guess God really is sovereign over the passport agency tooJ