Dear Family & Friends:

We have come to the end of the rainy season here in Chad. At the end of the season when the wind picks up everyone scampers to bring things inside as it often means a violent thunder storm is only moments away. Clear blue skies can change to torrential rains in a matter of minutes. One of these storms dropped 100mm of rain and was accompanied by 80+km/hr winds. We praise God that all the roofs stayed on our houses. You may have remembered us reporting of the flooding in town last year. These end of season storms were almost 2 months later than usual and those with mud brick homes in flooded areas had to evacuate to relatives before rebuilding. Those with ripe fields of grain that were hit suffered much loss. So far the crops in most areas have been good however. Pray for graciousness from our God. Thirty years ago the church in Chad struggled with a politically driven Cultural Revolution that pushed a return to pagan rites. Many Christians stood their ground against this blatant opposition to Christianity, as it involved worship of spirits and ancestors. Now these winds of turbulence are back. This time not with the gale force of politics behind it however, but with the persuasive steady breeze of family and friends. Last week the initiation leaders came to a nearby village and took a young man from the local congregation. When the church leaders went to bring him back they were met with much physical opposition.




Fortunately their lives were spared but now their destroyed fields are the result of retaliation. Just this week the parents of a young man that has been working for us came and took him to participate in these pagan rites. Family ties are very strong in this culture and are far reaching. Pray for strength, wisdom and protection for the local Christians. We praise God and thank the many of you who contributed over and above your regular support to us, helping us pay for the high cost of relocating here to Chad. We are please to inform you that God took your gifts and multiplied them such that our obligations have been met with a couple of dollars to spare. God knows exactly how much we need!!! You also know that we have been struggling with a very low level of monthly support and have been filling this need with a fund donated by a man who consecrated his life's savings to God's work. We want to thank those who have increased their support and the new team players that have pick up a part of the work. We also want to thank those who write faithfully and send care packages. God will richly bless you. So as not to arrive on home assignment with either no funds or a debt we have decided in council with field leaders to begin our home assignment July/August 2000 (If the world hasn't collapsed due to Y2K :-) This will enable us to remain on basic salary during our furlough, assisting us in raising the needed prayer and financial support needed to return to Chad in 2001. Please pray with us for God's direction and sensitivity to His will. Please pray for effectiveness in ministry during the remaining months.

Paul, Kathryn & SDJ Weber

Dec. 99


The kids have sailed into the new school year with a fresh breeze in their sails. They are enjoying the new teachers and playmates. The station echoes with new sounds as they each try new musical instruments. Jessica is getting the hang of a clarinet between squeaks. Stephen enjoys bellowing on a baritone... especially his part in the Veggie Tales tune. Daniel just likes to play as many instruments as he can. He still enjoys playing his recorder while learning the clarinet and seeing what he can on mom's flute. Kathy is enjoying teaching history and science classes at Palmview and giving flute lessons to a couple of students after classes. Perseverance is still her motto when it comes to Ngambai lessons. Finding enough time to be mom is difficult as many basic household tasks take much more time. e.g.. Rice is literally sorted one kernel at a time to remove small rocks and other impurities, flour must be treated several weeks in advance then kept in a sealed container until it is used. Paul has created several new bike/walking trails that were enjoyed by many during our recent annual conference, held here at Koutou this year. The generator he was working on has been put back into service. Stage one of a 1km (200mx300m) security wall around the premises is finally complete which left just enough time for station cleanup before annual field conference. The motor in the Isuzu, belonging to a missionary involved in leadership training and discipleship, is back in service. The tracts for the annual evangelistic campaign can be printed now that the press is wired for the correct voltage after being tired of running on the wrong voltage for several years! Other projects include installing new poles for the HF radio which is the key communication link to other areas, constructing a workshop/shelter to do his work in and maybe finding time to put the Suburban back in operation after being laid up for several months. We praise God for his protection and reasonable health and look forward to serving him in whatever he has in store for us in the coming months. May God continue to bless and use you,