When we first arrived in Chad back in the 80s the main way for the general public to get across the country was seated on top of huge articulated lorries. These lorries were stacked high with goods first and then the passengers had to scramble up to the summit and sit tight. Forty or fifty people could be seen perched aloft, including whole families, grinding their way across the country. The roads, so called, were rough and rutted. The vehicles not only bumped violently but swayed from side to side. It was not unknown for them to turn over. A cross-country trip could easily take a week. “How did people manage not to fall off?” I hear you cry. Well, let’s just say that I know at least two people that sustained lasting injuries from falling off trucks on the N’Djamena road.

In the 90s, with the roads no better, an alternative mode of transport became popular with those ready to pay a bit more. This was the Toyota Land cruiser, which packed 12 in the back. These vehicles consistently made the trip in around 24hours, which had to be an improvement. Hard on the heels of the Land cruiser, came what became known as the “Abéché bus”. Powerful trucks were fitted with a substantial bus compartment on the back, overcoming the demanding terrain with sheer power. They had numbered seats- what a luxury of decency and order! – and consistently made the trip in under 24 hours, The ceiling was high, there was overhead baggage space, windows you could open and close and even curtains. The roofs were designed to hold baggage and merchandise and from the original one or two busses, a fleet of over 30 has grown, the bench mark in quality for the mass market.

Then progress came in another area. With the new oil wealth coming into the country and probably with some investment from China, an extensive road building campaign has been unleashed. The paved road extends further than it ever has before. The dirt road is kept in better order than before. Bridges have been constructed where there had previously been none. Greater speed became possible, with less bumps and judders. This is where the story takes an unexpected side turn. The better quality roads opened up way for the infamous minibus. You take a tough little vehicle intended to take, say 10 passengers. You strip out all the original seats and put in iron benches with thin cushions and you can pack in 16. You pack in four rows of three and it looks full. Then you squeeze a fourth person into each row. With a caste iron roof rack the baggage and other goods can be stowed on the roof. These inhuman contraptions can now compete with the busses for the big routes and have already taken over the less popular ones. They are more economic. They are quick, efficient but several steps backwards when it comes to comfort on the road.

I made two trips by wretched minibus. For the first one, I paid the extra to get one of the two precious front seats by the driver (seating for two but leg-room for one). However, some hours after I paid it became apparent that my bus had insufficient passengers and I was unceremoniously transferred to another that was almost full. They refunded the difference in ticket price, but being the fourth person on the end of a bench is no one’s first choice. Neither my seat nor the one in front of it had a back to it. This is was to allow people to climb over it. I was concerned about the lack of support. I need not have worried. We were packed too tight to be rocked about. On the return trip, I secured the very best front seat by booking three days in advance. This gave me the luxury of always being the last person to get in. As I went to take up my coveted  position for the first time, I glanced into the dark interior and felt a pang of irrational guilt. How wretched and anxious they all looked, as they set with grim composure, ready for the off. Oh, for a proper bus!.

A lot of things to praise the Lord for.  And, two enquirers are coming for more. Thank the Lord for this, and pray that they will grasp what they are hearing.

The library continues to be busy, but the total number who have registered to use the library is lower than last year.  It would be good to see some more register during this month – soon we will fix the amount which we will spend on books for the year, and this depends on the amount of money coming in from library users.

Compared to the library in Adre we are doing very well – they are finding that people are not interested in using the library.  Is it simply because they are being asked to pay, or is there a lack of interest in the library?
On the other hand they have SO many signing up for tutoring classes that they are asking us to extend the  classrooms!

The hot season is coming – so please pray for health and strength for all who are involved in working in the two centres that the Lord will enable them and give all that they need each day to be a blessing to the people they come into contact with.

80% of the New Testament is now translated.

see also : Bible translation

1. As a protection against the sun

2. No need for sunglasses or a baseball cap

3. As a dust filter

4. To wipe your sweat

5. As a cover (yep, it’s getting below 35 centigrade)

6. As a purse (money safely knotted in one corner)

7. To blow your nose ( or someone else’s) *

8. As a conversation starter on the street

9. As camouflage (yeah, I do blend in a little better)

10. To gain respect

11. …

We, that stands for the mother, four daughters, two little sons and me. The other sons and the father sleep in a separate room. I quite enjoy the closeness of this setting. It seems to be a time of chatting and laughing while the oldest daughter might be doing some homework by the light of a torch. Eventually one after the other falls asleep.

The new day starts early. Very early, indeed! Each child has its chores. Tea needs to be brewed and porridge heated up. One child takes the donkeys to the well to get water, another one irons the school clothes with a charcoal iron. Before seven o’clock, however, the yard quietens down remarkably, when most of the children have left for school and the parents have gone about their business. It’s only around noon when they all come back and every day activities are being taken up again: Sweeping, washing, getting water from the well, and starting with the preparation for the evening meal. Again, it’s a time of chatting, arguing and laughing. Please pray for this family and for me to find ways of fitting in well and to be a positive addition to the family.

Marthinus is in Hadjar Hadid working with refugees.

Marlene gets back late February. Geoff and Miri are due back this June.

A new couple, Jacob and Sonja are due to arrive in February