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.