Many of you have seen the news about trouble in the Central African Republic. Rebels have taken towns in the north and central part of the country. They have agreed to talks with the government, and countries in the area are helping begin the process. Meanwhile, the rebels continue to take towns and fight in others getting ever closer to the capital. (Yesterday they took Sibut – without a fight – which is about 75 miles from Bangui, the capital.)
In the western part of the country where I normally live and
work, all is calm – no fighting or rebels in evidence. Nevertheless, at the recommendation of the
National Church President and the U.S. embassy, all ELCA missionaries have
evacuated. We left Christmas Eve
(spending that in Garoua Boulai, just over the border in Cameroon, and came to
N’gaoundéré on Christmas day.
Since this is the Christmas holiday and church offices
(including those of the two programs I work for) are closed, this feels more
like an unplanned vacation. Of course,
we will not go back until the National Lutheran Churches in CAR and the US
agree that it is safe (so my vacation is likely to be extended…)
Meanwhile, we are visiting sites around N’gaoundéré. Thursday 5 people and a dog climbed to the
top of Mount N’gaoundéré. There were
lots of rocks and some trail. The rock
on the top looks like an “outie” belly button – which I am told is what the word
n’gaoundéré means in the local language!
Here are a few pictures. I love
the one of the dog Lady in the car on the way home. 
Saturday 15 of us – missionaries and Cameroonians – drove
about 1 ½ hours to see Les Chutes (waterfalls) de Tello. The falls are pretty high and very pretty
although not a wide as Niagara Falls or Bouli Falls (near Bangui, CAR). This is close enough to the rainy season that
there was a lot of water, but not as much as there would have been a couple of
months ago. We ate lunch, hiked some,
talked, enjoyed the beauty of God’s creation, and had a great time. Here are a few pictures.
Monday we are planning to visit another area where ruins of
very old villages can still be seen.
Maybe I can write more about that next time.
Merry 6th Day of Christmas.
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