November 16, 2007
Alliance missionary Cheryl Solvig, along with two friends, was robbed recently as the trio picnicked during a visit to Leconi in southeastern Gabon. “We had hiked to some canyons a few miles from [my friend’s] home,” says Solvig. “After we had eaten, we were surprised to hear a man’s voice telling us to get up and give him our money.”
As the women stood, they saw two men; one had a gun and the other a machete. Solvig told the men they had no money. “Evidently, they had seen us taking pictures and so asked for our cameras,” Solvig says. The thieves took Solvig’s cell phone, three new digital cameras, the women’s fanny packs, and a backpack. Solvig managed to retrieve the memory disk from her camera.
After returning from Leconi, Solivig’s family took a trip to a beach. While the family sunbathed, vandals broke into their car and stole Solvigs’ purse, which contained her identification papers and Gabon and United States driver’s licences. Solvig is praising the Lord that no one was harmed in either robbery.