Life, the Adventure!

I wrote an email to a friend and realized it'd make a good post.

Life is an adventure! You are one who knows that well. Judy and I are having adventures, mostly good ones. We have re-adapted to Africa well. Its much easier this time than last, lots of reasons I guess. The surprises this time are mostly good ones. Food is available, lots of it, (for a price).
Great hardware stores, I can get almost anything I need (again, for a price.) Not stuff I am use to, but stuff that is normal for here. One just has to know the system. I have a buyer who seems to be able to find almost anything. She is a wonderfully kind woman, devout Muslim, extremely honest, quick, very knowledgeable. Works for a flat % commission and really enjoys finding good deals. She makes my life so much easier. Because the branch has been here 25 years now, they have established relationships with contractors and business people and I am able to get things done. Its been a great African experience this time around. Not that it is without challenges and headaches. Trying to work between two very different cultures, Western and African. But I'm finding a happy blend and getting things done.

We have been mostly healthy, a few small bouts of this and that, but all in all, we are in great shape. The work hours are long for both of us. But the schedule is great. I start about 6:30 AM unlocking doors and providing access for the contractors. ( I have three major projects going on.) Then I go home and have some breakfast, back at it by 7:30, a break at 10:30, lunch starts about 1:30-2;00, shower and nap till 3:30. Back to work till 6, 7, 8, or 9. The later only once so far. Lots to do here and not near enough people to do it all. The fresh and sewage water systems are in extreme need of repair. There is a centralized filtered water system, that needs help. The main electric panel has caught on fire twice, before I got here. Several of the components are partly melted, but somehow still working. I have two standby diesel generators, a 150 kva, for daytime use and a 50 kva for night time use. We got a bad batch of fuel last Feb, just before I got here, and have some injector pump issues. I’m trying to locate a couple of injector pumps via our shipping department in NC.

The complex is about a city block in size, I think its about 40 housing units, three 2 story American style apartments and 15- 2 bed dorms in our training area. An administration building, good size workshop, print shop, training facilities with large and small classroom and our own utility systems.

We’ll be needing a new welder soon. The Miller we are using is on its last legs. We need a service cart of some kind. Diesel powered golf cart on steroids or something. Batteries don’t last long in this heat. But tool wise, the last Center Manger, who left in 2008, left a lot of great tools. It’s messy, but a well equipped shop. Even has a brand new metal working lathe and mill. Its never been used...yet. The shop is slowly getting cleaned up and organized. Entropy just happens over time. (look it up)

I heard today we are expecting a shipment a New Testaments to arrive this week. These are three different languages of Chad. The dedications of two of the, Kenga and Dangleate are the end of November. We are excited to get to be here for these mile stones in Chad. Many more to come.

Jordan is working the fire season now. Just waiting for a big fire. He's had several small ones already. Looks like he’ll stay in our house till the end of the season, then think of moving on. He’d like to travel a bit if the fire season is good ($$$). Go see his sister in NC and brother in S Korea. Maybe even us in Chad. Who knows. Josh is still in S Korea teaching English. and Jody in NC raising a family.

Look for us on Skype, between 11 AM and 2 PM AZ time. That’s 7 PM – 10 PM here. Not a real good Internet connection, but sometimes it works and we get to talk to our family and friends. That is a big difference this time in Africa. 

We just had some rain last evening and today we have cloud cover and a few sprinkles. It is so nice and cool we have out windows open and enjoying the respit from the heat which was in the triple digits this week. 

Well, take care friend.

Jim Mc