I'm in Chad!!! I could tell you were praying these last couple days - the trip went very smoothly, and all my luggage arrived with me too! My coworker, Joy, and I will head south toward Sarh/Balimba tomorrow morning; we will be doing the trip in two shorter days of driving instead of one very long day, so we should reach Balimba on Wednesday.
Now that I'm in Africa, my internet connection will usually be slower and/or less reliable than it was in the USA or France, but I will try to send you updates as I am able. Thanks for your continued prayers as I settle into life in Chad!
Almost ready to go
Life has been very busy since I last wrote on this blog! Some of the things I've done in the past couple weeks include:
If you'd like to know the detailed itinerary of my trip - by train, plane, and Landrover - please check out "My Itinerary".
- Moved out of my apartment (a big job)
- Wallpapered a room (not quite so hard as I'd feared)
- Cleaned my apartment thoroughly (hopefully it will make a good impression on the owner!)
- Enjoyed Christmas with friends (we had a great time!)
- Drove a stick-shift vehicle for the first time (sorta getting the hang of it)
- Packed my suitcases (several times!).
If you'd like to know the detailed itinerary of my trip - by train, plane, and Landrover - please check out "My Itinerary".
December Prayer Letter
Dear Prayer Supporters,
Greetings from France! This will be my last prayer letter from Bordeaux, because in just a few short weeks, I'll be boarding a plane to go to Chad; not for a short missions trip or survey visit, but to really live there! I'm thrilled to be almost on my way, but I know there will be so much to learn as I settle into life in Africa. Thank you for praying for me during this time of transition.
In Christ's Service,
Anna Beth Wivell
Greetings from France! This will be my last prayer letter from Bordeaux, because in just a few short weeks, I'll be boarding a plane to go to Chad; not for a short missions trip or survey visit, but to really live there! I'm thrilled to be almost on my way, but I know there will be so much to learn as I settle into life in Africa. Thank you for praying for me during this time of transition.
Language School - Finished!
Last Friday, I finished my formal French language studies here at the University of Bordeaux. There was no graduation ceremony or commencement address, but that didn't take away any of the joy in completing another important milestone, as I handed in my last exam and left the building for the last time. I've learned so much here - and not only about the French language! I've also learned a lot as I've interacted with my professors and classmates at the university. I'm thankful for the opportunities the Lord has given me to share a little about Him with my fellow students between classes. Pray that the Lord will work in their hearts and bring people into their lives who share the gospel with them.Moving to Chad
With my departure for Chad now less than two weeks away, the task of packing is now in full swing, and I am busy trying to fit everything into my suitcases! Praise the Lord that I received my visa in good order a few weeks ago, so all the paperwork is ready for me to fly out in a couple weeks. I'll be taking the train to Paris on the morning of December 30, then late in the evening, I will catch an overnight flight to N'Djamena (the capital of Chad) with a few hours' layover in Addis Ababa (the capital of Ethiopia). A coworker will pick me up in N'Djamena on December 31 and we will travel together to my new home in Balimba, a village near the city of Sarh in the south of the country (a full day's drive from the capital). Please pray for good traveling weather and smooth connections throughout my journey. Please pray for me as I make the transition into life in Chad.New Ministries Ahead
Over the next year, I will be settling into life in Africa, becoming involved in the Bible translation work and other ministries, and continuing to improve my French skills. Also, one of my tasks for this first year in Chad will be to study one of the local languages with which we are currently working. The language I will be working with is called Sara Kaba Dem. The New Testament has already been translated into Sara Kaba Dem, and Bibles International is currently translating the Old Testament. There is still much work yet to be done before it is complete. Please pray for encouragement and strength for the translators, the missionaries and local Christians who assist them, and for me as I study their language and become better acquainted with the translation project and the translators. Pray that good progress would be made in the translation.In Christ's Service,
Anna Beth Wivell
An Errand ... and an End
Getting ready for a trip to Africa usually requires making some special preparations, besides the typical airplane tickets and carefully packed luggage. One of those special preparations is to purchase antimalarial medication.
I'm sure that most of you know that malaria is a tropical disease spread by mosquitoes which is all too common in many tropical parts of the world. There is currently no vaccine for it, but it is treatable; also there are things you can do to help prevent it, including sleeping under a mosquito net, using insect repellent ... and taking antimalarials. The latter cannot be obtained without a prescription, so yesterday I headed downtown to a travel clinic (a clinic that specializes in giving vaccinations and medical advice to overseas travelers) to get the needed prescription.
Thankfully, it was easy to obtain what I needed. The doctor agreed with me that I should stay with the same type of antimalarials that I've used on previous trips, so I'm glad to know I can keep using what has worked for me in the past. Before long, I was on my way to the pharmacy, prescription in hand, to pick up the meds. A few hours later, I had all that I will need for a 12-month's supply of the medication. Praise the Lord for providing another important thing that I need for my upcoming move to Chad!
On another note, yesterday was also my last day of French classes. It's hard to believe that the hours of lectures and assignments have come to an end! All that remains now are the final exams. I will have seven of them, one or two each day from Monday to Friday. I am starting to feel like I will be ready for them, but we'll find out if I really will be! Thanks for praying!
I'm sure that most of you know that malaria is a tropical disease spread by mosquitoes which is all too common in many tropical parts of the world. There is currently no vaccine for it, but it is treatable; also there are things you can do to help prevent it, including sleeping under a mosquito net, using insect repellent ... and taking antimalarials. The latter cannot be obtained without a prescription, so yesterday I headed downtown to a travel clinic (a clinic that specializes in giving vaccinations and medical advice to overseas travelers) to get the needed prescription.
Thankfully, it was easy to obtain what I needed. The doctor agreed with me that I should stay with the same type of antimalarials that I've used on previous trips, so I'm glad to know I can keep using what has worked for me in the past. Before long, I was on my way to the pharmacy, prescription in hand, to pick up the meds. A few hours later, I had all that I will need for a 12-month's supply of the medication. Praise the Lord for providing another important thing that I need for my upcoming move to Chad!
On another note, yesterday was also my last day of French classes. It's hard to believe that the hours of lectures and assignments have come to an end! All that remains now are the final exams. I will have seven of them, one or two each day from Monday to Friday. I am starting to feel like I will be ready for them, but we'll find out if I really will be! Thanks for praying!
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