Trip to N'Djamena

September 1, 2010

To let everyone know the Parker family has tickets to come back to the states and visit for November 9 - January 14th. We are very excited and can't wait to see all our friends and family. We are having a hard time completely separating ourselves from Africa and so have decided to try to do what we can to bring Tony home with us for a visit. It would be a chance of a lifetime for him. We are not sure if it will even be possible for we have heard that it can be difficult. We just thought that we would leave it in God's hands. But we are doing all the paperwork. Which leads me to my story.

On Sunday Brichelle, Tony and I made a trip to N'Djamena to see about getting him a Visa to come to America. On our way we have to take an hour and a half motorcycle taxi ride to Kelo. It is the rainy season so there are puddles on the road that in some places cover it completely. We each are having our own adventure. We are speeding up and slowing down. Going from one side of the road all the way over to the other to avoid puddles. We stop and get off our motorcycles so that our drivers can help a passing truck get pushed out of trouble. Tony's driver seems to be in a race and always end up way ahead and then has to wait for Brichelle and me. Brichelle's motorcycle has a broken peddle and she is struggling with her foot. I have about a 35 lb backpack on with all the important papers and two computers and camera and other things that are making my trip stressful. I am just hoping that we don't end up in one of the puddles. I have to laugh to myself as we are going through herds of oxen with some of the biggest horns. All I could think about is some of the patients at the hospital that has come in from horn injuries. Some of the horns are bigger than the width of my arms stretched out as far as they will go. Then all of a sudden we are at a complete stop. It takes my brain a minute to figure out what is about to happen. We are all asked to get off of our motorcycles and get into a dugout canoe. I cannot believe it. I am freaking out a little inside thinking what is actually going to happen here? The taxi motorcycle drivers end up arguing for about five minutes on how much they are going to be charged. Things are finally settled and off we go. Two adult men, the three of us and one motorcycle. I begin to sing row row row your boat to Brichelle which she does not find this funny at all. I have a moment when I am thinking only in Africa would I be in this situation. We are passing men and women that have their clothes rolled up as high as they will go and all their things on their head. Now remember this is the road but it is completely covered with the river that we would go to to see hippo's. I just think it is so funny. One man holds on to the handle bars of the motorcycle and is in water up to his hips. He walks all of us across to the other side. We made it without tipping over. And here we are on our way again. We finish our motorcycle trip and get safely on a bus headed toward N'Djamena for 6 hours.

We will be staying here in N'Djamena for about four or five days, however long it takes to get all the business taken care of. It is like a different world here. They actually have regular stores to get groceries. We will do all we can to enjoy the time away and have a few candy bars or cereal. It will be a nice break from the bush. I must say that I am really stepping out of my comfort zone here, doing things that I never thought I would do without Jamie. I guess I have decided just to take the adventure and practice faith and leave fear behind. And what a trip it has been this last year.

Amazing!

Tammy