Chad Chat from Louise

Well another month's gone by and it is time to update you on happenings in my life here in Chad. (see previous update). It seems too soon to be talking about, but I am heading off on R&R again in a couple of weeks so hopefully I will be able to catch up with some of you face to face. This next R&R comes slightly earlier as it's only just over 2 months since my last trip home. I have arranged it like this as it's the school holidays in Chad and I want to get back here in good time for the build-up to next term. I am looking forward to it as this last period has probably been the busiest and most stressful of my time here so far.

For a while (most of the time I have been here) I have been overseeing two camps. Recently this has been more difficult. Circumstances have made travel difficult between the camps and there's been an increase in work load with activities at the end of the school year. Furthermore the program manager from our other two camps left, so supervision was needed there for exams and general work. This, added with staff shortages in our Abeche base, has led to it being a frustrating time.

Moving forward…

The exciting thing now is that the two new program managers have arrived along with a new Logs/Security guy. The Project Coordinator is due out next week so we are nearly up to a full staff again. Linked with this there has been a consultant here looking at how CORD can really be impacting the work of peace building and she has been spending time talking to the refugees and seeing how we can move the program forward. I have loved just chatting with her and I am feeling really excited by the next phase. I can see the team & program really moving forward. In part I am gutted to be going away on R&R just as things are moving this way, but equally I feel really in need of some time away and I want to come back here fully rested and ready.

End of Term

The exams and end of term was a busy time but it was great to see the certificates being given out to the students who had done well and to be a part of that celebration. We are now trying to do some construction work but this is limited by the rains so we are mainly in a phase of planning and preparation for next year. The team at the Gaga camp have a number of projects still going on so are keeping very busy and there are various meetings and training with different groups.

The Rains

I hear the rain in the UK has put a usual dampener on the summer (all the better for showing off my tan!). Here to the rains have arrived and boy when it rains, it rains!!! It is still not fully into the rainy season but we have storms now every few days, some of these are really impressive!!! This also means it is slightly cooler here with temperatures reaching as low as 35 on occasion!

Due to the rains, the scenery is starting to be transformed and it is becoming really green. I am really enjoying watching as the landscape is transformed, it is really beautiful. On the downside it is becoming insect-tastic. There are bugs of all shapes and sizes that generally get everywhere and seem to enjoy nose-diving me as I wander around or sit and work.

Another by-product of the rains is that travel is made that much more interesting. A storm quickly turns the dried up river beds (wadis) into full in flowing rivers. We have to take a different route into camp as the usual road becomes impassable, adding another 15-20min on to our journey each way. Furthermore there are two big wadis between my base and Abeche and these have sometimes been impassable resulting in delayed travel and more difficulties in planning. When we approach the wadis our drivers jump out, roll up their trousers and wade across to check where all the holes are and to decide if it is passable. If we are going to cross we then get the locals to line up to indicate where the route is so we can (hopefully!) stay on line. We then ‘go for it’ – I luv it! There is always great satisfaction if we make it across without getting stuck (especially if other vehicles don’t make it!).

Prayer points

More and more I am seeing how amazing these people are. They have the desire and ability to rebuild their lives and their homeland if they are just given the opportunity.

• Pray that individuals in the communities would rise up and feel released to lead their people, to build peace and instil hope both for here in Chad and back in Darfour.
• That more would see the value of education so that they encourage the youth and take opportunities available for all.
• Pray God breaks in and touches the lives, that he would bring hope and love.

• Praise God for great new staff and ask that we would really gel as a team.
• That I might gain full and much needed rest on my R&R that I might come back refreshed and ready to help move the program forward.
• That I continue to develop my French and am able to communicate more with these amazing people. (I can now read and write(ish) Arabic numbers!!)

Love Louise x

Posted by: Louise Lloyd-Jarvis on Tuesday Aug 25th, 2009

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