Prayer Letter

Planning for the Prosthetics and Orthotics (P&O) department continues and we have had its location on site and building plans approved by the hospital senior management. This means we have been able to obtain quotes for the building itself, including plumbing and electrics, and had advice on solar power requirements for the energy intensive workshop machinery. We have also received a quote for this machinery from a specialist supplier, as well as everything involved to get it here from Europe. Unfortunately, Chad's location makes it too difficult to get less than a full shipping container sea freighted and brought over land from the nearest port in Cameroon, so we will have to bring over the heavy equipment by air. Once we have the last few quotes in, we will be able to start the mammoth task of fundraising for each aspect of the project!

As part of the project planning, Roger had the opportunity to go to Nigeria to visit The Leprosy Mission's orthopaedic workshop in Minna, a city about a 3 hour drive from the capital, Abuja. He was able to spend a week with them seeing how they work and the materials and componentry they use, all good research to see if similar suppliers/products would be appropriate for the work we plan to start at G2 hospital. He was very well received by them and was even able to attend church on his last morning with some of the team members.

Beyond the project planning, Ingrid has been able to attend the twice weekly child development clinic and has continued to see a little boy in a nearby village (the boy mentioned in the last newsletter), continuing with him the walking and stretching regime started by a Swiss physio who has now left Chad. Language lessons are also a constant feature in our lives.

The end of June brought with it the end of the school term for the kids, and so 9 weeks of school holidays stretches out before us. They are obviously very excited by this prospect, particularly now that we plan to visit the UK for a few weeks in July to see family. A visit to your 'passport country' is not normally advised in your first year in country, but an illness within family in the UK has meant we have been granted leave to come back for a few weeks.

Although the rainy season hasn't been too intense so far, we're not upset that we'll miss a few weeks of it. When it does rains, it pours, usually accompanied by high winds and thunder and lightning, quickly creating deep puddles and highlighting our leaky roof. The roads in the local area are unpaved, meaning the dust and sand can turn into deep sections of mud making certain routes unpassable. We've certainly learnt how necessary a 4x4 car is to get about in this area!

As we come to our 6 month mark in Chad, we can't help but reflect on how much life has changed and how different it is here compared to the UK, not just for us but for those around us. We have been astounded by the resilience and fortitude of the Chadian people. It is impossible for us to not be impacted by the inequalities and wealth disparity that we see in this world, but we can also see the kindness and humour that links us all.

Praise God:

That Roger had a fruitful trip to Nigeria with safe travel throughout and that the P&O project is progressing well.

That the children finished their school term well and we can have time away together as a family.

Prayer Requests:

That God's blessing would be on this nation and it's people.

That G2 hospital continues to serve the community well and show the love of Christ to all.

For safe travel as we journey to and from the UK

Thank you for all your support. When we're back in the UK in July we'll be spending time in Northamptonshire and Scotland, so if you see us at a Sunday service, do say hello, we'd love to chat to you.