Gifts you can’t unwrap

Welcome to our latest blog and thank you for your continued interest and support of us here in Chad.

Firstly we would like to wish you a Happy New Year, and hope you all had a great Christmas.
We were fortunate to spend the Christmas period in France where we were able to meet up with both our sons. Firstly Jack and his wife Vickie in Paris for two days. It was lovely to spend time with them all be it very briefly. We took in the main tourist sites including the Eiffel tower.

We then went south by train where we met up with Thomas and his wife Rosie at her fathers home. Again it was lovely to spend time with them both and Rosie’s family .To be able to take walks in the countryside before returning to a log fire and lovely food was a real treat. While there we were privileged to attend a French Catholic Mass on Christmas Eve and were made to feel very welcome.Thanks to Stuart and the family we had a lovely time and was great to feel part of a family Christmas.

Gift number 1 Family and friends.

One of the bonuses of going to France was that we were able to have warm showers and even had a bath. Here in Chad the temperature has dropped significantly, which you may think is a blessed relief but what it does mean is that the already cold showers we take daily just got even colder. It is not uncommon to hear shrieking from the bathroom as someone tries to get under the cold flow of water.

Gift number 2 Utilities such as electricity are something we take for granted in the UK but are certainly missed at times when you don’t have access to them.

In December, 5 further members of the hospital staff started having lessons to read and write in French following the example set by Ahmat. After watching him progress for a few months they have now come forward also wanting to learn. They include 4 guards and one driver, all are very keen as hadn't learnt to read and write as children. This will enable them to achieve more for themselves in the future.

Gift number 3 Education.

Sue was recently fortunate to be invited to the wedding of one of the hospital nurses. Weddings here in Chad follow a very different format to what we are used to in the UK.  The wedding is in 2 parts the first is when the husband pays the bride’s family for the bride and takes her for his wife. Then when the bride’s family has enough money they then pay for the second part, in this case it was a matter of waiting 6 months. It was great to be invited. On arrival there was a lot of noise, women doing a particular call that I would have no hope of copying. We were then ushered into a room where there was a large television with a group of women engrossed in what looked like a soap opera with much amusement to those watching. Food was served as each group or individual guest arrived. It was a large tray containing the traditional boul, the solid maize flour dish that is served instead of rice, with different sauces to dip it into. All is eaten with your fingers and can be very messy. It was a lovely afternoon and a privilege to be invited.

Gift number 4 Love

While at the wedding the 3000th baby since the hospital opened was born at the Guinebor hospital. We were not there to see either the mother or baby as women here in Chad prefer to leave the hospital as soon as possible after the birth, as long as the delivery has been straight forward. After their bottle of coke to revive themselves, they leave with the baby completely wrapped to return to their family where they are waited on and looked after.

Gift number 5 Children.

This may all seem very twee but during this Christmas period we certainly have counted our blessings, of which there are many, and have really appreciated what is important to us.

We pray that 2015 proves to be a peaceful and fulfilling year for you all.

Blessings

Malc & Sue