Once again at the airport. Checked in early for my international flights. Although I have not yet departed, this trip already has a couple wrinkles in it.

Plan A was 10 days in Cameroon and 7 days in India. Yesterday, Plan A fell apart when it became clear that my visa for India would not be ready in time for today's departure. Plan B = FedEx overnight return of my passport + change most of my flights. The good news in this is that I'll be back a week earlier to rejoin our family vigil awaiting twin grandsons.

Anytime I'm traveling internationally, I gladly hand-carry things people are trying to get to my destination. In addition, on this trip I'm carrying solar panels, wiring, three laptop computers, two monitors, and a satellite modem. As usual I packed at the last possible minute. The solar panels weigh 49 lbs in their container. No room for stowaways. After shifting 20 lbs of computer gear into my carry-on luggage, the rest of the equipment and goodies in my checked bag weighed 46 lbs—before adding any clothing! I topped off the checked bag with essentials, and Delta let me pass with 51 lbs. The rest of my essentials are in my carry-ons.

The timing for my travel to Cameroon coincides with the Cameroonian Association for Bible Translation and Literacy 25th anniversary celebration. Wycliffe Associates has been partnering with CABTAL for the past 12 years. They are making a tremendous impact in getting Scripture to the languages of Cameroon. Our next major investment with them is the development of a translator training center in Bamenda.

Following the anniversary celebration, I'm traveling with our WA Cameroon program manager, Peg Seitz, and a WA volunteer, Bob Bates, along with two or three Cameroonians to the far northern part of the country. Next week we'll be installing satellite internet connections to enable three remote translation teams to have reliable communication and collaboration as they work. This region is just east of the area where I made a similar trip in Nigeria last year. I am really looking forward to getting out to the villages and meeting the translation teams and families. Pray that I will be an encouragement to them and that important details are not "lost in the translation" from English to French to Tchouvok, Belel, and Mofu-Gudur.

I plan to blog while I'm traveling in Cameroon, so tune in if you are interested in more details.

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