From the parched desert he speaks….

Here we go- this is my first post on our new website. As you can see from the picture I have not been lazying about the pool in Alcapulco sipping virgin Pina Coladas but out in the bush, and I mean the real bush of Chad, Africa! Sleeping under the stars with a mosquito net, waking up to see a half dozen local teenagers observing your sleep habits as you spent the night wedged between the Landcruiser and a pile of bricks under your mosi net, taking a bucket bath with questionable water and an even more questionable bath “house.” Ah, missionary life and work! Ben and Michelle Dunlap, a young couple from Kelso, WA spent two weeks with us to see for themselves if being missionaries in Africa could be a part of their future. Ben and I taught at a regional conference and that is where the picture was taken during lunch.

As I said, our website has gone through some morphing as we switched from our first web service to another. Most of the pages are set up as before, so our site gives you pretty much all the info you could possibly want about Chad and our work, includng recipes, the national anthem, and travel advice should you be so inclined to visit us. The new site is in blog format so our communiqués ought to be more regular and you can even reply and add your two cents worth if you like!

I want to keep this first post a short one, so I am asking you to pray for two people who are friends of ours. The first one is a missionary from Sweden who once worked in Chad. Stephan Ollson has continued to support the work in Chad for several years after his departure in 1999, mostly through raising funds in Sweden. Some time ago he was diagnosed with lukemia, and even after treatment this sickness has returned with a vengeance. He needs a miracle and has asked us to pray for him. Will do you do that?

The second request is for a little Chadian boy named David. A real cute squirt he is. He has the habit of clomping around in his plastic sandals during my sermons but other than that he is just a good three year old kid. His dad is a good friend of mine, Djimsana Bacré. Better men walk this earth but they are few and far between. Djim and Eveline have two great kids and are one of the most serious couples in terms of trying to serve God I have met here in Chad. Unfortuantely, last week they received news from the doctors that David has sicle cell anemia, a genetic disease that deforms the red blood cells in such a way they cannot convey oxygen as they should. There are two types, one that ends life at the age of 6 and the other that goes to age 30. I know life is not fair but Sonia and I are asking you to pray for David. He, too, needs a miracle.

We will let you know what is happening in their lives as we learn more. Until the next post,

God bless and keep your faith sharp.

Bill Shaw

 

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