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.