News letter #3

News letter #3
08/04/05
Dear Family and Friends,
Well we are currently still in the capital, Yaounde.
We will be leaving for Koza on Sunday, 8-7-05. We have started the process for our medical
licenses here and are now able to work in Koza. We have had a good stay here but of course are
anxious to go up to Koza.
The people of Cameroon are very friendly and we are practicing our language skills out of
necessity and trying to read up on tropical medicine.
So all of you know. We have had very limited access to email while here and will not have our
ham radio permit till after the end of August. This is why if any of you have responded to our
previous emails we have not responded to them. And likely will not be able to till after the end of
August. Please pray that we get our ham radio permit soon so that we can have communication
up in Koza. We understand that the cell tower is built in Koza but there are other problems and it
will not be working for a few
months++. We do have a cell phone that works in other
surrounding towns. Our number when outside of Koza is country code 237 then 522-0278.
Incoming calls are free to us; the cost for you depends on your carrier, usually 40cents+ a minute.
We currently have two student missionaries coming out to join us. One starting in about 2 weeks
and another a month later. They are both staying about a month.
We will be looking for a student missionary to teach Sarah whenever we can find one that is
interested.
She is still in mid 5th grade. With all the language learning in Montreal and craziness since then
we have not restarted her home schooling. We plan to start very soon.
About Koza, we understand that at the hospital up there, there are many financial difficulties.
They are soon to have the electricity cut off because of past-unpaid bills within the last few years,
at least a number of months worth. We also hear that in the rainy season (now) that the patient
census is low.
Because of this the hospital workers have only been able to be paid 1/3 of their salary these past
two months. However the workers are hopeful of a recovery soon and are diligently providing
their services to the surrounding population. We are nervous and excited as we prepare to enter
service with them. We pray that with Gods help we will be able to make a significant positive
difference to the hospital and to the community. We know that God wants us in Koza and He got
us through medical school and residencies for His service. Please pray for our own personal
spiritual growth, that we will become the people that God wants us to be to serve Him!
In His Service, the Shanks
www.missiondocs.org
PS: Anyone who’s friends want to be added to the mailing list please respond to this letter with
something about being added to the mailing list in the subject line and my friend who is managing
my email and website will add you.