Tuesday, 30 August 2011

Today is the end of Ramadan feast.  Our neighborhood has a very festive mood with lots of new and brightly colored dresses and clothing.  And, there's lots of food.
 
You know, our Muslim friends are just like our friends in the States.  They have many religious holidays where they celebrate important dates and during those celebrations friends and family stop by to share in some fellowship and food.
 
They are, for the most part, living their lives in a way that is very much the same as anybody you or I might know in North America.  They want the same things:  good health, obedient children, food, shelter, clothing, etc.
 
They have also accepted us as part of their neighborhood and they take care of us.  We love it.
 
Hope you all have a great day.

Sunday, 28 August 2011

This is officially the 2 week point in our return to Chad. Things are going well, I suppose, considering....
 
It is also the official 2 week anniversary of my separation from my wife and kids. (And it is no less easy on those children I have with me.) This is not much fun, really, but I can honestly say that this isn't something that we "have to" do but something that we "get to" do. I've learned over the years that the Lord likes to put me in situations that really grab my attention and that is only in those circumstances that I can finally and clearly hear what He's saying to me. I've also learned that it is precisely those events that He allowed me to go through that really make a differnce in my life. This separation, then, mustn't be looked at as a long slog through heavy mud but instead as something that has been graciously given to me and my family by The One who knows our every thought, fear, and need. He loves us so much that we "get to" go through these times wherein He can speak into our lives so clearly and wonderfully words of comfort and wisdom and love.
 
Today I was reading Psalm 94. It's a Psalm about how God needs to take vengence on the ungodly. But, within that Psalm are some beautiful truths that spoke deeply to me.
 
Verses 9-14: "He who planted the ear, shall He not hear? He who formed the eye, shall He not see? He who chastises the nations, shall He not punish, He who teaches man knowledge? Jehovah knows the thoughts of man, that they are a mist. Blessed is the man You chasten, O Jehovah, You teach him out of Your Law; to give him rest from troubled days, until the pit is dug for the wicked. For Jehovah will not leave His people; nor will He forsake His inheritance."
 
Verse 19 says, "In the multitude of my inward thoughts, Your comforts delight my soul."
 
And, finally, verse 22 says, "But Jehovah is my tower of defense; and my God is the rock of my refuge."
 
After reading verses like these I get reminded that I serve a very big God and that because He's so big He can be my all in all. There's nothing beyond His grasp and He wants me, He wants all of us, to comfort us and defend us. And, He will never forget us. Ever.
 
I really needed to hear that this morning. Maybe you did too.
 
Blessings!!!

 

Saturday, 27 August 2011

Been a very busy couple of days since my last post.
 
The big generator was repaired then it sprung a leak and had to be shut down.
 
Our new solar panels and batteries haven't been working right so some Brothers from the States are helping me (long distance) to figure out what the problem is and then how to fix it.
 
We had to call the little red generator into operation again last night.  Despite the ugliness (and danger) of using it it did a great job.  Although, it does have a tendancy to vary the voltage so it fried a couple of things.
 
I came down with a case of Malaria.  Am feeling better though.  Took a nap today and that helped.
 
Went to town on Friday.  Kids always like going.  We noticed that a couple of our favorite hang outs had moved.... and we were able to find their new locations.  That is good since one is a favorite restaurant of Janice's.
 
We've been eating pretty well.
 
We even managed to sell a few items that the Mission didn't use.
 
All in all a pretty good week I think.
 
Bye 

Sunday, 21 August 2011

Had a very good day.  Relaxed.  Played some games.  Just took it nice and easy.  Also got to talk to Janice and the kids.  Awesome.
 
The big Perkins generator is inching closer to working.  May be able to actually generate some electricity with it this week.
 
Been having problems with the solar system.  Appears that at least one string of solar panels isn't working properly.  Troubleshooting that with a friend in the States.
 
The red backup generator broke down last night after running for about 2 hours.  We were able to get it back up and running but it wasn't fun.  Managed to cut myself in the process.  (This is no surprise to my family as I cannot work on anything without cutting myself somehow.  It just took a little longer than normal.)
 
Thankfully, our fix "took" and the generator ran all night.  What a blessing it is to have fans at night.
 
 

Sunday, 21 August 2011

Nice and lazy Sunday morning.  Have spent most of the morning troubleshooting our solar system.  It is nice to have some time to check it and then think about it a bit.  Thankfully, too, I've got friends in the States who can help me with it. 
 
Also thought I'd upload a few photos of our backup generator.  As you can see, it is quite dirty and messy.  Notice the control panel.  It is suspended in mid-air because when the generator is running it otherwise shakes so badly wires come loose and it catches fire.  I think even McGyver would blush at such a thing.

Saturday, 20 August 2011

Been a very busy and interesting couple of days.  We've gone for long periods of time without electricity, had a generator catch fire, mangaged to repair not one but two generators, and effect those repairs in such a way that it would make even McGyver blush.
 
We've also had fun.  The kids have really enjoyed playing around their home and at the Welcome Center.  And, they were very glad to go to town yesterday.  We noticed a few things that were different.  One obvious thing was the price of diesel and gasoline.  It is just about half the price it was last year at this time.  Apparently a new refinery just went on line.  I'm sure everyone is glad about the price.  What they're not so happy about is the general lack of either diesel or gasoline.  Soon the supply will catch up to demand as the refinery reaches its production limit.
 
We are all healthy although more than a few of us have lost some weight since we arrived.  We have thus started on our Chadian diet again.
 
More later.

Thursday, 18 August 2011

We've now been back on the Dark Continent since Sunday.  Filled most of our time with getting settled back into our home.  Have also been getting reacquainted with the office.  And, have reestablished old friendships.... something that I've enjoyed very much.
 
I came back with Gracey, Liddy, Ethan, Tawnee and Esther.  Janice is still in the States with the remaining children.  They will remain there for the next couple of months as there are some things that need her personal touch.
 
Last night was interesting:  Our backup generator caught fire.  We were able to get it turned off before much damage was done.  However, the control unit was fried pretty bad.  A couple of us tried to patch it back together, which I think we could've done, but we gave up once we realized that some of the connectors had melted so badly their condition was beyond our expertise to fix.  So, we spent the night without electricity.  It is good that the temperatures are not too bad (low 80's at night) but it is awefully humid.  Some of the kids slept on our screened front porch.
 
More later.
 
sf
 
 

Wednesay 17 August 2011

Hey There!
 
After a 1 year hiatus I'm firing the blog back up.  Our home assignment is over and most of the family is back in Chad.  In the next day or two I will try to fill you all in on what's going on.  For now though, this post will have to suffice.
 
More later.
 
sf

Return to Chad

Just the other day Steven and 5 of our children boarded a plane bound for Paris, France, then 8 hours later settled into their seats in the back of the next plane flying straight to N'djamena, Chad. The flights went well and they arrived safely at our home just in time to snuggle into their very own beds that they haven't seen in a year. It's hot and humid right now as the rainy season is still going strong.
The neighbors were excited to see all those that arrived with lots of laughter and happy tears and hugs all around.
Steven is put right to work as the generators are not running at this moment, but he and Dan are working to get them going.
Alex, Payton, Emma and Keturah are taking their last camping trip before school starts back up. Our year here in the states has seen sadness, happiness(of course!), new friendships, old friendships renewed and great connections with our L.B. churches in this area. What a wonderful, generous church God has established here in the Pacific Northwest. You should all be very proud of the way you allowed God to work through you to touch our lives. It has been overwhelming at times and we see God's hand over us through it all.

Of course it is hard to leave our mothers and fathers, brothers and sisters, aunts and uncles, cousins, grammas and papas, and dear friends. We are grateful for our time and memories with them and will cherish and think of them often while in Chad. God has put that call in our hearts to be in Chad, especially when we are working and living among it's people. We are blessed(happy) to live and work in Africa but most of all we are honored God has called upon our lives to do the work He has for our little neighborhood and the Welcome Center and those that come and stay there.
We have encouraged many this year to come and stay at the Welcome Center for a time. We hope you do! That would be so fun to show you around.

Psalm 34: 8-10