Yesterday I had to catch Roy between devotions and the orchards, to get his signature on my travel papers to go on my trip across the river to visit Fulani friends.
Funny thing about these twice weekly trips – we have to jump through so many hoops just to go 15 miles. It is true that there is an international border involved, between C.A.R. and Cameroon, and it is true that C.A.R. is not yet a peaceful nation, but I just wish I didn’t have to make a letter, in triplicate, complete with a stamp/seal near Roy’s signature, giving myself permission to drive my car and giving myself permission to carry whoever I have going with me, to give to 3 “offices”. I wish I didn’t have to wait for 6 different barriers to be opened allowing me to drive through. I wish I didn’t have to get out of the truck to shake hands with customs and immigration people, times 3 on the C.A.R. side, and times 4 on the Cameroon side. I wish the roads were not pot-holed, wash boarded dirt and I wish the big semis that we pass didn’t drive so fast, especially around blind curves in the road. BUT, all that said, that is all part of getting to be with my friends. Totally worth it!!!
