The container we were told would
arrive in August. We did our homework as best as possible
last May or June and thought we had things lined up. If you
ever want a lesson in bureaucracy, come to Africa. The next
contact suggested that the container should already be here.
Multiple phone calls to the port were not returned. In
desperation I sent one of my Surgery Residents and one of my
OR staff by bus down to Douala. It turns out that the
container was not there.
Next we heard that apparently the
shipper stated that it was there at the end of August. This
time the same two men accompanied by me confidently went
there again to receive the container. The overnight bus trip
was interesting. One of the Africans next to me kept trying
to put his head on my shoulder to sleep, we finally got that
settled. On arrival at the port it turns out that our ship
had not come in. (The story of my life?)
We used the time to do paperwork
the get through the customs procedure. We then again made
the trip back to our home (this time I bought 2 seats on the
bus). Our third trip was the charm. It took 8 days of
patience working with the unbelievable bureaucracy in the
port and corrupt customs officials.
Your prayers were heard and God
graciously got us through the procedure. As a matter of
principle we have not bribed one person for the three years
that we have been here in Africa and did not start on this
excursion either. God went before us and we were able to
accomplish the task for two thousand dollars. That is a lot
more than we wanted, however when a container was sent 3
years ago, it cost $9,000.
We are thanking God for the
container getting through customs and in an honorable
fashion. Through the course of paper work I am now a
clearing agent with the port authority. If this surgery
stuff does not work out, I now have another vocation.
How can we express our sincere
gratitude to you our friends and generous donors?
Unfortunately we can not, but God is able and we pray that
he will do so.
Strength and Courage, Pokey and
Laurel
