'Wheels for Cameroon' benefit set Oct. 10

 As the United Methodist mission in Cameroon continues to grow, one of the most critical needs is dependable transportation. In the following reflection, Rev. Wes Magruder, who returned from mission service in Cameroon earlier in 2008, shares reasons why the "Wheels for Cameroon" Project and the benefi t Oct. 10, from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. at Lovers Lane UMC, Dallas, is so important.

BY REV. WES MAGRUDER
First UMC, Rowlett

I nervously paced the driveway at the Kamthe Hotel in Yaounde, Cameroon, alternately glancing at my cellphone and scanning the horizon.

A group of sleep-deprived American Volunteers in Mission (VIM)were milling around in the hotel courtyard, trying to digest their hastily-eaten breakfast and coffee.

I had ordered them to be up and ready to go early only a few hours after their plane had fi nally landed – and they were not bright and shiny yet! We still had a two-hour ride to

Eseka ahead of us, and once we arrived, we would have to organize and open an eye clinic by early afternoon.

After a quick head-count, I found that everyone was ready to go. Everyone, that is, except one of our van drivers. Collins Etchi Ako, our incountry VIM Team Coordinator, was clearly frustrated, too. He kept calling the driver and asking his whereabouts.

First, the driver said he was just a bit late. Five minutes later, he said he was filling up with gas. Then, he announced that the van was having mechanical difficulties.

About that time, Collins looked at me and said, "This is why we need our own vehicles."

During my stay in Cameroon, transportation proved to be one of the biggest challenges to the work of the United Methodist mission. Roads to certain parts of the country are difficult to traverse in dry season, impassible when wet. Public transportation is inconsistent, unsafe, and miserably uncomfortable. Trains run, but are prone to bandit attacks. Owning your own vehicle is expensive and requires constant maintenance.

I also found that renting vans to haul VIM teams around the country was a risky proposition. First, they are simply expensive – adding a van to the cost of a team involves not just the rental, but the personal costs of the driver. Second, the condition of a rented van is a gamble. Several times in my experience, a driver had to make stops for repairs, which slowed down the team’s progress and, I fear, indicated a lack of proper safety nervously paced the driveway at the Kamthe Hotel in Yaounde, Cameroon, alternately glancing at my cellphone and scanning the horizon. I A group of sleep-deprived American Volunteers in Mission (VIM)were milling around in the hotel courtyard, trying to digest their hastily-eaten breakfast and coffee.

I had ordered them to be up and ready to go early only a few hours after their plane had finally landed – and they were not bright and shiny yet! We still had a two-hour ride to Eseka ahead of us, and once we arrived, we would have to organize and open an eye clinic by early afternoon.

After a quick head-count, I found that everyone was ready to go. Everyone, that is, except one of our van drivers. Collins Etchi Ako, our incountry VIM Team Coordinator, was clearly frustrated, too. He kept calling the driver and asking his whereabouts. First, the driver said he was just a bit late. Five minutes later, he said he was filling up with gas. Then, he announced that the van was having mechanical difficulties.

About that time, Collins looked at me and said, "This is why we need our own vehicles." During my stay in Cameroon, transportation proved to be one of the biggest challenges to the work of the United Methodist mission. Roads to certain parts of the country are diffi cult to traverse in dry season, impassible when wet. Public transportation is inconsistent, unsafe, and miserably uncomfortable.

Trains run, but are prone to bandit attacks. Owning your own vehicle is expensive and requires constant maintenance. I also found that renting vans to haul VIM teams around the country was a risky proposition. First, they are simply expensive – adding a van to the cost of a team involves not just the rental, but the personal costs of the driver. Second, the condition of a rented van is a gamble.

Several times in my experience, a driver had to make stops for repairs, which slowed down the team’s progress and, I fear, indicated a lack of proper safety procedures. And third, the drivers who came with the vans didn’t always have the same concern for time and promptness that Collins and I had.

Collins and I both took seriously the Mission’s commitment to give VIM teams the best experience they could possibly have while in Cameroon. That meant keeping costs down while also maintaining high standards of safety.

Last year, we began looking seriously into the matter of buying at least two vans for the Mission, for the primary purpose of transporting VIM teams around the country. The vans could also be used for transporting other groups, including the burgeoning Health Team, UMW officers, and youth campers.

I began sharing this vision last summer during our itineration, and am thrilled that Rev. Milton Guttierrez, in particular, has become excited about this project, and galvanized support throughout our conference to raise money to purchase vans for Cameroon.

But then again, I guess I shouldn’t be too surprised –

• Funding two passenger vans
• Honoring the Magruder family

Milton is one of those blearyeyed Americans who had to wait on the broken-down van that morning in Yaounde