Prayer Letter

Thank you for praying regarding the solar-power system at the hospital. There were many conundrums as to what was going on and how best to fix it but I'm glad to report that we've managed to get it back working better than it was a few months ago. There are still parts to be replaced, some of which need to be special-ordered from out of country and because the demand is low for one particular piece of equipment we need, solar-power equipment suppliers in N'Djamena are reticent to only order in the two we need! Bringing anything into Chad is expensive, one of the downsides of living and working in a landlocked country. We will find a solution somehow, in time. Patience is key when working here. Eventually something happens or turns up and as the Chadians always say 'Dieu est au contrôle' (God is in control). The photo shows one of the two communication tablets linked with the solar, meaning that we can see how it's performing from a distance via an app (if we have internet…..).

The pharmacy continues well, the rolling drugs fund is functioning as it should and Cleopas and I are breathing a sigh of relief at our well-stocked stock room! There's a certain sense of pride that we can supply patients with the medicines they need, at a good price and of good quality. There is a lot of fake medicine available in Chad and so we have to be really careful about where we order from and how we check whether something is of good quality or not. The quality of the medicines available in the pharmacy is one of the many ways of guarding the good reputation of G2.

Being a member of the management team continues to stretch, encourage and sometimes disappoint me. There are often challenges in managing 130 staff but the management team is united and works well together which is a blessing. Life is certainly never dull!

Over the last couple of months, we've had some short-term mission workers at G2, the first a surgeon who knew and worked with Kalbassou 20 years ago in Cameroon. He came to support and work alongside Kalbassou for 5 weeks which was a real blessing. The second was a medical student from the USA who came for 3 weeks to see all aspects of how a hospital like G2 functions. It's always fun to have new people on the compound and living among us. I'm grateful to the two local ladies who help me run the guest house facilities and who prepare meals for visitors. They are now really experienced in this hospitality side of the hospital's work, and we make a good little team!

As mentioned in my last newsletter, I was able to get away for a break out of Chad a few weeks ago. I went to the East African coast which is beautiful. Coming from Torquay and living in a landlocked country, I miss the sea a lot. Being by the sea for a couple of weeks with friends was refreshing and encouraging and I'm really grateful that I got to go. The picture shows the glorious Indian Ocean.

Sadly, at the end of my time away I learned that three different people in my life had passed away. Two in the UK and one here in Chad. All three were believers and so that gives some hope but it's a lot to process. The lady in Chad who passed away was Elisabeth, my pharmacy co-worker since my very first day at G2 as a short-termer in 2013. Elisabeth was like a Chadian mama to me, she 'got' the mission aspect of G2 and was a joy to work with. She'd unfortunately been off work sick for over a year, and her death was not a total surprise, but it still hit the G2 family (which is how the staff describe the team) hard. There were many hundreds of people at her funeral last week, a testament to how many people and lives she touched. Hers was a life well lived, and we will miss her greatly. Especially her singing in the pharmacy (mentioned during the tributes at her funeral).

One last thing I'd like to mention is about visas! My Chadian visa is due for its annual renewal in the middle of August. Please pray that it would be renewed with no hassles. One other huge subject for prayer, for the whole mission worker community in Chad right now is that, in response to the Trump administration putting Chad on the 'banned list' for entry into the USA, Chad has reciprocated and is not issuing visas to US citizens. This came about at the start of June and there doesn't seem to be any movement on it yet. As you can imagine, this is having a huge impact on all American mission workers in Chad and short-termers wanting to come to Chad from the US. Both countries are honouring existing visas but are not issuing new ones. Many families and individuals are impacted; it has brought a lot of uncertainty and the need to rethink ministry plans for the upcoming months.

Praise and prayer points

Praise points:

Improved solar power situation

Access to the medicines we need and the funds to be able to purchase them

The good reputation of G2

The learning curve of being on the management team

Short-termers who bring expertise to support the team at G2

A refreshing trip out of Chad

Prayer points:

Safety on the roads now that the rains have started. The final part of the road to G2 still hasn't been tarred but is graded fairly regularly which is helping

That the pieces of equipment required for the solar would be available in Chad soon

The learning curve of being on the management team (not an accident that I've put this under both praise and prayer points!)

For the G2 family as we grieve and process Elisabeth's passing

That my Chad visa would be renewed with ease in the middle of August

For the US and Chad to find a way to resolve the visa issue and for workers in Chad who are having to figure out what their short and long-term futures look like

Thank you once again for your faithful support in so many ways!

God bless you

Claire