Rain

RAIN!

Well, the rains have come – we’ve had three nice rain storms in the past two weeks. On the first one, several of us just stood in the rain and let it soak us to the skin. It had been so hot that the cool water falling out of the sky was very refreshing. In just a few minutes the parched ground was actually holding water. Everything is coming to life – we notice new green leaves on the guava trees in our compound and bright green blades of grass springing up everywhere. Also, the hollow spots on the “great northern road” are filled with water and the village pigs are having a ball in the mud!

So far we have experienced several dust storms and we have to quickly close the shutters to keep the sand out of our bed!

PROJECTS

Our team erected the first one-day church in Chad, two weeks ago when Kel had malaria, so he couldn’t go. Since then we have erected another, and Kel had malaria then, too, but he was able to ride the motorbike the short distance, climb a ladder, and drive a few screws. We set the foundation stub posts in concrete one day, then the next day we erect the structure. The tin roof is added later. The congregation is responsible for the walls, doors, and benches. This gives them a part in their church as well.

Work on the roof of Gary’s house has progressed to the point that we are about 90 percent complete. There is still work to do on the hangar.

PEOPLE

At this point, Josie wishes she could insert several photos – the people here are dressed so colorfully. The women work very hard, you can watch even older women walk down the sandy main road with a large bundle of wood on their heads. We have seen big clay pots on their heads. And the women who bring market produce to our gates put large metal bowls on their heads FULL of papayas, or trays of bananas, etc. It would be difficult to lift the heavy bowl, but these women lift the heavy bowl above their head and carry it ON their head. The children are so cute, always wanting to shake your hand and greet you with “Lapia” (say LAH-pee-ah). This time of year, the little hands that are extended are sticky with mango!

MANGOS

For the past two months, we have been swamped with mangos, and Josie recently helped each of the other two gals to make many quarts of mango sauce. One of the trees in our compound is still loaded with large mangos. During the night we can hear them drop, because they crash through the leaves and thud when they hit the ground. Free fruit from the sky! All the kids are eating mangos.

SCHOOL

Josie has had a slow month teaching in the elementary school in April due to the many holidays and other times such as teachers meetings, voting, or any excuse the faculty can find to close the school! Out of 13 days (Mon, Wed, Fri) she only taught 5 times. It is apparent that the education system (school attendance) needs better emphasis. Often Josie will get to the school on a Mon or a Fri, after walking from Bendele, about 1.8 miles to find the school locked, no children or teachers. And no one had given her prior notice. Oh well . . . nice walk and Josie is noticing that there are small groups of children along the road on the way home who are singing “Jesus Loves Me” in their native Nangjere that she taught them.

MALARIA

Well, Josie finally succumbed to the anopheles parasite. She spent a few days in bed last week, but is now over it. As soon as Josie got better, Kel came down with the third bout since January and is on his final dose of quinine. Quinine is an awful treatment. We read that Dr. David Livingstone used it in the 1800s while journeying in central Africa, so it’s been around a long time. Quinine has some bad side effects, including blurred vision, ringing in the ears, vomiting and sometimes hallucinations.

RETURN to US

Today, in just a week, we will be in the capital getting ready to board our plane from N’Djamena to Addis Ababa, change planes, then via Rome to Dulles/Washington and on to Atlanta. We are looking forward to escaping the intense heat (daytime temps have been around 120 deg F, with overnight temps dropping to a cool 95). It has been so hot some nights that we wet our shirts, wave them around to cool, and wear them wet to bed just to get to sleep.

We will probably freeze wherever there is air conditioning, so if you see us wearing ski jackets and woolen caps, with a blanket tucked under our arms, you will understand!

Thanks for your prayers and support. Courage to you! – as you journey along life’s road.

Kel & Josie.