(Photo: Zara is in the light orange)A big reason why we went back to Chad was to bring some closure to the relationships we had formed. It was important to us to be able to say goodbye well and introduce them to Grace.
People had different reactions to our leaving. Most expressed sadness, but a few quickly attempted to think of everything they remembered us owning and asked, “That carpet…are you taking that with you?” Others that we didn’t know as well said, “Oh, that’s too bad. Well, have a good time,” and that was it. But there were others that were very much affected by the news that we were not returning any time soon.
Zara started to tear up at the news we were only back for a short visit. This surprised me. Zara is a well-established woman with a house just behind ours. She was one of my favorite people to visit. She is quick to laugh and very patient. She was a natural teacher who would use little moments to teach us new phrases or cultural nuances. She got a kick out of our mistakes and was quick to encourage us when we improved. She, more than anyone, would say we were one of them. (This meant a lot to us.) Interacting with Zara was easy. She was fun-loving and forgiving. But when she became so visibly affected by the news that we were leaving, I was taken aback. She really cared about us. The more cynical part of me thought we were just occasional entertainment, the funny foreigners. We were her friends, just as she was ours.
People had different reasons to befriend us in Chad. On the hard days it was easy to be suspicious that people were just coming over to see if they could get something cool from America o
r to gape at us like oddities. But some were well meaning and genuinely wanted to know us. Zara was just one of many of those and I’ll miss her.PRAYERS ANSWERED
We were able to go to Maine last weekend and had a great time seeing a lot of old friends. (Photo: Grace in Maine.) We have had good time with Tom’s aunt and uncle out from Colorado this week. We are making steady progress through Rosetta Stone and our TESOL course.
PRAYERS REQUESTED
Grace and Tom are doing better, but now Megan is sick. Pray for all our health. Pray for our friends in Chad. Grace hasn’t slept well at night since being back from Chad. Pray that we can get her back on a schedule.
