My LORD and I in Africa

My LORD and I in Africa

Arriving Bere—6/5/11(1^st day of the week) I arrived Bere Adventist Hospital in the afternoon.  Frederick and I had about 7 hours ride in the bus, southward from N’Djamena (Chad’s capital city) to Bere.  Dr. Olen Netteburg welcomed me and gave me a tour around the place, introducing me to some staff and volunteers. 

I remember meeting Heather first.  She’s a nurse and student missionary coming from Tennessee.  I also met Augustine, Benzaki, Tammy, Danae (Olen’s wife—an ob-gyn specialist), Cara and Andrew (doctors and friends of Olen & Danae).

With My African Family—Frederick (he is a Chadian working with Gary & Wendy of Adventist Medical Aviation at Bendele) brought me to the village, introducing me to Matthew and his family.  His wife’s name is Terese.  And their children are Noe, Clarice, Bievenue, Grace, Camga, Swari and baby Felicite. 

They brought me to my room or hut along with the things I had with me during travel.  The hut is made up of red bricks and tin roof.  It’s about 5x5 meters in length and width, and about 5 meters in height.  It has an iron door attached firmly to the entrance and an iron window, as well.

I find Matthew and his family to be very hospitable.  They provided for me a cot with linen cover and a separate plastic mat—on which I can sit while spending quiet times and prayer breaks and study languages. Or sometimes I sit on it while washing clothes.  They also prepare and serve me Chadian food each day.

I like seeing my family eating together.  All of the girls, with the mother, eat on the mat nearby.  While the boys, with the father, eat at a small (about 2 feetx1.5 feet with the height of about 2 feet) table and are seated on small chairs.   They serve the food in a big round plate (like rice topped with the choice viand—whether vegetable or meat).  And everyone eats from it, each family member using a spoon to scoop food from the plate.