Ambam

We are now in Ambam, a 20 minute ride north of Kye-Ossi.  It is a little bigger, and from what we've seen more active and diverse.  It is surrounded by forested hills, so from the right vantage points there are some nice views, though our immediate surroundings aren't much to look at.  We are staying in a two room home, which by African standards is pretty nice.  Beth and I have the bedroom and the rest of the guys are sleeping on the 'parlor' floor or porch.  There is also a bathroom and a kitchen similar to the one in Garoua, but slightly larger and much darker.
It appears our time here is better planned as there are people from the sponsoring church working with us who have already set up some appointments.  We began with two of those this morning, the first in the humblest of homes we've seen to date.  Precariously leaning walls of mud brick and sticks under the standard corrugated tin roof.  It was part of a compound of similar places, but, like everywhere else, there were homes of better and worse quality nearby.  It rained heavily overnight so the walk to and from was very muddy.  Colorad.o like in it's clayish stickiness..
Yesterday Beth, Jonas, and I travelled to the closest city, Ebolowa, because we needed to take care of some business.  At the first police checkpoint our passports were taken and we had to get off the van and go into the office.  Basically one officer wanted a bribe to return the passports, but Jonas refused, so we stood by as the heated argument ensued.  Meanwhile, the van driver and passengers weren't willing to wait, so left w/o us.  Eventually the officer relented and by then another bus had arrived which we were able to board and continue on, but had to pay for another ticket.  (Less than the requested 'fee', though.)  Once we were done in Ebolowa Jonas continued north for several days worth of business, and Beth and I made the hour and forty five minute return trip on our own.  At another 'checkpoint' another officer took our passports for several minutes, but returned them once he understood our mission, though I'm not sure what we said to satisfy him.  I believe the French word for corruption is corruption, probably with an accent mark somewhere...

Last visit w/Katy in Kye-Ossi

Walking to an appt in Ambam

Indoor plumbing, an improvement?