Also keep praying for opportunities to share. I had one good opportunity on this visit. Two ladies spent time listening to a couple of chapters from Matthew that I have on my phone. Please also pray for the upcoming dental trip. That during the time the dentist is here seeing to teeth we will have many opportunities to share. Other activities this month have been continuing to visit the prison and help F to learn to read. We unfortunately missed many lessons because of either her health or mine. But she is making progress which is encouraging. The other thing that was completed this month was the transcription of some Chronological Bible story books into Arabic script. I have really enjoyed this project and it has helped a lot to actually have to write in Arabic script rather than just read it.

I wonder if you have ever played the game “there was 10 in the bed and the little one said, “roll over, roll over”? That is one way to describe my last visit to AG. Because it was still rainy season everyone needs to sleep inside. So the first night there were 9 of us in the round hut with the littlest waking up several times during the night. The second night there were only 8 of us but the littlest one still kept waking up. It was certainly an eventful trip. Before even getting there we arrived just out of town to find the wadi had broken its banks, therefore necessitating that we cross on foot. I was not excited when I saw the water coming up to the belly of the donkeys. But across we went without incident except getting wet up to our underwear.

The next day was a time of sliding through the mud as we went on several visits around town. It is always interesting when you go to visit a government official with feet covered in mud. Thankfully he wasn’t too worried. He had just come in from being out in it as well. Then some more sliding as we went over to the dispensary to speak to the person in charge there about an upcoming visit by a dentist. Then sliding back to visit friends. Chad is not always hot and dusty. It can also occasionally be wet and muddy. Whichever way it is always interesting. Like the trip back. After push starting a friend’s car (too small and sick to take us with them) we headed for the bush taxis. The preferred taxi meant leaving our bags beside a sheep. Too much potential for mucky bags at the end of the ride so we climbed on the other taxi. We made it across the wadi, but at the first village the driver realised he hadn’t filled the radiator so we stopped to do that. Then no more than 200m down the road a bolt or two sheered off the rear wheel hub. Thankfully nothing happened other than a pretty pattern in the sand. The men climbed down and got it fixed. Then we’re off again only to run out of fuel 200m before our destination and almost 3 hours after we had climbed on board the taxi.

A highlight for all of us was the one week children’s program at the small Arabic church. Debora and I, and later Simi, were planning and praying for that for the past few months. There were many hurdles, some of which we didn’t overcome. Oftentimes I was simply puzzled. People didn’t turn up for a meeting even though they had suggested time and day. The person who had agreed to be Joseph didn’t come at all. There were moments when I felt disappointed but I also knew that it was in God’s hands. Our thoughts are not his thoughts. About twenty children came and I was excited to see three non-church kids among them on our last day. Some people who promised to help didn’t show up but God provided us with other, unexpected helpers. So we praise God for everything that went well (in our opinion) and trust him for all the other things as well. I would love to start a weekly club out there. Please pray for God’s guidance in this. The church seems hesitant. Please pray for wisdom for me to know when to push and when to wait.

Had a fun adventure on Wednesday afternoon. We went with N to visit his family. His family are nomadic Arabs and had just arrived from the south on their way north. They were camped just northeast of Abeche and so it was a good opportunity to visit. We originally piled 7 adults and 4 kids into the back of a rickshaw but then decided two would be much more comfortable. So headed out to find them. Driving along the dirt road north east out of town until we came across an Arab on a horse. Asking him directions we went a little further then parked the rickshaws on the side of the road and on foot headed east towards that tree over there and those rocks off the side. We found them!! It was a lovely time. Pray for more times and opportunities like this to open up.

We have taken the first steps. Church leaders meet again shortly to assemble a working group to start the decision making process. To get authorisation to broadcast, we will have to produce a detailed description of the station, its purpose, its equipment and how it will run. Our friends in Adre are also asking if they can start one…..

Colin is currently in the UK working on the translation and field business. Next trip tp Chad, late October.

Tevita is working on French in N’Djamena. He is on level 3.

Cephas is back with us teaching English at the centre. Lukas and Helea have just arraived from Switzerland to work at the centre.

Julie is due back 23rd September.