Bum Airfield Progress

We thank the Lord for progress in the Bum airfield project.  For those of you who have followed our blog, you may know this the area where we have taken many survey and preaching trips in the last two years.  The journey there is a long arduous drive normally.  It is typically unreachable during the peak of rainy season.  The Lord has opened doors with government and traditional leaders.  Now, Yaounde officials have seen the sight and we are waiting for their final permission to begin clearing a piece of land for a new airfield.

So, going to Bum used to take a lot out of us (and my car!).  However, David and I were able to travel to and from Bum twice in one week recently since it is dry season and also because we have discovered that by flying in to a certain airstrip, most of our ground time in a car is cut down.  The first trip two weeks ago, we flew part way then rented a motorcycle from a guy near the airstrip to take to Bum.  On our second trip, the town council sent their 4x4 truck since we had government officials from Yaounde accompanying us.  Here are a few pictures of our two trips to Bum to select the site for the airfield. Thanks for praying!

Discussing with the Fon on one of the bridges over Kimbi River

 With the First Deputy Mayor and the Paramount Fon

The Bum authorities and I looking at my GPS and writing down some coordinates. 

 Left to right: the Fon of Kimbi, me, the First Deputy Mayor, the Divisional Officer, and the Paramount Fon

David and I rented a motorcycle to get to and from the airfield.  It took us about 1 1/2 hours to drive from this airfield over to Bum.  I had to get off the bike and walk once there and once back due to the steep rocky hill. 

David and I loved camping out and sleeping in a tent by the plane. 

A beautiful sunrise to welcome us for a beautiful day to fly back to Sabga.  I love the Northwest Region of Cameroon!!
The following are some pictures of our second trip with the officials from Yaounde coming alongside to see and approve what we had chosen for the airfield site:

I had a strong head-cold on the day of the mission, so I asked if Tom could fly David and I out.  The dry season haze had set in again and visibility got down to about a mile again...terrible day for flying (especially with a head cold and no auto-pilot:)  Bro. Needham did a great job and was a huge help in flying the Yaounde team as well. 

Wow, a 4x4 Toyota Hillux came to pick us up at the field!  We never touched a motorcycle on this trip!!  I am praying about getting one of those trucks! 

Checking the coordinates of the airfield site with an Air Force Colonel and the Divisional Officer of Bum. 

Lots of people present!  The people seem really excited about this "development" for their area. 

Riding in the back of truck with guys from Kimbi village.  We wanted to check out another possible airfield site the next day, but the first site is the one we ended up going with. 

The important people got to ride inside the truck :)  I had a good time in the back! 

A large sinkhole of some sort developing along one of the roads.  People believe that demons live under the ground there and are causing the collapse.  That hole is right beside the road as you can see above and also in the picture below.  If you happened to crash your motorcycle in that ditch, you would probably never be found! 

Thankful to get back to the Lassin airfield.  The visibility and wind were terrible, but we were thankful for bro. Tom's hard work in getting us all out and back home through several flights.   Mission complete!  

David and I waited in the woods drinking the last of our filtered water, eating beef jerky, and listening to preaching on my phone. 

 David relaxing, waiting for the plane to come. 

Tom preaching in Fulfulde before we left the field!