Wednesday, February 8, 2012

Cool Weather Behind Us






Cool Weather Behind Us - February 7, 2012





Bonne annee! Happy New Year! The new year came and went, not much celebration. The nights were cool in December and January and we unpacked a sleeping bag to use as a duvet cover almost every night. However, the days warm up very quickly, so that by 9:30 am one is usually drinking lots of water to hydrate. By 3 pm the days have reached the hottest temps and it is hard to work under those conditions. Kel has resorted to wetting his shirt to return to the jobsite after lunch.


We have had several “harmitons” (high-level dust/sand in the air) which makes the days a bit cooler due to less radiation from the sun, but the solar panels do not produce the normal amount of electricity on such days.



Since we last wrote, our team is conducting several weekly Bible studies in the area. We two are in charge of one location to the west of Bere. There is a core group of 6 or 7 adults, but up to 40 children, so on Sabbath afternoons we tell a Bible story that is translated into Nangjere by our local translator. On Tuesday afternoons, Kel has a Bible study based on some questions the adults have raised, with the same local translator. God is blessing and it may become a place to erect another one-day church.


Last Sunday we treated ourselves to a picnic at the big river near Lai, 18 km east of our village. The gals contributed picnic lunch items and we borrowed a vehicle from the hospital. We were all amazed to see the size of the river, at least the width. This river, as well as the one near Bere, flows north toward Lake Chad. Kel estimates the concrete bridge was at least a kilometer long across the river. Several trucks rolled up and crews loaded building sand – free for the taking under the bridge. We swam in the river and we two walked downstream along the riverbank to a grassy peninsula where we noticed several deep hippo footprints in the mud. Looked like a couple of hippos walked side by side. We ate lunch under a shade tree - veggie burgers and coleslaw. We returned for an afternoon swim, then drove back to Bere.

Bird life in Chad is abundant. We saw maribou storks, black storks, African jacana, cattle egrets, snowy egrets, herons, sandpipers, pied crows, pied kingfishers, and several raptors. Last Sabbath, instead of walking to church, we two took a moto rode several kms into the bush to watch birds. We saw the European roller, and a pair Chad's equivalent of the crimson-breasted shrike, and white-headed barbets, and we think we saw a pair of hoepoe, but they were too far away to identify properly. There were Namaqua doves and crowned plovers running around on the ground.

It seems that our malaria-prevention meds are working hard and we are mostly well this time around. We are so thankful for the prevention and are still careful to be inside during dawn and dusk and the dark hours and we always sleep under the mosquito net.

We had a very large 8-legged visitor who was not welcome inside the hut show itself on Sunday morning. Josie attempted to move it out of the hut when it crawled toward her hands. Needless to say she screamed, dropped the item, and the spider (Kel named Samson) ran for its life under the bed. Well, for a couple of nights we tucked the mosquito net a bit tighter around the mattress. This morning Josie reached for an item in a basket and there the spider was, so she carried the basket out the door and unceremoniously dumped it on the porch. The 8-legged creature ran and Josie jumped in the air – fortunately Kel was inside and nabbed it with the broom, but it crawled under the screen door to the outside. Ah hah! One strike with a trusty flipflop and spider curled up. Then the compound dog promptly ate it!

Thanks so much for praying for us and we appreciate so much your love and support.


You can always drop us an e-mail at kelvin.burgoyne@gmail.com



Lots of love & hugs,


Josie & Kel

Saturday, January 21, 2012

Back in Chad – Blog, Dec 24

Back in Chad – Blog, Dec 24


Well the time in South Africa has come and gone. We did a program at the East Church on Sabbath, Dec 3, telling them of our mission experiences and showing photos. On Sunday, Dec 4, Kel had some family over and we celebrated his birthday. Some said it was a milestone. Sunday night was spent packing, then on Monday we did final packing and weighing of the suitcases. Ethiopian Airlines is strict about overweight baggage.


Kel's sister Des arrived at 10 and we said our goodbyes to Dad – it's always hard to say goodbye, every time.

We arrived at the airport in plenty of time and checked our luggage thru. All cases are within the limit. After saying goodbye to Des (another hard one) we went thru security and passport control. Our flight left at 14h10, right on schedule. Kel was surprised to see the City of Pretoria 5 minutes after take-off. We flew directly over the city. Were hoping to see Mt Kiliminjaro later in the afternoon, but never did.


After landing in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia at 20h30, we went thru security and secured our Hotel voucher (the airline put us up in the Riviera Hotel overnight) we boarded the shuttle. Had a late night supper the

went to bed. Our room faced the main road, so Kel heard the trucks all night.


Next morning (Tuesday, Dec 6) we were up and on our way after a good breakfast. We went thru security at the airport, then had 2 hours to wait before boarding the flight for N'Djamena. Christmas music was playing in the plane just before we landed. Gary had arranged for our faithful taxi driver to meet us, and he whisked us off to the TEAM (Evangelical) Mission compound to spend the afternoon and night.


We met several missionaries who come and go at this center. Gary & Darren came to meet us – they had flown to the capital the day before. It was soon evident that we had more business to attend to than time allotted. We ended up spending 3 days in the capital, shopping for supplies and going to various steelyards to get the steel we need to finish the hangar here on the mission station.


After a 2-hour flight we landed in Bere at 17h00. The day was done, and Wendy provided a delicious meal, which revived us. We are staying with Gary and Wendy until the accommodation in our mission compound is completed, then we can move back into our hut (now occupied by a couple, who will move to their place on the new GMI mission compound).


The mornings are cool, and the cold water in the shower is a shock to the body. We try to shower in the late afternoon, after a day's work. December & January are cooler months.


Today is Dec 24, the day before Christmas. Last night we participated in a Christmas music program at one of the volunteer's huts. There were solos, duets, trios and instrumentals. The hosts had a string of colored Christmas lights up – quite festive, for the bush! We even had ice-cold smoothies – quite a treat, thanks to their solar-powered refrigerator.


We miss you all – thanks for your prayers and support. God bless you in every way.


You can always drop us an e-mail at kelvin.burgoyne@gmail.com


Lots of love & hugs,














Josie & Kel