Back In Chad

We got to the airport in Johannesburg this past Tuesday, only to find that our names were not on the passenger list for that specific flight. This was odd, since this was our return flight, and not an inbound one. Once that hurdle was over-leaped, the desk clerk informed us that our checked suitcases were 12 kilograms (26 pounds) overweight. The penalty would be R60/kilogram (about $9.00). This caused us to re-shuffle a bit, and get 2 of the four checked items within the weight limit. They wouldn’t let Josie take a backpack AND a roller-case on the plane as carry-on luggage, so she had to check the roll-case. This meant 8.5 kg more on the overweight side, but the clerk worked with us and said we need only pay 8 kg overweight. BUT they only accept Rands as payment, so Kel had to rush to the arrivals hall and exchange dollars for rands, come back, settle the amount, go back to the check-in desk; then only did they check our bags thru.

By this time we had been 2 hours checking in, and needed to still get thru security and passport control. However, the Lord was in charge, and the flight was delayed. Good, but not good, when one has a short time between landing in Addis Ababa and getting the connecting flight to Chad.

The flight from Johannesburg to Addis was a good one, once we got airborne – they kept us waiting on the plane for an hour before we moved out to the runway – so, by the time we took off, we were delayed by more than an hour and a half.
When we got to Addis, we were shuttle-bussed to the terminal, and from there we got on another shuttle to our plane to N’Djamena. The plane was quite full, and we landed after midnite. Gary had called ahead to the capital and arranged a taxi driver to meet us and take us to the TEAM Mission, where we grabbed 3 hours of sleep before the same taxi driver arrived to take us to the bus stop to catch the bus to Bere, about an 8-hour (max) road trip.

We were pleasantly surprised by the comfortable Toyota bus (we had thought it would be like a school bus), which was a 25-seater. We sat on the left side that had 2 seats together, the right side had just one seat. Our luggage was placed on top of the bus, a tarp covered all the bags then they were all tied down. Lurching along the tar road, the bus seemed top heavy as the driver alternately drove fast, then braked when he approached pot holes and steered around them. We had to pass through three check points with guards, bars that cross the road like a railroad crossing, and ride over “sleeping policemen” that made the bus hop.
As we were waiting for the bus to leave N’Djamena, there was a dignified man, dressed in the traditional long tunic and trousers, walking around. He stood out in the crowd, but not haughtily, just self confidently. As he was going to board the bus, Kel recognized him as a shopkeeper from the market in Bere that he and Gary had spoken to. The man recognized Kel as well, so we felt like a guardian angel in human form was with us on the bus.
Our first leg-stretch, toilet stop was Bangor (say Bong-gore) where we used the “squat pot” for the first time. Our new friend, the shopkeeper, showed us where to use the toilet and helped us all along the journey, even though we couldn’t really communicate with him. We are realizing more how important learning French is. Back on the bus, a man opened a large orange cooler (we thought it was for drinking water), and he passed out cokes and Sprites to each passenger. Part of the bus service!

We also had a short stop in Kelo (that’s where the hospital’s post box address is located), then turned down a sand road – we lurched and leaned even more, careening around people on bicycles, children, goats, herds of cattle, for several more kilometres, all the way to Bere. When the bus stopped, Josie didn’t recognize the Bere market, not having been there before. As the men were starting to unload the luggage from the top of the bus, Gary arrived on his motorcycle. We had 8 pieces of luggage to transport, but it was quickly taken care of by the use of 3 motorcycles – one man drove with 4 bags tied on, Kel and Gary had 3, and Josie had her backpack on while sitting behind another man on his motorbike.

We arrived on Wednesday afternoon, and Thursday was Thanksgiving. Thank you so much, Juanita! The student missionaries had picked up boxes from Kelo a few days before, so 3 student missionaries, a doctor, and a couple from the Bere SDA Church, Gary and family and K & J enjoyed Thanksgiving together as an evening meal. Homemade gluten steaks, cornbread dressing, green bean casserole, pumpkin pie, sweet potatoes, “apple” pie made from squash, salad, it was soooo yummy! The student missionaries kept commenting on how delicious everything was.

Today is Friday and we have cleaned up ready for the Sabbath. The sun sets here early, around 5:30 pm, same as the U.S. in the winter. Miss you all, love and hugs from Chad.

Happy Sabbath!

P.S. today is Sunday, also, please continue to use our blog and email addresses! Love you all!

new Chad cell phone number: country code (235) 620 78 587