Prayer Letter

It was great to meet many of you, either in-person or online, when I was in the UK. Thank you to everyone who gave me a bed for the night, a meal or just generally made me feel welcome. It's always a joy to meet supporters of the work here at G2 and feel the encouragement that comes from updating you on what is going on here.

I returned to find the new emergency room (ER) fully operational. Alphonse and Victor, our hospital-employed construction and maintenance workers, alongside Lucia and Eric, mission worker colleagues who were managing the project, have done an amazing job and created a lovely open space for us to welcome patients who are in a critical state of health. The ER has now grown from 5 beds to 13 beds! The photo shows most of the new ER but it is too big to get into one picture! There are a few finishing touches that need to be done but otherwise, this is another construction project that has been successfully completed at G2 (and I didn't have to have any part in it, which I was extremely happy about!!).

The road into Guinebor 2 still hasn't been tarred but it has been graded (flattened out) since the rains ended which helps. Please continue praying that it will be tarred before the next rainy season starts in June 2025. It will really facilitate patients to reach the hospital, not to mention the staff, many of whom travel a long way from their homes on the other side of the city. The deep-holed, puddle-filled, muddy road of rainy season ruins vehicles….and peoples' backs.

Another exciting development that happened while I was away, was that the new lab machine was installed and the lab technicians trained in its use. I must admit, it is far bigger than I imagined it would be, so it takes up a lot of space! However, it is a real asset for the hospital, ensuring that we can continue to provide the essential blood tests that it carries out. The photo shows Alphonse (a different Alphonse! This time a lab technician) and Manga, head lab technician, with the new machine.

In terms of the pharmacy, what can I say? Cleopas has done an amazing job keeping the stock available and not over-spending from the rolling drugs fund while I was away. I am now trying not to get too involved in stock ordering and leaving him to it. I am basically now just a sounding board for him to run ideas off. Please pray that I manage my time in the pharmacy well as it's very easy to slip back into doing the ordering myself and Cleopas is more than capable.

Now that Cleopas is independent in managing the pharmacy stock, it's really helping to free me up to do more of the management tasks I am involved in. There are many daily decisions to be made as a management team, so we covet your prayers for wisdom in this as some situations are complex and have cultural layers that just aren't there in the UK.

I managed to have some good times with family and close friends while in the UK, so I am grateful for that and the memories made that I have brought back with me. I loved seeing the colours of UK autumn this year, truly beautiful.

On my return to Chad, I was so excited to see that my papaya tree in my garden is fruiting! I have tried for many years to grow papaya but have always managed to cultivate 'male' trees which we then dug up. Finally I have a 'female' one and hopefully soon I will be able to eat some of the fruit! I am loving the blue sky and sunshine (that's not so hot this time of year) so I attempted to get me, the blue sky and the papaya tree in one photo. I just about succeeded!

Praise and prayer points

Praise points:

- Safe travel back to Chad and a good time in the UK

- Successful completion of the ER

- Slightly easier travel on the roads now the rains have stopped

- Successful installation of the new lab machine

- Cleopas excelling in his work

Prayer points:

- That the road will finally be tarred

- Cleopas will continue with confidence

- That all the equipment at the hospital will be protected from the effects of heat and dust in Chad and function well

- Wisdom for the management team, especially regarding some complex situations involving Chadian staff members

Thank you so much for all your ongoing support, I really appreciate it! May I take this opportunity to wish you a wonderful Advent season as we expectantly wait to celebrate the birth of our Saviour. Wishing you a wonderful Christmas and a blessed and peace-filled new year.

Claire