God is our safe place and our strength

 

Last month we were excited to be having guests coming to stay -  Andrews mum and dad. There was much excitement when the children found out a couple of their grandparents were coming, along with planning on what treats they may be able to request and books they could order.

As we counted down for many weeks until they arrived, the excitement built. For Zack he was eager to receive some books that they were bringing. Esther, she wanted to show them her and Zacks' new school and play some games. For Jacob, well, as Zack and Esther were excited, so was he.

Receiving guests here is a privilege and as the kids spent time with their grandparents, showing them their lives here in Liberia, got taken for ice cream amongst other things, had help with their home work and played games -  and Zack read his books! -  the relationships that the children have formed are so special. Their grandparents are just a handful of people who know Zack, Esther and Jacobs' lives here in Africa and back in the UK.  They are able to witness potential difficulties the children may have adapting to a new African country, arriving just 7 months ago, and then visiting back in the UK when they are constantly on the move wondering who they are going to have to talk to next and be polite to! Or trying to figure out what may be acceptable culturally in Africa but not when we are on home assignment. When back in the UK when the expectation is to play with children that they may remember vaguely but they aren't sure and as Andrew and I chat to friends they are expected to play well with their 'friends' or just by them selves, again. But the grandparents are also the ones that get to witness the amazing life that God has given them. The blessing that it can be to experience different cultures, languages, countries and travelling. They get to see how God is leading our family to serve Him in everyday life that I couldn't have imagined before we embarked on our journey with MAF, to Chad and now in Liberia. God is walking with us everyday and as the tough times come, as they do in everybodys life, we have the opportunity to talk with them, to let them see a different perspective that we would not have if we hadn't been obedient to God in letting Him lead us to where he wants us, and share the many blessings that he pours out on us daily.

Life for us all can feel tough in a new culture and environment, sometimes feeling we aren't in a safe place as we don't understand what is being said to us. (Coming to Liberia we were excited to be moving to an English speaking country but Liberian English is nothing like the English I know. If you take off at least the last constant of each word and cut out smaller words in sentences and double the speed of speaking, you may begin to understand Liberian English!) Perhaps we may be feeling tired as we try and process everyday situations and understand cultures. These situations have been true for me, but I am reminded of Psalm 46:1 God is our safe place and our strength. He is always our hope when we are in trouble. It is not always easy to put it into practice but as I walk through this life with Zack, Esther and Jacob, with the ups and the downs of missionary life and what that entails for my children as third culture kids, we have a hope and a safe place to turn to who gives us strength to get through each situation and who cares about every detail of our lives. It doesn't get much better than that!

The Liberian life

Hi.

So here is an update of the Mumfords life in  Liberia.

We have been here over two months now and are slowly getting settled. We are getting used to the culture- the accents and understanding how things work. I love it when Liberians  want a little bit of something or it is going to rain just a bit , they say ‘small small!’.  I even hear myself saying ‘small small’ when I want just a bit of milk in my coffee for example or to try a bit of food. 

Andrew is enjoying the flying and getting used to the differences here in terms of the operations compared to Chad. He finds him self hand writing many tickets at small airstrips for for next sector that day or taking their flight money. He is getting good at guessing baggage weights when he hasn’t got scales available  at remote airstrips and telling passengers they have way too much luggage weight and need to leave things behind, along with telling other passengers the flight is full and they can be on standby next time- and then remembering and writing down heir names to pass on when he is back at the office....... all of this has been done most often whilst standing in the pouring rain! And when it rains it rains..... not much of the glamorous pilot life here..the flights are so full and booked up it is wonderful to think that Maf have only been flying here for a few years and the need is so great. They are looking into expanding flying in to Sierra Leone and Guinea from here in Liberia so that is very exciting. We are blessed to be given the opportunity to serve here. 

So apart from it being wet here so far, and we are approaching the dry season apparently for the next six months ish, it is very hot and humid. By 7in the morning the house is at 29 degrees and 70percent humidity. But we are blessed to open the windows and doors and get the breeze from the sea- as well as hearing the waves and seeing them. 

We now have a car which is great and the traffic here is busy busy busy! It makes us realise how built up Liberia is compared to Chad. To get to school in  morning it takes us an hour just to go 8km..... Andrew tells the kids it would be quicker to walk but they aren’t so keen to try that out! The men for the airport  leave home at 6ambecause of the traffic otherwise it can take 1.5hours to get about 12km and a bit of a waste of time. For those that know Andrew well early mornings and him aren’t such a good mix but Chad prepared him well and  he is managing to get out of the house on time! The kids are slowly settling into the American International school and finding a whole new world for themselves in computers and different teachers for different subjects in different classrooms and the need to be organised! Not to mention homework..... and lots of it. Remember them in your prayers please, especially Zack , as they adapt to a very different environment and life.

We have a wonderful house help a few days a week who works for us called Fanny. She loves Jacob and he her, and is great round the house. She also cooks Liberian food for us once a week- palm oil sauce, potatoe greens with chicken, pumpkin sauce to name just a few. We are enjoying experiencing these Liberian traditional dishes.

Jacob remains at home with me but we have started to look for pre school for him. There isn’t much around and the only real  option is near the airport so travel time for me taking him and picking him up , around the other twos school would be long. Please pray for this decision for him and other factors we have to consider about him going to pre school. 

Zack and Andrew have started surfing lessons- before we even knew that  there was a vacancy in Liberia and God would call us here, God was preparing Andrews heart as Andrew said to me one day ‘wouldn’t Liberia be a good country for us as we know nothing about it but we could learn to surf!’ Andrew and Zack head off on public transport(which Andrew is very good at getting now as he uses it to run errands from the office into town) which is called a k-k here ( perhaps you know them as a tuc-tuc or rickshaw) and they go to a beach avkut 6km down the road with a restaurant and sun loungers on the beach and have their lessons- I believe they also sample a plate of chips and some coke too! 

The mission community is more spread out, smaller and we feel harder to get to know people here. Please pray for us as we make friends, especially for  the children. I attend a ladies bible study once a week and this is a blessing to get together with other Christian ladies and study the bible and pray together and share life in Liberia. 

Thank you for remembering us in your prayers. We have many things to be thankful for as we continue to settle into life in Liberia and serve God in our work here. What a privilege.

Blessings,

Andrée, Hannah, Zack, Esther and Jacob. 

New life in Liberia

So three weeks ago we began our journey to start our new life in Monrovia, Liberia. 

We left the UK on 15th August and we met another MAF family,who are also serving in Liberia, in Amsterdam, and took our last flight together here to Monrovia and now we are neighbours. They have been amazing helping us to settle in giving advice showing us around, along with the other MAF family that is here. We feel very welcomed. The kids are all enjoying playing together too- 10 children in total. 

Zack and Esther are now approaching the end of their third week at their school, AISM, (American International School of Monrovia), about 9km from home. It has been a rocky road as they try to adapt to a bigger secular school with different classes and teachers, making new friends and being at school for lunch and the afternoon. Yesterday was our first good day for both of them and we are thankful for many people here showing them grace and patience as they transition. There is a school tuck shop, a totally new concept for them, and they get so much to spend each week and they love choosing what snacks they want. It has been fun to see them so excited about that. 

Andrew is in the office learning how things work for MAF Liberia and supporting the pilot. He went for a flight a couple of weeks ago but with flights in high demand, and a waiting list, there often isn’t space for him to go to gain experience here. That will come! He heads off to Uganda on Sunday for some training and is looking forward to flying again. When he returns he will have a check out flight here at the end of September and then should be ready to go! He is looking forward to serving here at a pilot.

Monrovia has proved very wet!!!!! Some days it literally rains all day and all night! We make the most of it when the rain stops and head out to the beach. We are blessed to live on a compound, more like a private road with expats serving with Samaritans Purse and SIM and Liberians with a Liberian school here and a hospital-praise God we haven’t needed that yet except for when I donated blood for an expectant Mum. The compound has one side on the beach and we can see and hear the sea from the house making it about a three min walk to the sea! We brought body boards with us so the kids, and Andrew and I, enjoy those when weather and free time coincide. 

I attended a ladies bible study which will meet every Thursday morning and was it was a joy to meet with other Christian ladies. The mission community here is a lot more spread out over the city than Chad. 

We have started employing a house help, called Esther also. She needs a lot of instruction and although we both speak English, we find it hard to understand each other’s accent. Jacob and her seem to get in very well and she has a lovely serving heart.

Many of you know I didn’t like the driving in Chad. Here I still don’t like it as the police do lots of checks and ask for bribes, but it is more organised and generally less random than Chad, with fewer motorbikes,(as they aren’t allowed on the main roads), but more traffic.  It can take us anything from 20 mins to an hour to get to school. Andrew leaves at work at 6am to avoid the traffic too.......

Shopping here is more straightforward too. There is lots of choice for things, except for fruit and veg,and a few supermarkets to choose from but prices are very expensive. We have seen products shipped in from the UK with British pound amount on but they are sold here for two or three times that amount. Jacob has a real liking for Liberian donuts! We went with friends after attending a Liberian church on Sunday to a coffee shop with wonderful choice of donuts. The kids were very happy.

We have attending a couple of churches. A big one in the city but it is very loud but the teaching has been good. And it is lovely to understand an African church service! Also we have been to a smaller church, more like a house church, so there are options.

Thank you so much for you support and prayers. We have lots to be thankful for as we settle into life in Liberia and pray that God will use us here as he chooses and no doubt in ways we don’t expect. 

Praise and prayer points :

For the MAF team here serving so hard and yet finding time to welcome us so warmly and helping us settle in Liberia. 

Pray we find the right church for us as a family. 

Thankful for good schooling for Zack and Esther. Pray for them as they continue to transition to their school work and building friendships, and they can be a good witness. 

Pray for Andrew as he travels to Uganda on Sunday and for the three flight tests he has next week. 

We are thankful to be able to use a MAF car until we find one of our own. Pray we will find the right car for us.

Thankful for being able to enjoy  time with Jacob and for the ladies bible study that meets weekly. 

Praise God for good family time at the beach. 

God bless 

Andrew, Hannah, Zack, Esther and Jacob

 

 

Chad gets under my skin

I remember when we first arrived here nearly five years ago, and I remember  wondering when and if Chad would feel like home.  There was the language to get used to, the shopping , having to visit many shops to find what you wanted or to get the right price,  if they had it that was. The need to be  culturally aware and of course, for those that know me well, the driving to get used to.... during our first few months a family said to me there is something about Chad that gets under your skin. I remember thinking well I am not sure I will ever get to that point.... However, it occurred to me the other day that I have been there for a while now.. Chad has got under my skin. - totally under my skin. I guess a lot of it is that I am now used to many things and it becomes normal- my French has improved but still not so good, but I used to the frustrations of having to ask somebody to repeat themselves until I can understand , or admit defeat and apologise or ask Andrew. I am used to goiing shopping and  where last week one shop had something but this week it is gone and who knows when it will come back or you have to go to another shop and if they have it pay more. The  culture feels more comfortable, most days anyway, and driving, well I don't like it but it is necessary and I 'get' the madness- most of the time ! There are days it feels very hard and  I long to  have a day of living some  less Chad  ways  that I would find easier and less tiring. . But really God  has given me a love for this Chad life and I can say how special it is and what an amazing experience and privilege it is to serve here for MAF.  He has blessed us with so much and through the hard times remains Faithful. God certainly knew what He was up to when He brought us here and thankfully, even knowing what a tough task He had ahead to shape me here, He has walked this journey with me, and continues to walk with me. I am grateful that God has let Chad get under my skin.

One of the verses from the Bible that meant a lot to andrew and I before we left our home in Aberdeen to begin our MAF  adventure with God , and still gives me reassurance and hope on the difficult days is Jeremiah 29v11. It says 'for I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."

Happy Easter from Chad

After having to leave Chad for a few months back at the end of October last year due to MAF operations here having to be suspended  due to complex issues over tax with the Chadian government, we are now back, since the end of February and are getting back on our feet.

Leaving Chad at short notice was hard as we prepared  what belongings to take things back to the UK, not knowing if or when we would return, but we were blessed with being able to stay with family and friends during those months, and take a couple of much needed breaks.

One of my worst fears was having to home school Zack and Esther. They did amazingly well adapting to having to be home schooled for a couple of hours each day, often interrupted by their little brother Jacob. Not having a base was difficult as we moved every two weeks or so but they took it all in their stride. Of course, we were able to make the most of all the UK has to offer for the kids from parks ( even in the cold and the wet), swimming lessons, wooded walks, and Christmas activities. It was a special time in a difficult situation but God has taught us so much through it.

For me, I like to be in control of things. He has shown me the need to trust him in everything. Even when my days don't go as I had planned they would, I am trying to let that go, knowing that Gods plan that he has for me that day, are better than mine could be.  We left our home, our friends and a lot of our belongings, and I have been taught the value of those friends we left here in Chad for that time, that our belongings....... well, when it comes down to it, we don't need many things and are easy to replace.

Now we are back and ready to go and as the operations here open slowly as things get into place and the flying starts, we know we are here doing what God wants us to do in Chad again. We don't know what God has in store for us, even tomorrow, but we do know that even when things don't make sense at the time, His timing and plans are perfect.

Today, we remember what an amazing thing Jesus did dying on the cross and then on Sunday, when he rose again,  and how much of a gift that is for each and every one of us. During our family daily bible times we have been, just coincidently, reading about the Easter story, and I am still touched so much by everything Jesus has done for me.

As we carry on with life here in Chad, I feel thankful as we are able to enjoy our home, being a family together again, not moving every couple of weeks, for Esther and Zack to attend their missionary school again, and  as I am able to pick up with old friendships here and enjoy new ones,  I thank God for the many blessings he gives me every day.

28th August 2016..... A very important date

On the 28th August we were sitting down to do our family bible time. After a few minutes, zack asks Andrew and I what makes somebody a Christian and how does one become a Christian. We told him that they would need to accept that Jesus died on the cross for our sins and to have a relationship with him by praying to Jesus, reading the bible regularly and trusting in him as you go through life finding the right path that he wants you to take. I asked him if he meant he wanted to become a Christian and he did. I was so excited!...... Andrew prayed for him and it was such a special time.  since then we found out his cousin became a Christian on the same day. Gods timing! I was so excited I told family and his teachers at school. A few days later, he shared his news in class. It opened up another discussion about how the children need to commit their own lives to Jesus and being in a Christian family where your family has moved to Chad to serve Jesus here doesn't make you a Christian. It has to be an individual personal relationship for each person with Jesus.  Zack continues to want to learn so much about his Christian life and the bible it is a joy to see. We pray that this continues and god will help Andrew and I as his parents to help him in his Christian walk. His teachers are a massive inpact on his life and we are so very thankful for them and the small missionary school, wellspring he,and Esther, attend.

Other news from Chad doesn't really come close! We continue with our daily lives of schooling, Andrew either flying or in the office, and I am at home with Jacob and doing lots of hosting of maf visitors helping us in this programme from other maf programmes whilst we are short staffed.
Jacob is  now fully better and just loves toddling about the compound, sitting with the guards and being with Saratou. Each morning he comes with me in the car to drop Zack and Esther at school. As we return and turn into our little dirt road, he gets all excited to be back home. I open the window and as the guard opens the gate to let us drive into the compound, Jacob gets animated, and he shakes hand with the guard as we stop and they talk to him, in French! He smiles and after pulling up by our house and I get him out of the car, he now goes over to them to be with whoever it is is working.  He is so sociable and a real cheeky chappy with a love of people, food and being outside, not to mention totally adoring a doting big brother and a fun and caring big sister.

In John 1verse 12 we read "yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God ." I think that sums it up for Zack. I am reminded as I read a daily devotion based on this John 1verses 1-14  that faith is not just to merely believe but it needs to also include active trust. Something I am working on in my walk with the Lord and guiding Zack in his walk with the Lord too.

Home for month now.......

The kids and I returned to Chad four weeks ago now. It feels like we have never been away,except the lovely memories that we have of our recent time in the uk. It is hard to explain how when one returns back home to Chad, life in the uk seems all but a memory very quickly, but the feeling of missing family and friends is a few ache and hurt. A friend today, over a cup of tea, described it as life here in Chad gets put on pause when you return to the uk and when you come back to Chad, U.K life gets put on pause.

So when we returned to Chad,Andrew and Saratou had moved most of our belongings over to a new house on the compound from our old flat. We are now in a house enjoying having more space and a garden. This week we ate our first bananas off our banana tree,  the kids and I have been planting seeds so we will see how things go and one of the guards is helPing us to keep the garden nice. We feel very thankful to have this new bigger house, even though last night at midnight I spend an hour mopping up rain water from the bedroom. Although I didn't at the time have a totally thankful heart at my situation, God blessed me in only having one room to sort out unlike many Chadians here whose houses are destroyed with this rainy season.

Why you may ask did Andrew not help. well,last Sunday he flew the Ugandan caravan plane that we have been using here whilst our plane has been updated, back to Uganda. He remains there doing medicals and flight test and returns with our Chadian plane on Tuesday. It is hard him being used to do this and leaving me and the kids here again. However, at least it is not six weeks like last year. God has been my strength and comforter this week as just thirty minutes after Andrew left last week, I found blood in Jacobs nappy. They hadn't been the best for a few days before this,but the seeing the blood and owing that Andrew would be away for ten days sent me in a spin for a bit. But God gave me good friends and neighbours in my team and they got us to the clinic to see the dr who gave us medicine for Jacob.he has been so lethargic and tired this week and still poorly, but a bit better. It has been so hard to go through this without Andrew here, and we have had limited email communication as social medical is shut down for security reasons, but again, I find myself calling out to God to walk along side Jacob to heal him and help me look after him, and zack and Esther on my own. God has pleaced people in my path just when I have needed them and a trust in him that is needed with a sick child here in Chad. Jacob has improved but still has a way to go and perhaps another visit to the dr this week, when Andrew is home to be with us and help translate! The challenges of Chad!

This week I am reminded that God will put challenges in our way and it is how we deal with this in our attitude that counts. I have been trying to react with courage and confidence in Christ, growing my character and trusting in Gods faithfulness. it is hard and I rarely get it right at the time, but I have a loving and forgiving God who won't give up on me as I keep walking with him and seeking his ways in all things that he gives me everyday.

Tomorrow is Andrews 40th birthday. It is hard being apart for that, although maybe for me more than him as I am not so sure he is keen to be reminded he won't be in his 30s any more. But the kids and I look forward to celebrating with him later in the week and remembering the many blessings he has given to our family.

Time flies......

So....... After a few years since writing I thought I must get back to updating people on where we are at......

We still are living in Chad where have we have been for three and a half years now(!). And have added to the Mumford family with our Jacob being born last April.... We had him in England and he has been such a joy to us. Zack, now 8 and Esther, 5, adore him, and he them. It is lovely to hear them all giggling together.


Andrew is now flying both maf planes in Chad, learnt to fly the c208 last year and is really enjoying it. As I write this the kids and I are still  back in the uk following us all being back for home assignment and a coule of weeks holiday and Andrew  having to return back home to Chad. And finds himself very busy with the flying in Chad. It is great to be so busy and how things have changed since I lots us payed this blog!

Zack and Esther are now Ttending the Africa inland mission school in the city. After the summer zack will enter fourth grade and Esther will go to second. The school teachers are Amazing and God has provided them as such a blessing for the kids, zack and Esther  love school and area song so well.

Saratou continues to work for us. She is number six in our family and earlier this year had her fifth child which they named Hannah! Saratou continues to show me what it is to be humble, kind, gentle and our she continues to correct my friends and help my grammar. Jacob and her have a very special bond and I am excited to see her when the kids and I return to Chad in a couple of weeks.

As I am sure you can imagine it hasn't all been easy the past few years. Boko haram attacked the city last year when we were still in the uk following the birth of Jacob and it was hard to return wondering what life would be like, especially with three children, one only few months old. Maf put in security measures and movements were restricted for a bit but life soon returned to normal, even with some additional restrictions to everyday movements. Andrew had to do his training in Uganda on the caravan for six weeks and it was hard to be left in Chad with the kids on my own for those six weeks. But God gave me extra strength and trust in Him during that time as he walked along side the kids and I as we went about everyday life in Chad without Andrew, and to Andrew as he had intensive study and training, thoughout the year , and spent many weeks away from his family.  He placed in our paths many to pray for us and wonderful friends in Chad helped and encouraged me on the days it felt lonely and extra difficult.  In April we had the presidential elections and we can praise God for it passing pretty peacefully on the surface.  Among the tough times God has given us times of laughter with friends and three wonderful children have been give to Andrew and I to look after for Him. He has kept us safe and healthy and remained faithful to us at all times.

 As Andrew now is busy flying  in. Chad and the kids and I finish off the next ten days here in the uk with family and friends, and face more transitions, I am reimnded that God uses every experience and situation He gives us and He will hold us in his arms and take care of us when times are tough giving us extra grace and strength that often we don't understand.  We serve a God who cares and loves for us and has placed us in Chad to serve with maf but also to teach us many things about Him that when everything else is stripped away , God is sovereign and the need to trust in Him is essential.

Four months in Chad

After many attempts to put pictures onto this blog over the pass couple of months, I have failed miserably, so I am just going to write and I will keep trying and hope that one day when I am trying the internet is working a bit faster to upload the photos.

 Quite a few things have happened since I last posted something on our blog. Here are a few..

Our shipping has arrived and we are delighted to have some familiar possessions in our home. This has been an important thing for Zack especially as now he says with his toys around him, this is his home here in Chad! 

It has rained and couple of times!........the first rain of the year was on 1^st April -  2 months earlier than normal.  It was a lovely relief to the hot weather and the kids loved it! It cleared the air for an hour or so before the heat returned. We are currently coming to the end of the hot season, supposedly at the end of this month, and I think we are all in the need of it being a bit cooler and fresher. 

For Easter we had a sweetie hunt for some of the children on the compound which was so much fun and  a lovely time together.  

One of the MAF ladies organised some of the neighbouring kids to come to the compound one morning for play, snack and to hear a Bible story.  It was brilliant to see about 20 or so children from the neighbourhood playing here and a gift to have the swings, climbing frame and trampoline to share with them on occasions.  We enjoyed time with some of their mums too -  although with my limited French, and no existent Arabic, my chit  chat was minimal!

As Zack thrives at the Chadian kindgergarten in the city, Esther has joined him too. The other children here on the compound are older than her and after a year of not playing with children her age, it is so lovely to see her playing with other kids her age at the kindergarten. She is loving it -  especially going to 'school' with her big brother!

As I write this, Andrew is away for a few days on his first flying solo trip away. He headed off yesterday flying a pastor and a Dr around the south of Chad reaching people in small villages where MAF become their lifeline. To me, it is so exciting that Andrew can be part of this and what a privilege for him to experience and see these remote places where nothing is taken for granted and gain an insight into these peoples lives and be able to share Gods love for them.  A wonderful example of the work of MAF.

It is hard to believe that we have been in Chad for four months already. We are feeling more settled, a lot hotter, and more accepting that the pace is slower here and some days, due to the heat and it just being Africa, we don't achieve much except the daily necessities of life! We are blessed with a new MAF family arriving just over a week ago and look forward to being  their neighbours!  Driving for me is becoming easier and the randomness is not so random(!), our house help, Saratou, is now working for us permanently and is more of a blessing that I could ever have hoped for and although I can't say Chad is home yet, I am getting there. Of course I still miss the UK -  family, friends, the seasons, lovely countryside, speaking English, more predictability on  a daily basis, nice cool mornings and evenings and the freedom to come and go around the country as one wishes but for now, we are happy and know that Gods work for us is here in Chad and that for us that is why we are here.

 

 

 

Andrew begins his flying training!

Over the past few days Andrew has begun his flying training here in Chad. Yippee.

It has been challenging due to weather restraints -  one day it was too hot here to start the plane until 5pm (he began work at 7am!) so it was a day of theory learning and watching the thermometer. Today, as I write this, after getting up at 5am to hopefully fly before it gets too hot, the dust seems to be a problem and visibility poor so I do not know if he is up in the sky or not.

Please pray that over the next week he will complete the training necessary as Patrick, the person training him, works for MAF in Madagascar and has to return next tuesday.

We have also brought a car....... Very exciting and if you remember my little old red corsa we used to have, this is very different. A toyota 4runner, automatic, 3.4L and 4 wheel drive -  needed here if we leave the city roads.  Car shopping was an experience. Here you find a car you like in the garage in your price range and that is it generally. There is no real choice of specifications  -  if the car is OK then whatever the specifications are, they are either a bonus or not. It was a testing time car shopping in the 42C heat, with a toddler and in French! Praise God that we were able to go with a local MAF employee to help us out. Another difference was the need to go to the bank and withdrawi the money to buy the car in cash.......

We continue to feel blessed here and pray that our shipping, which should arrive on Wednesday to the airport, comes to us successfully with minimum custom fees....  We are all very excited about the thought of opening the boxes to see exactly what we packed up over 7 months ago! Zack just has one request -  that he gets his track back!

7 weeks in Chad already!

We have been here now for 7 weeks, time is going really fast and we have all settled in well. The kids are loving playing on the compound, especially in the small swimming pool. We are getting used to the hot weather, although apparently in April, the hottest month of the year, we are told it is like living in fire!

Andrew has brought his own motorbike for getting to and from work. The soft sand on some of the roads make his trips interesting but then he does like a challenge. He has been in the office most days but has been able to accompany Bryan, a relief pilot here, on a couple of trips, including one to Cameroon, so he was able to claim a new country! He is looking forward to beginning his flight training in just under 2 weeks time.

I have conquered driving on my own! I cant say I like it but I have to do it. Especially as Zack has started at a kindergarten in town so I need to drive him there and pick him up. He is enjoying it and even is picking up the African accent sometimes!

We have brought a washing machine although not able to use it yet as here we need to run electical equipment through a voltage box and although we have a voltage box we need to attach a plug! Nothing is straight forward here! We also seem to find that fridges here are not the most reliable and are currently had 4 different ones.

The mosquitoes continue to bite but I have found a very good mosquito squatter in the last few days -  a wet flannel!

Now as I write this, the children on the compound, 10 of them, are off to play together under a water sprinkler in one of the gardens........

First Flight with MAF in Chad

I had the opportunity to join Kalvin, the MAF's current pilot here in Chad for a flight to Ati, a town just over 200 miles to the east of N'Djamena.

 

A good thing about flying are the views....

 

Approaching Ati



About to land at Ati

A drawback of flying is there is often not much time on the ground at the destination before we have to turn round and go back.  We spent 30 minutes on the ground at Ati unloading and reloading passengers and baggage and avoiding standing out in the sun for too long.  Thankfully this is not the hottest time of year so current daytime temperatures only reach around 40 C (104 F).

 

MAF Chad's Cessna Caravan Aircraft at Ati

Departing Ati

 

 

Arriving back at N'Djamena (the Chari River here forms the border between Chad and neighbouring Cameroon; Cameroon is in the foreground, with Chad beyond the river)

 

A proud Zack next to some Duplo construction he had designed and put together

 

 

 

Arrived in Chad

We arrived safely in Chad on Thursday afternoon after our flights from London via Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.  Everything fine so far; the other expatriate staff here have shown us around the city and shops.  I (Andrew) have also had the opportunity to spend a morning at the MAF hangar and have met some of the Chadian MAF staff and see the two aircraft that MAF operate here in Chad.  One is a new 4-seat Cessna 182; the other is a much larger Cessna 208 Caravan.

The other expatriate staff here are Kalvin and Albert together with their families.  Kalvin is a pilot and has been here for many years and is acting as programme manager until that post has been filled.  Albert is an engineer and moved here with his family last year from Mongolia.  We have a comfortable flat on the MAF compound two miles to the east of central N'djamena.

At the moment we are finding our bearings and getting used to a lot of things being different.  Zack and Esther are enjoying making new friends and being able to play outside in the warm weather.

One week to go.......

The countdown continues - in a weeks time, almost exactly, we should be on the plane heading to Ethiopia and then Chad! WOW. Still very excited and the nerves haven't set in yet. However, we just need some good weather for Andrew to complete  a flying renewal assessment over the next couple of days....  I, Hannah, feel so peaceful about the move ( except the usual goodbyes) and know that God has, and is, blessing us with His peace as He walks before us.

Just over 2 weeks to go......

I can't believe that we have just over 2 weeks to go until we move to Chad. I can't wait. We are really enjoying seeing family and friends and feel very loved by all, but after so much preparation, and there is still a lot to do, including Andrew having to do a  bit of flying and renew his class one medical in South England, all 4 of us Mumfords are getting excited about our new lives ahead of us in Chad!

6 days left in France

With only 6 more days left in France, time is going so fast.  As we prepare for our final tests this coming week, to clean the flat we are currently living in, repack our suitcases and say goodbye to some wonderful friends that we have made over the past 4 months,  I am feeling truely blessed and excited that a month tomorrow we fly to Chad! ( we even have our visas now too!) The last few weeks have been difficult for me spreading my time between some difficult French studies and my family -  including a very strong willed 2 year old daughter! God has certainly been testing me and pushing me to my limits.

On Friday evening we went to a Christmas event at Zacks school and it was wonderful to see him playing with his friends and he was so proud to introduce them to Andrew and I and 'show' Esther his school -  even though she goes there most days with Andrew or myself to collect him at the end of his school day. Then, for him, and us, the realisation struck, that he only has 4 more days at school left with his friends before he says goodbye! That is when it is tough moving and seeing the effects, in the short term, it has on  Zack and Esther. Again, I hold on to the graciousness of Gods love and how prviledged we are to be called to serve Him in Chad and how He uses every opportunity. Praise the Lord that God has given Zack the excitement of moving to Africa too.

Only 5 weeks left in France.

Hannah update........

We have been back in France now for 10 days after our half term holidays to England seeing family and some friends. We had a great time but on returning back to France I was surprised to find myself pleased to be 'home!'. Yes, home! The past 10 days have gone very quickly getting back into a routine of lessons, going back to school -  of which Zack has had no trouble, and little Esther adoring playing with her chums again in nursery. Of course also fitting in family time and seeing  a bit more of Paris. We were also thrilled to spend a couple of days with our friends (granny) Isobel and (grandpa) Ian from Aberdeen who were here on holiday. Now as I write this we are awaiting for Sandra, another friend from Aberdeen, to arrive to see us for a few days.  There are mixed emotions as I hear about friends from Aberdeen and realise I miss them so much. This weekend when a very good friend had another little baby boy I am so thrilled but it is hard  when I am not to be able to see them, have a wee cuddle with the new bunble of joy and be there for a wonderful friend, and family, on such a special occasion. Friendships so special and easy to be taken for granted. 

With only 5 weeks left here, we are preparing to submit our application for our Chadian visas and now counting down the weeks until we fly to Chad on 16th January. ( eight and a half weeks!). With the excitement, comes more unsettling times, the reality of what we have to do in the final preparations, inbetween the study, but also saying goodbye to family and the realisation that when I become an auntie again  next February, and my best friend is due to have her next baby in March, I wonder just how far away I will feel from them.  It is then that I ask God for his arms of love to surround me and become thankful for family and friends, however far away, for their constant blessings and joy to me.

God knows best - by Hannah

Moving from Aberdeen and now living in France hasn't been, and isn't, easy but I am learning that God gives me the strength that I need every day to fulfill the tasks He gives me to do. The times I have felt lonely and wandering what I am doing, ( mostly when I feel lost in my French lesson!) God  reassures me of His constant love and dependency on Him. I do not just need to rest on the Sabbath but to find my 'rest' in Him daily 'for nothing is impossible with God! ( Luke 1v37).  If somebody had told me 15 years ago that in my mid thirties, I would move with my young family to France to learn French and then to Chad I would have  not only asked where Chad was in the world but I would have laughed at them. That would have been one of my worst nightmares back then, but now, it is a joy ( most of the time), as I seek His will in my life and am obedient to Him.

Our first 6 weeks in France



Leaving England to begin our new adventure

God has really blessed us with some lovely people here and the children are settling into a routine of school for Zack and creche for Esther. There is a lovely garden for them to play in and there are a couple of other children living on the school site with us and Zack and Esther play with them most days.  

We have been at Les Cedres language school, just south of Paris, for 6 weeks and  it seems a long time since we were leaving England to come here.We are beginning to feel that this is home -  although of course we miss Aberdeen, our friends and family. 

 The days are busy studying in the day for Andrew and I whilst Zack attends a french school about 10 mins walk away, which he seems to enjoy, and Esther goes to creche on the Les Cedres site. Andrew and I have homework to do in the evenings after the children are in bed. Our studies are progessing -  some quicker than others! - and the children both seem to enjoy speaking a bit of French now and then. 

 We have also been making the most of the weather going around Paris -  it is just a 15 minute walk to the train station and then about 30 mins by train into Paris. Zack especially likes the Eiffel Tower and we went to the top for his birthday last week.  We have started to go into Paris to Hillsong church where the service is in both French and English in an attempt to learn as much as we can -  language wise and spiritually. The children enjoy Sunday school there too thankfully.

God is blessing our time here with the opportunity of learning a new language and making new friends and to trust Him more on the more challenging and difficult days. It is exciting what He is doing in our lives as we walk with Him daily

Esthers mustard experience.....

 

When Andrew was little, and I mean little(!) his mum, Hazel, found that Andrew liked to eat mustard until his eyes started watering. Well, this week, Andrew thought that he would try the same with Esther..... However, Esther decided that even 3 tea spoonfuls were not enough and wanted more. Andrew and I decided though that that was enough. There must be something in the Mumford genes with a taste for mustard!