Welcome to our latest Blog and thanks for your continued
interest and support.
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| Our new front door |
We are pleased to report we have now moved into what is to
be our new home for the next 6 months. It is a self contained 2 bedroom 1st floor apartment (sounds very glamorous) within a mission compound, which gives
us more privacy but more importantly a better opportunity to study. This will
be our 7th change of bed since our arrival at the end of June. The flat is
great with plenty of space which gives us the chance to finally properly
unpack, quickly followed by repacking the items that are simply going to be of
no use to us here in Chad. Which as it turns out is probably half of what we
initially brought with us! The compound is very large , with its own sand volley
ball court and basketball net plus ample space to go for a walk, all be it in a
rectangle within the boundary walls. This means we will be able to do some form
of exercise, particularly as the weather is beginning to change and we are
approaching the cooler months. Although the weather is cooling it is still
comparatively hot, well into the low 30's, despite this it is now common to see
the locals putting on their coats and woollen hats. The additional advantage is
that the mosquitoes are diminishing so will soon be able to stop the tablets
and sleep without a net.
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| Sue organising |
The compound is situated on the opposite side of town to
where we previously lived, which was in an Arabic quarter where few people
spoke French , whereas now it is an African quarter and very different. Since
being here for only a couple of days we have been very conscious in the
difference in the local environment. At our previous location we were used to
seeing the women completely covered and Arabic being the language spoken. Whereas here the sounds of the call to prayer
at all times of the day and night has been replaced by the background noise of
music from the local bars as we are within walking distance of the red light
district. Here the women dress more traditionally in an African style but with
the young dressing in a more western style, however usually still with their
heads covered.
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| View from balcony |
As we write this and think of home we are very conscious of
the lack of preparations we have undertaken as we approach Christmas. We
imagine at home it being a very busy and frantic time with all the preparations
and planning for this time of celebration. Here there is very little evidence
that we are actually approaching Christmas. We have however seen a Father
Christmas figure and false Christmas tree in 2 of the local shops. It feels
very strange with the lack of commercialism , Christmas lights or typical
Christmas songs on the radio and in shops. We are unsure what the Christmas
celebrations within our Church will be, but have been told that there is no
service on Christmas Day. It seems that the service starts on Christmas eve and
continues into the early morning hours. We shall miss our normal time of
celebration at Bluntisham, particularly the Carols by Candle Light and
Christmas morning service which we haven't missed for the past 19 years. There
is to be a Christmas service held here within the compound where we live on
23rd December which will be a more traditional service with carols, children's
choir and nativity. Not sure there will be mulled wine and mince pies though,
more like water or squash and peanuts. On the 20th December there will be a
Christmas service and time of celebration at the hospital involving the staff,
local Church community and patients organised by the hospital pastor. We plan
on spending Christmas Day at the hospital with our friends and colleagues. Hopefully
this will be a quiet day as the hospital has been very busy over the last 2
months with increased numbers of patients and a record number of births in
November, which reached 100 in a single month.
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| Christmas at Guinebor II |
We did bring with us a small false Christmas tree complete
with lights and baubles, all in one compact bag, to try and make it feel a
little like home here. But we realise that we need to make this a different
Chadian Christmas. By Christmas we will have taken our first French language
examination, on the 17th, so will be able to take a few days break as the whole
school week is taken up with Exams. However the school is only closed for
Christmas day with lessons resuming on Boxing Day.
We hope you all have a fantastic Christmas break however you
plan on spending it, we will certainly be thinking of you. We look forward to
hearing all your news and of the activities over the Christmas holidays.
Happy Christmas and best wishes for 2013
Love Malc and Sue