Dear Friends and Family,

We wish each of you a special time of blessing during this Easter season.  In the last month or so we have seen several from the village welcomed into the body of Christ.  One Sunday we welcomed 11 people who had recently decided to follow the Lord.  It is those times that my eyes are moist and my heart beats with joy; seeing the reason for which we have given our lives, realized.  Just imagine how Christ felt after all the anguish of that day when he uttered the words “it is finished”.  It was the realization of a plan set in motion at creation, and then end of a pain filled day, the joy of victory all wrapped up in one.  This Easter season we trust that you know the hope that Christ has put in our hearts and that you will share it with someone.

One of the other exciting things that we have seen is the opening of a university just up the road from our village.  Because it is about 15km from town many of the youth have chosen to find lodging with those in the village.  This has impacted our little church of 100 by about 50%.  It is not unusual for some 40-50 university students to be in attendance these Sundays.  Some of the local youth have recognized the need for a bible study among these students.  This Sunday one of our local missionaries will be taking up this challenge to provide these young people with the biblical foundations that they need for life.

Sometimes life here can be very frustrating and we often wonder if much is being accomplished as we deal with difficulties in the Church and injustices we observe from day to day.  Yet almost weekly we are reminded how simply sharing and being concerned makes a great impact on peoples lives.  When we leave church I am often approached by 1 or more youth that Daniel shared some time with in the choir.  We often don’t see the results when we are in the situation but we covet these reminders when struggling through difficult times.  We also covet your prayers for the boys as Daniel seeks employment for the summer and Stephen spreads his wings on to California for a co-op work term.  Both seem confident of making the grade this past semester.  We are excited as we see them mature; taking risks blended with faith and watching God provide their needs and mould them.  Jessica continues to make progress in her school work while Kathy guides her and finds ways to encourage her.  It has been difficult for Jessica as there are no other youth on our base or near by.  She covets the few days she gets with her friends when they return from school in other countries.

Recently I was finally able to get around to a project given me quite some time ago by a retired missionary.  She donated embroidery machines which I was to setup and train a national to use to produce badges for the national JEA (boy’s brigade & pioneer girls) movement.  Unfortunately the machines, though new would not work properly.  After several weeks of frustration I discovered loose parts.  How this happened we are not sure but we thank the Lord that the machines now seem to work and Kathy is devoting several hours a week training a Chadian to run the machines.  I also need to do a fair bit of programming as they were supplied with only a few of the achievement badges used by the youth movement.

I continue to be busy with maintenance and as I mentioned in our last letter this year we are adding 2 rooms with bath to our base’s guest facility.  To reduce the expenses I decided to have the brick make on the property.  This has come with its own experiences and learning curves.  The first 4000 are now fired and the construction should begin in a week or so.  Most of the finishing work (plumbing, electrical, paint and furnishings) I will be doing myself so if 1 or 2 of you want an exotic working holiday ☺ you could write me, we might be able to make it happen.  I also hope to include running hot water!  Currently I am also coordinating a shipment from the states that will bring some quality equipment like good flush toilets and ceiling fans.  My hope is that the shipping container will arrive late July or early Aug.  One of my greatest challenges out here is repairs that last due to the poor quality or lack of materials.  My wood planer works over time as most of the wood comes from a “chainsaw mill” and is very rough.   The Jatropha plants continue to grow and I hope to have the oil press arrive with the same shipment.

We are managing in spite of the heat of this time of the year.  Kathy has struggled with here usual allergies to heat and mangoes but is courageous and takes one day at a time.  Otherwise we have had good health in general for which we praise the Lord.

We thank you for partnering with us as we enable those bringing God’s hope to those who have no hope.  We trust that you too will “mark out a straight path… that those who follow… will become strong.

Paul, Kathryn & Jessica

Dear Friends and Family,

We wish each and every one of you a very Merry and Christ filled Christmas.  Galatians is not the most usual passage quoted at Christmas but it expresses God’s sovereignty in His plan for all time.  This is also then what has helped us hold the course during what has been a very tumultuous year of emotion and happenings.  As we mentioned in our last letter tensions had run high throughout the first half of the year due to the rebel activities in February.  This was compounded by the fact that one of our team members was being held hostage by yet another renegade group in the North.  These were trying times for many of us who did not have much information as to what was going on.  In contrast to this several of our team members had sacrificed their ministries to be involved in negotiating Steve’s release.  It proved to be even more strenuous to them who had “all the information” and yet many times things seemingly progressed slowly and even regressed despite their efforts and our prayers.   Yet God is always at work and in His time Steve was released.  This was a wonderful culmination to our vacation time.  However the day before leaving to return to Chad we received news that 3 of our co-workers had been tragically killed in an auto accident.  Why?  Someday we will know but till then we trust God.  Each had a vibrant testimony and we were privileged to arrive back in Chad to be a part of their memorial service.  We each must trust God knowing that only he knows the number of our days. Our job is simply to make each day count for glory as we serve in that place that God had called us.  Several other changes that have added to this year’s challenges has been the early departure of the family whose children were in Palmview, due to medical concerns and the retiring of our field leadership after some 40 years of service.  It makes me feel “a part of the furniture” knowing that I can remember when the Hodges arrived in Chad!

We had a wonderful time of vacation and are very grateful to each of you that contributed to this extra ordinary time of relaxation and renewal.  Stephen even managed to share several days with us as a family at a cottage.  It was a very nice time.  Another major change that came from this of course was that we sadly had to leave yet another of us behind.  We are grateful for Daniel’s desire to pursue some form of ministry and we covet your prayers for his direction.  After one full semester at E.B.C. he says… “It was definitely a hard semester.  I hope that, now that I know the system, this next semester will go better.  It was a little bit of a shock getting into the groove of things here.  I think that I have it down now, though” Besides school he currently leads the junior youth at our church.  Stephen continues to enjoy his co-op placement and will soon begin another school semester.  He is hoping for a placement “where it is happening” (Silicon Valley) in the spring.  Pray for the many details that will need to be ironed out to make this happen.

We are thankful for the arrival of a new couple to take on some of the administration tasks that our senior missionaries (the Hodges) handled for many years.  Hard to believe that I remember when they came to Chad, when I was 12 or so.  We also find the lack of students for Kathy to teach at the school somewhat providential as she is now able to help Jessica more fully, to complete her high school education.  This will be Kathy’s main focus for the remainder of this term.

We recently had our annual field conference during which our speaker helped focus on the fact that though we often see God as reactionary (working out things for His purpose), He is actually proactively designing our lives that we come into a full knowledge and relationship with Him.  The conference also approved a budget to enlarge the guest facilities at Koutou station.  I will begin this project in January and am hoping that a small work team can come in the summer to help me put some finishing touches on these accommodations.

I continue to be swamped with constant repairs and am often feeling very inadequate but the Lord continues to provide strength for each and every day.  Pray too for our aging parents that we leave behind that God will be gracious to them.

We thank you for partnering with us as we enable those bringing God’s hope to those who have no hope.  We trust that you too will “mark out a straight path… that those who follow… will become strong.
Paul, Kathryn, Daniel & Jessica

This year has seen much upheaval and change. The biggest being the attempted overthrow of the government in February. This was a time in which we saw most of the expatriates, including missionary staff leave Chad. We praise God that we were in a more quiet location and able to facilitate their departures. It required many emails, cell & satellite phone calls and HF radio communication. There were many stories of God’s providence during this time.

With all the instability several families and missions have changed strategies. This often seemed to produced changing plans with the frequency of the rising of the sun each day. This along with other circumstances kept Kathy guessing on the plans for the next school year. At one point there was the possibility of 8 students in 6 grades next year but at this point only 2 students will remain. Several missions have not yet returned, others are only back on a limited basis. One of the families that were planning on returning still have some medical complications to overcome. All this makes planning difficult but we know God is in control and we are here to serve as he enables us. One of the schools recent highlights was raising money through sponsorship, to fight malaria. They participated in an international swim-a-thon and raised enough to buy 150 treated mosquito nets.

We are thankful to God and all those who have helped to make it possible for all of us to return to Canada for a vacation this summer. Pray that we will have good family times and rest as this will also be a time for gearing up for the remaining 2 years of our term. We are thankful also that parts were supplied to enable the Suburban to run again. It should be returning to service when we get back from Canada. It has required considerable more work than I anticipated but is nearing completion. I was able to take it for a successful test drive the other day. Another of my projects has been to research alternative power sources for the Print Shop electrical needs.  As you are well aware, the costs of fuel are rising. We have thus begun the plantation of Jatropha, a locally unused plant that produces a bean with a high concentration of oil. Results are still a few years in the future but so far things look hopeful. We should be able to grow 30-50% of our fuel needs. One of the new challenges I will be facing will be that of overseeing the Print Shop during the months of Nov. & Dec. while the printer is in the US for his son’s wedding. I often help out on the technical side of things but have never been involved in production.

One of the highlights for Daniel, and us was a get together that we did for the choir he has been working with at our local church. We opened our house to 15 young adults for a movie and pizza. We presented a film called “The Gospel” which is a modern prodigal son story. It was well received and we trust it had a good impact on their lives. We also had some 20 people go forward this last Sunday and church after a gospel presentation by a local chapter of the Gideon’s. Pray that they will get good follow up as this is often a weak point in the local church.

We also thank those of you who prayed during my recent fight with dengue fever. It was almost 3 weeks of fevers and the recovery afterward is even longer but I do believe the effects are finally over. The plus side is that one supposedly can only get it once, God knows and we continue on in his strength. We thank you for the part you play in helping us maintain God’s work in building his Kingdom. We trust that you too will “mark out a straight path… that those who follow… will become strong.

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Dear Friends and Family,

Wow, it’s hard to believe that 2 months has already flown past since our return. Our last few weeks in Canada were rather crazy with a trip to Northern Ontario in the middle of moving Mom & Dad into a care facility. We are thankful to many of you who helped out during those weeks. We are thankful to the Lord for providing a place so quickly for them and though downsizing is always difficult; all went remarkably well, including the sale of their home with only one showing.

We then packed in a flurry of loose ends, leaving Stephen with many things to take care of and many notes of instruction. We are thankful the since our departure he seems to be doing well with several grandma’s doting on him. The Lord has also supplied enough renters for him to fill the house and seemingly manage financially. He now looks forward to his first Coop work placement. We covet your prayers for a good job that will not only provide him with the skills he needs but also the finances he will need for the ensuing semester.

We spent a few hours in the Paris airport resting before arriving safely in Chad, along with all of our luggage. We spent a couple of days in the capital buying supplies before driving to our village in the south. We had only just over 2 weeks before school began for Kathy. We unpacked the necessities the first week then shifted into high gear. Kathy was still preparing the 1st week’s lessons the night before school began and only now feels somewhat back on schedule. I discovered the answer to a question I was often asked, “Who is doing your job while you are in Canada?” Not much was done, just the jobs piled up. One of the most pressing was that the generator had only fuel and oil changes done and the radiator was 80% plugged and ready to overheat at any time. This required first installing the new backup generator which had come in the container. I also have made several attempts at resolving the issue of getting an official permission to install and run the Internet VSAT systems for us and several other mission agencies ministering in Chad. Ironically since arriving I have helped set up a couple of systems for Chadian organizations which has given me some helpful insights. I have also made some new M contacts, who I trust will see Christ in my life. I have met with the governor of our Province regarding permission for the VSAT but to not avail other than to be advised to submit a request to the Minister of Interior (2nd in command). Please pray that the Lord will work in his heart to grant us free usage this equipment. I have also got the Suburban as far as the garage and un-seized the doors. I hope to make more progress in the next few weeks Lord willing. Daniel, wanting to examine African music more closely, got involved in our church’s choir, this quickly evolved into playing with them in a performance at another church. We trust his experiences will be memorable and formative during this, his last year with us on the field. Please pray also for Jessica as school via internet requires one be very self motivated and she finds this very difficult.

We have been very busy but God gives us strength each day as we meet the needs of the Kingdom team here. We trust that along with us, you are “always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labour is not in vain.

Many thanks for your effective prayers on our behalf,

Dear Friends and Family,
Warm greetings from the upstairs of our house on Louisa St. Time continues to fly by and God continues to show us His faithfulness. Our home assignment has just flown by. We are very thankful to God for his help in making it possible for Kathy to finish her ACSI teacher’s certification along with earning her Bachelor of Christian School Education. We are thankful to Heritage Bible College for working with us in making this possible. Not only has this provided Kathy with a degree in her field but with a wealth of knowledge that will make her passion for equipping MK’s even more effective. We also look forward meeting with students and teachers who have been a part of Palmwiew School at the 50yr reunion being held at Heritage this summer.
We are very thankful also for a very good year at school for both Daniel and Jessica. This is a huge answer to prayer as this is the first time they have been in public school. They have had many opportunities to share their faith with friends, one of which has given her heart to the Lord. Jessica has managed the transition well and enjoys the social aspect of a larger school. Daniel has enjoyed being able to develop his musical talents more and has taken many opportunities to do so, performing in a variety of venues and doing some recording of his own. Stephen enjoyed his year at bible school and continues to mature daily. He has been accepted into the Computer Science Co-op program at the University of Waterloo. We continue to pray that God will supply his needs as he plans to live in and manage our house while we are in Chad.
As you know I had planned to take a trip back to Chad to set up some Internet VSAT systems for several other mission agencies ministering in Chad. As those of you with email know I sent out an urgent prayer request when it was discovered that the government would like to tax each system almost $10,000/yr. Unfortunately a compromise has not been reached and I did not make the trip. We covet your prayers that a reasonable fee can soon be negotiated.
I managed to make a trip down to Virginia in Feb. with a load of things to be shipped to Chad for the work there. Some of which were parts to get our aging Suburban going again. Pray for reasonable customs and the safe arrival of the container as it is still stuck in the Cameroon waiting for “room on the train”.
We are now turning our attention to preparations for resuming our ministry in Chad for another term. I already have news of jobs waiting for me. There will only be a couple of weeks for Kathy to prep for the next school year while we setup house again. We continue to trust God for several hundred dollars in monthly support that we need before our planned departure of Aug. 5th. We are planning a 3 yr. term with a short visit home in the summer of 2009 to bring Daniel home for college. Pray for the packing (decisions of what we will need over the next 3 yrs) and visits that we still need to make. Pray with us that we will finish well, our home assignment as there are many details to take care of.
Many thanks for your effective prayers on our behalf,