a full week

I’ve had an interesting week. Sorry that this is later than usual. As I’ve been told there are actually regular readers of my weekly story. I was sure I was sending this off into oblivion. Thanks to all of you who take the time to read these.

I had a week with some new events. I attended a Samai on Wednesday which is basically a Chadian baby shower and naming ceremony. It occurs about 8 days after the baby is born and it is a large community and family event where the father or religious leader reveals the name of the baby and people eat! We had lots of kisaar (fermented crepes) and wecki (sauce) with Chadian Chai tea to follow, red tea with lots of sugar and very hot. It was great! Lots of laughter and chatter- that I didn’t understand.

I also had the opportunity to go to the Kided or Hadgar on Saturday which is basically really big rock piles that I don’t think I can call mountains, although there are mountains near the city. It was nice to get outside the city for a bit. We observed the “moving hay stacks” down below as donkeys who were covered in hay made their way towards the city. Today, Sunday, we also did our “tour de ville” where we drove around Abeche. It was nice to see more of the city I live in.

I also was blessed to eat ice cream this week! For the few of you who have lived with me you’ll know that was very important. Mirjam and I managed to make Mocha ice cream and it wasn’t half bad. Of course most of you wouldn’t dream of eating ice cream at this time of year but it was a blessing to me.

Being in the season you are you’d also find this story funny. Eroni was reading a book of vocabulary words to me this week and he came to the word mittens. He struggled through it and finally he got it out. Next came the question, “What are mittens?” I had to laugh but he being a Fijian growing up in Chad has no need nor concept of what they are. I informed him of their use and practicality for every child at home.

Amongst ice cream, tours, and Hadgar this week I’ve also managed to injure myself a few times. I’ve kicked rocks twice while playing soccer with the boys. One of these times I got a pretty decent sized cut, pray it doesn’t get infected with all the dust around here. I also burned my leg on the side of my clando’s exhaust pipe, I knew that was bound to happen. And in perfect Vanessa form I managed to twist my ankle slightly while jumping around on the rock piles. This has all happened on the same leg and foot. It has been suggested by at least 2 people that I cut it off. After contemplating the idea I’ve decided to keep the leg until further notice.

So, I had lots to tell you this week which probably means next week will be boring. Mirjam and I are also in the midst of writing a Christmas musical for the 15 missionary children who live in Abeche. I must go help her; she does the hard work of writing the songs, I just correct her Swiss German style of English. Have a great week.

A bientôt!

Things had heated up a little more in Chad at the beginning of this week but it seems as though that is over for the moment. Potential peace keepers coming to Chad in January.