Christmas greetings from Chad. We trust you are all doing well. May God keep you and fill you with life for the coming year. These past few months have been quite busy with several new developments. School began in August with all the materials arriving on time for both Kathy's students at Palmview and for the boys' high school. Getting things to Chad in a timely manner is always a challenge. The new Internet connection however is another story. It all began a year ago when we began investigating the possibility of acquiring (non phone based) Internet equipment. As you know we have struggled with phone and email service from here which has been poor at best. This has become a need as both Stephen and Daniel are now doing school by Internet as well as TEAM's move to make all their missionary information and financial records web based. The first option we sought was expensive both to purchase and use. The other options were more expensive to purchase yet more affordable to use than even the phone lines. We then had to procure some type of governmental approval. In our efforts to keep costs down we then tried several means of shipment to Chad, all of which took several months. All that to say that God has been good and provided for each step of the way and we now have, what seems to be a reliable connection to the Internet. The boys are enjoying a more real school experience as they can now interact with their fellow students and teachers on a regular basis. They no longer have to wait for dad to take them to town to simply send and receive their assignments. It also saves me much time that I would have to otherwise spend away from my work doing so.

Kathy has almost finished the first term of school. It has been good for Jessica to have another girl in her class. The year has already been marked by a field day / carnival and an international dinner. Currently she is helping the students prepare for their annual Christmas presentation, to be presented Dec 5th. Kathy continues to also teach French and instrumental music after school this year, which has the new feature of a 3-instrument high school band for our boys and the daughter of an S.I.L. family.

I continue to repair buildings and maintain equipment that succumbs to the heat and dust of this country. Time is not as structured here in Chad as in many other countries. Though sometimes a benefit, this is usually a point of stress for missionaries. Recently as a ladies bible & literacy teacher was leaving for her bush home, she noticed that her battery light in the car did not go out. It was 8am and she was to have lunch at another mission station 2hrs away. I quickly diagnosed the problem and found that her charging system was not functioning. Her Toyota has no serial number or identifying data on it so I could only guess as to the year. An hour and half later, equipped with only the old alternator and a model name I went to town to see if I could find a replacement part. Though the city of Moundou is only 10km away and the second largest in the country there is only one actual parts dealer that looks much like the main lobby of your local auto wreckers. He did not have anything that looked even close so I was directed to the "Parts Boutiques". These are a string of booths (metal roofed shanty town) that surrounds the local market area, each of which measures no more than 10ft. by 10ft. They each have a different selection of parts and often only one of anything. The parts may be new or at least newly painted. I connected with a Muslim shopkeeper that I know well and he was soon off to see his friends with the old part and a promise to return with something!? I waited in his shack for quite some time before he returned with a new alternator that appeared to be the same. The cellophane was even mostly intact though the carton looked as though it had ridden on the back of a market truck through the desert... as well it might have. I thanked him graciously and returned to Koutou with my hopes in hand. After a quick lunch I managed to have the parts installed by 2pm. I fired the car up and.... it worked. Praise God, another miracle in Chad by His grace. I waved her on her way by 3pm and she was able to make her destination by supper. This is but a small taste of one of my unplanned days, at God's call for where he will use us next.

We would like you to be in prayer with us as we consider extending this term of service till summer 2006. This is for several reasons and largely hinges on the need for a teacher at Palmview for the 05/06 school year. It will also help the need of someone to manage the Koutou ministry area, as the other family that normally does this leaves for a one-year home assignment in Feb.05. This then brings up difficulties in two areas, the first being the need for someone to rent our house for this extended time. The other concern is the possible need for me to help my ageing parents during a time of transition in their lives. Please pray that the Lord would guide us clearly in these matters.