Dear Friends & Family,
Thank you for all your prayers and support. It is a privilege to work together to share the good news of Jesus Christ here in Chad. Last month we recommenced the Friday night of prayer (‘veiller’), as we heard from the Lord. This has been a strength of our ministry since before La Bergerie church started, but stopped earlier this year when attendance dwindled. Several people in the church received confirmation to restart and it has already had an impact on those who came and were set free from demons through prayer. We were also able to give Bibles to those who had none (see photo above, taken after church on the following Sunday).
Unfortunately, the last ‘veiller’ was cancelled at the last moment (Margaret had already made ‘baignet’, another lady had come with the ingredients to make porridge). This is because our neighbour sadly died. He was Celestin’s brother-in-law (his cousin’s husband). Celestin had been working with him and his family over the last few weeks, praying with him and helping to restore their relationship (he was not a Christian but his widow is). He was ill but didn’t follow the treatment prescribed. He went to Moudou to rest and there he died and was buried. His widow returned to Koundoul on Friday night and so we welcomed her into the church. Those comforting her stayed in the church for a couple of nights before she was received back into the deceased’s family home.
Many beliefs surround death and dying and so it is managed differently in different places according to the culture. In Chad, everyday activities are interrupted as lots of people come to cry with the family. Lots of tea is made for those who come! Margaret finds this culture very difficult to cope with, although it is a good opportunity to evangelise. Even now Celestin was obliged by the committee set up to manage the deceased affairs, to travel to Abeché (a town in the East of Chad) where the family had lived before coming to Koundoul.
Having had a headache on and off and no appetite for a couple of days, Margaret realised she had malaria (making life even more difficult at this time). The second night of accommodating grieving relatives in the church it rained (probably the biggest downpour we’ve had this year) and the church was flooding. Celestin rallied the youth and together they dug a channel to direct the floodwater away from the building and out into the road where it could drain away.
We have just had a week of seminar on the subject of obedience (although not so many people attend when Celestin isn’t teaching). There were only a handful of us there on another day of rain. When it rains on the tin roof it’s not possible to hear because of the noise of the rain! We completed the seminar with the Sunday service and shared holy communion and a small Agape meal. One family brought porridge for the children and another family shared their boule. We also enjoyed some macaroni.
“You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your might.”
(Deuteronomy 6 v5 NRSV)
Margaret had planned to travel to Sarh at the beginning of September to prepare for the Bible Core Course due to start at the end of the month. There are 5 or 6 candidates ready to study but huge challenges. We still have no clean water supply or toilets at the base which would make things difficult for us all. Our finances are so limited it is hard to have faith to run this second-level school. We lack staff and teachers (although there are teachers in Cameroon and Nigeria who are willing to come, we don’t have the finances to contribute to their travel to Chad).We had hoped and prayed for these things over the summer months but with no result so far. Margaret will wait for Celestin to return from Abeché before travelling to Sarh.
We may be able to run just the first two weeks of the school. This is a seminar to teach the inductive method of Bible study. The remaining weeks of the school gives students the opportunity to put into practice the skills of this method of Bible study, with support. It’s a school with the potential to impact nations. Chad really needs people equipped to teach the Bible and how to study it in order to make lasting changes for the benefit of all.
With the recent heavy rain and Celestin having to travel we haven’t been able to start work on moving the primary school to its own land. However, the local education authorities have agreed to help us by agreeing to supply some teachers.
The Health Centre is functioning but still needs an electricity supply and completion of the paperwork to register with the government.
Life is precarious in Chad. A few weeks ago 17 little ducks hatched out. It was a joy to see them waddling around and searching for insects. We kept them safe in their enclosure by the water pump for the first 2 weeks, and they were doing well. However, now only 7 healthy ducklings remain, one of whom walks with a limp. Unfortunately, 3 were drowned in the rainstorm, 1 was attacked by a chicken, and 2 by their own mother duck. The others just disappeared, probably caught by dogs or the cat.
We now have 2 little puppies (named Patience and Princess) and Margaret is keeping a close eye on them and training them. Enticing them with porridge and camel’s milk which they like very much!
PRAYER POINTS:
- Praise God that he never leaves us. Thank him for the privilege to work for him to extend his kingdom!
- Please pray for Celestin in Abeché. He is due to return home but has malaria and is not feeling well. Pray for
- healing and safe travels.
- Pray for the church being established in Milligana, the village in an Arab area south of Koundoul. Celestin wanted to visit the church again but has been unable to because of the lack of transport.
- Pray for the Bible Core Course at YWAM Sarh, due to start in September. May God speak to us clearly about whether or not to run the school. Pray for the candidates and potential staff and teachers. Pray for operations staff at the base to support the running of schools.
- Pray for La Bergerie School. We really need permanent classrooms. In the mean time, we need to start showing
- the community that the primary school will move to the new land this year. The rain is impeding this as it is difficult to transport building materials. Also there is a large hole in the land where last year we helped people remove soil to build up their own defences against the floodwater.
- Pray for La Bergerie Health Centre. People are starting to come to use it. Pray that we can get an electricity supply for the building. Pray the young couple running it will be encouraged by God’s love and grace!
- Continue to pray for our safety and the security situation in Chad.
- Please pray for La Bergerie church leaders and members to take on their responsibilities and grow in their gifts.
- Praise God for an increase in our regular financial support! Please continue to pray God will supply all our needs.
- Praise God that Mum’s swallowing problems appear to be improving. However, her dementia is getting worse and she is not able to stand or walk, and finds communicating difficult. Please pray that she remains as happy as she can be, with the love of Jesus in her and shining out as she smiles at those around her.
