E and Dr. F came to meet us at the hotel lobby bar. We had to check out and were enjoying a cold and expensive coke (there are no diet cokes around! Oh well. I will survive, while drinking more sugar than I have in ages.) The two Indian gentlemen, with a warm smile on their faces, came with our travel permit in hand. What could have taken a week, Dr. F made happen before we even got here! I guess it’s not all about waiting with this kind of help.
We rode into town to Dr. F’s office, in the middle of what we are told are the two, only two, paved roads in the capital. E and Dr. F had answers to all of our questions. They will put us in touch with the people we need to meet, and they will help us get under way to Abeche. Dr F even had his driver take us to the US Embassy, where we registered our visit. From there we were taken to the guest house, from where I’m writing right now. There are some wonderful people all around N’djamena, and Dr. F seems to know all of them.
Oh, about the satellite phone, someone that works with Dr. F is well connected with Air France, so Chris rode out with him to the airport, where the AF people sent a cable to Paris, asking for the phone. Man, what else could we aks for! Well, we did not ask for it, but Dr F lent us a cell phone for the day’s we’re here. E says that we “do not exist,” if we do not have a cell.
At the guest house, we met M. M has worked for a long time at the camps on the border, and he has worked even longer in other camps around Africa. He is from Kenya, and we talked about how Nairobi has become the center for people looking to do humanitarian work around the continent. Nairobi has the infrastructure for the NGOs to have their bases there, and it also has the university that produces some great aid workers. We will talk more with M tomorrow, and you will get to see him soon, since we plan on interviewing him on camera, so he can share some of his great expertise.
Again, thanks for all the comments, and thanks to all that are following us, even if not commenting.
We’ll be in touch!
Paz
12 replies on “E and Dr. F Making it Happen!”
Please give a big hug to all that are helping you so much, from all of us at home who are following you. We are with you…
Rachel
Thanks Rachel.
It’s 7:19pm out here.
Please say hi to all. I was not able to check all of my email, the one at aol, but I’ll try later.
A favor, once we are out in the camps, could you please copy and paste some of these comments all are sending onto an e-mail and send it to my stopgenocidenow.org e-mail, so I can see them all on one download. Right now I’m using the guesthouse internet connection. Once we are out there, it would ge expensive to download the blog multiple times, but one e-mail of text should be better.
Chris was able to download his e-mail using the satellite modem this morning, so we know it works. We’ll do more testing tonight, sending some preliminary video.
un abrazo,
Gabe
Gabriel,
We are all going to be glued to this blog until you complete your work. Your postings give us such a sense of what you are experiencing, down to the sugar in your Cokes! We are glad we have these few days before your 21 day video postings to continue to bring more folks online. The class at Mount St Mary’s College and the Pali HRW Student Task Force are busy using bookmarks, flyers, emails, and posters to spread the word to join in your journey. By the way, how hot is it?
We are with you and Chris! Pam
Gabriel,
We are all very proud of you. Stay safe!
Tom
Hola Gabriel!
Que gusto me da saber que andas por alla tratando de ayudar a toda esa gente que tanto nos necesita cuidate mucho y seguire en conacto
love tu prima
Liz
Gabriel,
I am in Ms. Pereyra’s 6th period class at Palisades Charter Highschool and I had no idea about this genocide until she informed me. I am now part of the Student Task Force at my school, and I want to do as much as I can to help. I think what you are doing is amazing and I admire you greatly. I feel that it is our duty as human beings to help these poor people. I am trying to learn as much as I can about the genocide and I will be following along with you on your experience in Africa. God bless you and we are with you all the way.
Peace, Karina
Gabriel,
I am in Ms. Pereyra’s 6th period class at Palisades Charter Highschool and I had no idea about this genocide until she informed me. I am now part of the Student Task Force at my school, and I want to do as much as I can to help. I think what you are doing is amazing and I admire you greatly. I feel that it is our duty as human beings to help these poor people. I am trying to learn as much as I can about the genocide and I will be following along with you on your experience in Africa. God bless you and we are with you all the way.
Peace, Karina
What’s up Gabe, incredible you are in a completely different world, but in a way so much like our own, with people whom want peace and prosperity for their children. Stay safe, and I hope you accomplish all you set out to do.
jc, the brother not the jc mentioned in the blog.
Q’vole Gabe,
Man, you got us all excited following you through airports, hanging out at hotels, and especially enjoying the beautiful folks you’re meeting. We’ve talked many times about the wonderful “fringe benefit” that comes from doing good…and that’s the beautiful people that enter into our lives along that path. Please give Dr. F, E, M and JC all of our love, and I hope you run through the entire alphabet and then go on to the Greek as you continue to enter into relationships and share your special love with everyone in Africa.
Javi
PS – Irma, Micaela, Carolina, Ellis and I light “Gabe’s Candle” every night. I expect you feel our love!
hi my name is william robelo and a go to palisades high. i really admire your bravery and courage to go to a place where you know many things are at stake. you are having an experience that not many will have. i hope i get to meet you one day and at least have that experience second hand.i hope everything is going well. and that you get home safely.
Gabriel, this is working out great! Your updates are absolutely captivating. You’re making a difference!! Great, great job.
Wow…this is so great, to read all of your comments, and feel you here with me…
I’m going to post!