Today I experienced something I never in a million years anticipated. We were driving around in Yaounde trying to get to the immigration office. We were trying out a new route because traffic was so bad. We ended up stopped in traffic in the middle of the market. This market, as most markets are on market days, was very busy and crowded with people. We were driving with our windows down since the air conditioning in the Barillas’ car only lasts about 45 minutes at a time. People were passing right next to our open windows, staring into the car at the spectacle of white people sitting in it.
I was sitting in the backseat with two of the Barilla kids. My window was rolled all the way down. We’d been in traffic for about 30-45 minutes, so I had pulled out my Kindle and was reading a book. I think one of the guys passing made some sort of noise, an exclamation or something, and I realized that I probably shouldn’t have my window all the way down. I rolled my window up just a few inches, wrapped my purse strap around my arm, and continued reading. Less than two minutes later, an arm reaches into my window and tries to grab my Kindle. Yes, someone literally reached into the car and tried to steal it out of my hands. It happened so quickly, I didn’t have much time to process what was happening. Only by the grace of God did I manage to grab onto my Kindle. I’m so thankful for God’s protection over us—and that I still have my Kindle. Needless to say, I rolled up my window after that incident. And I’ve learned my lesson—no electronics should be exposed when the windows are rolled down!
