teacher life and so much more

This was my original blog for this past week or more which I have not been able to send the last few days. Grab your cup of coffee, it’s a long one.

I think many of my blogs have lacked what I do on an everyday basis, that is teach. Teaching English has been interesting and a wonderful way to get to know Chadians. Much bonding occurs when you work together in learning to say words like teeth, month, and with. “Just stick your tongue out!”, I say and I have 5 of the reddest black faces you’ve ever seen. I’ve also been given some interesting homework. Two of my favourites have been, “A person with diarrhea must not stand.” and “The girl does not wear clothes to school.” Admittedly it was my face that was red when I had to explain the word diarrhea.

The boys have also been hard at work this week. I put a deadline on them and insisted we finish their grades (already late from last year) by the end of this week. On this glorious Saturday morning Isaac sits writing his last few tests. I can hear my mom saying, “Oh Vanessa, let them be.” Eventually there has to be an end! Anyways, we had a party yesterday to celebrate. It was fun for all of us to take a break. This also means I’m writing up my first report cards. It’s hard to do when you practically live with the people.


Blog Part 2: The security situation, the war or whatever it was.

Some of you may have no idea that life has become chaotic in parts of Chad and some may think I’m already dead from what you’ve seen. Well, I’m alive and well. Abeche has been untouched and life has been same as usual minus some communication problems (phone lines and networks down or unreliable). Unfortunately N’djamena, the capital city, cannot say the same. Almost all foreigners have been evacuated and at least 20 000 locals have left to nearby Cameroon claiming refugee status. Rebels attacked at the end of last week and the battle moved from outside the city to inside where tanks and heavy artillery were used. The real situation remains unclear but the rebels have left whether to reload, for good, or to wait on negotiations we’re not sure. At the moment we are staying put although we had planned to go to the far Eastern Chad of Adre this coming weekend. It seems the old cliché, “Better safe than sorry” is more relevant than ever.

We’ve had reports from N’djamena on WEC’s belongings and all Praise goes to God. We have one family who lives in N’djamena, who were evacuated, who’s home was untouched. This is amazing but even more remarkable since the homes around it were destroyed and it stands the tallest in it’s neighbourhood. Another amazing story is how the faithful guard at our compound, who had moved his family in to it for safety, was able to stop men who came to rob the house. Also the vehicle that was left outside when the family evacuated was left untouched. The window’s of the vehicles surrounding it were all cracked from the pressure of the artillery but our vehicle remained in tact. Alhumdillallah! (Hallelujah!)

European Union troops are set to move in soon. They’re not just moving in to Chad they are moving in across the street from us. The poor hyena I spoke of a few weeks ago will no longer have a home. The French Army was busy setting up camp for them today. Although they are not really coming in to settle Chadian political problems so much as to protect the Sudanese refugees and Aid Organizations as they travel across the country.

Please pray for Chad and it’s security situation that it may be remedied quickly. Also pray for our sensitivity to the people around us. Thank you for your prayers that you have already sent up on our behalf. He is all we can rely on in this life. Sorry this is a novel although I feel after the last week I could write an encyclopaedia.

God bless you all,
Vanessa

Just so you know that life really is normal here…
As we were asked to stay at home for a day or two we spent our time cutting each other’s hair, watching movies and eating grasshoppers. Yes, grasshoppers, and it was a missionary who gave them to me to eat not even a local! They really weren’t that bad in fact I liked them better than the madide (see last week’s blog).