Went to the Peace Corps office today.  It was Senator Paul's suggestion.  He thought we might be able to sell market bags made by prisoners from the Foumban Prison at their office.  Just an idea.  Worth trying.  Was certain that his good name would get us past the guards and inside the office.  Wasn't quite that easy.  The guards weren't impressed.  No appointment?  Didn't know the director's name?  Who were we and why were we trying to get inside the gate anyway?  Turned out my white skin did the trick.  Sometimes it pays to be white.  Sometimes it's better to be black.  

Didn't see the director.  Didn't see his assistant.  Saw the number three person.  A lovely Cameroonian lady.  Very professional.  We were treated well.  She was curious about me.  "How long had you been in Cameroon?  25 years?  Really?  And how often do you come out here?  You LIVE in Cameroon?  Have LIVED here for 25 years?  Wow!  The Director will want to meet you!  And your husband, he's Cameroonian, right?  He's an American, too?!!!  Wow!  The Director and his assistant will both want to meet you!!  You are just the kind of person they are looking for.  They will be in touch with you soon.  Thank you soooooo much for stopping by the office.  It has been such an honor to meet you and to get to visit with you." 

Maybe this drop-in-visit will turn out to be something.  Maybe not.  One never knows.  

Stopped by the U.S. Embassy to meet the new director of CLO (Community Liaison Office).  We have a longstanding relationship with CLO.  We don't want that to fall apart with the changing of the guard.  Turns out the new director has worked for the Embassy for fifteen years.  He's a lovely man.  Had a good first visit.  He wants to continue the relationship.  

Tried to see the new director of the Commissary while we were there.  Discovered the "new director" that we had been told about didn't last.  There's another new director.  Didn't get to see her.  Talked with the lowest person in the Commissary.  She's also new in her job.  Young, scared, intimidated by all the white people at the Embassy.  But we extracted a promise from her that she will give our contact information to the new director.  And more importantly, we got the name of the new lady so we can follow her up if she does not follow up with us.  We really don't want to loose this contact.  It's important for Shiloh Association.

And we received invitations to the annual Independence Day celebration, the biggest event of the U.S. Embassy's year.  Jim and I and Guy and Marie have been going to this event for several years now.  As far as we know, we are the only missionaries on the invitation list.