Dear Family and Friends,
Debbie recently returned from a trip to Chad that coincided with the rainy season- our favorite time of year in Chad! Rain chases away the dust storms of the hot season and brings new life everywhere you look! Crops are plentiful, beautiful birds (my favorite are kingfishers!) abound, and lush green overtakes the thirsty brown landscape. Life springs forth and reminds us of the kindness of God even in the way He created the seasons. No hard times last forever…He makes everything new in its time. The sun always rises after a dark night and rain comes mercifully after a season of lack— what hope we have!
Preparation for a trip to Chad begins months before the travel date! Air travel has made so many things easier when working overseas especially a country as poor as Chad. Many important items can be stuffed into suitcases to help make the care at the hospital and also activities of daily living easier. It really takes a community to raise a hospital. In the last year, we brought a broken X-ray head back to the States and a repaired one back to Chad. A new electro-coagulation machine, portable X-ray stand, twenty-four stretcher wheels to replace the overly/well used ones, and a dermatome and skin Mesher (for skin grafts), fetal Dopplers, caster wheels and solar powered outside lights are just some of the things brought. In August, Debbie brought back a replacement piston for our old portable X-ray stand. Ron O’Neal, founder of InRayPart, was able to coach us via video WhatsApp to replace the broken one with the new one. Not only suitcases are important to missionaries but also technology and willing knowledgeable individuals to help with the process! Thanks Ron!
There is so much to learn from other cultures and Debbie was reminded of this when Patrice, one of our hospital employees, lost his father. A group of employees and Debbie went to visit him and once again, she was, once again, struck with the way death is handled in the African culture. Funerals are attended by all in the community, not just the friends of the deceased. So, whether it is a close family member, neighbor, a tribal member, Chadians prioritize being involved in the wake, funeral and during the mourning period. Everyone sits together on the floor on mats or plastic chairs, men and women in different sections for up to a week. In one of the tribes, a family member dresses like the deceased walking around impersonating them. The bereaved are held by the community with love, support, and most importantly, presence. Life expectancy is 55.4 years according to the Chadian government statistics. This low life expectancy is attributed to poverty, instability, lack of healthcare, shortage of clean water and medical resources. Death is quite literally a “way of life.” Chadians are comfortable with death in a way and there is comfort in that. There can be a sense in Western culture of not knowing how to act or what to do when someone dies because it is so unfamiliar, but in African culture, the natural response is to mourn together, as a community. It is beautiful and inspiring to see humans care for each other through all the ups and downs of life.
PRAISES:
- Debbie’s trip to Chad went smoothly. It’s always great to reconnect with the staff and community. Bert enjoyed his time in Texas. He was quite spoiled by Greg, Lily, Hannah, Dane and little James.
- World Food Programme donated 4,600 mosquito nets to be distributed to the women attending prenatal clinic and the children being seen in our vaccination and malnutrition clinics. Malaria is a significant public health concern with children under 5 being the most vulnerable. The use of mosquito nets is a crucial preventive measure. We also received a donation from Quatar Charity of ten new wheelchairs (to replace our delapitated ones) and twenty blood pressure monitors.
- Joël and Jenny are so grateful that Skip is finally home after 271 days in the NICU. Presently, he is still on oxygen and being fed via a G-tube. Thanks to each of you for your prayers, messages and phone calls. Skip will continue to need therapy as he has been diagnosed with cerebral palsy. Continue to pray for wisdom for Joël and Jenny as they navigate through this new chapter in their lives.
SUPPLICATIONS:
- Americans are still not able to renew/get visas to enter Chad. Please continue to pray that these decisions will be reversed as many missionaries are facing uncertainty with regards to staying and/or returning to Chad. This new policy has affected our team- preventing two long-term families from returning and medical short termers from coming to help.
- Our solar power system at the hospital continues to have problems. Please pray that the inverters ordered from China will arrive in a timely way.
- That the new believers will grow in their faith and be a true testimony to those around them.
- We continue to have urgent needs for personnel: general surgeon, OB/GYN, anesthesiologist, CRNA, IT specialist, physical therapist.
Thank you for walking this journey with us! Your prayers, support, and encouragement make all the difference.
In Him,
Bert and Debbie Oubre
Philippians 4:8
