Visit to NorthWest SIL Cameroon Aviation Base

After 8 bone-jarring, dusty hours of this...

We got to visit these wonderful people...

Mark & Jessica Spangler with Alace and I at their home in Kumbo, Cameroon.

The Spangler family lives in the NW region of Cameroon just next to the Banso Baptist Hospital.  They've just welcomed their 5th child into their family, baby Haddassah.  They love being a blessing to those around them... and they make delicious coffee grown in the mountains nearby (7000 ft. + elevation).  For my special assignment as Program Manager in Cameroon for SIL Aviation, it's an honor to be on the same team as the Spanglers and get to serve them.

The 4-seat Robinson R-44 Helicopter that serves the region

The helicopter that Mark flies in the region is an important link for scripture translations to the literally dozens of languages there.  The chopper is also networked with the Baptist hospitals and clinics in the area and is used with mobile medical clinics and many medical evacuations- saving lives.  A 45 minute ride in the helicopter can save a drive of many, many hours or days.

This photo is actually looking downhill.  The runway has at least a 5% grade- the end of the runway drops off into the valley below.  If you look close, you can see the windsock off the end of the strip.

Megan and Sam, our kids, joined some of the Spangler kids in doing a bit of "runway inspection" while kicking a soccer ball and throwing the frisbee.  There is a bit of a dogleg at the top of the slope that the program has in mind to straighten out to add about 200 more meters to the length.

We enjoyed the visit to build relationships with the Spanglers and catch a glimpse of the environment that they're living and serving in.  We have some good ideas on how to assist them as they get ready to receive a new teammate, a pilot/mechanic, in just a few more weeks.  It was well worth the bumpy ride!