Sunday 7 January 2018

Christmas in Chad


Christmas in Chad makes Christmas in Madagascar look very commercialised! There is none of the pre-Christmas hype you get in the UK, not even an aisle or two of Christmas decorations in the supermarkets like Madagascar. One of the supermarkets had some sporadic Christmas music being played and another stocked a few rolls of wrapping paper and a solitary hook of tinsel. If we didn't need to go hunting for the wrapping paper we probably wouldn't have even noticed these small signs of the commercial side of Christmas.

Within the walls of our compound however things looked a bit more festive! Matt got to work over the weekend before Christmas to build a tree from our shipping pallet. The great advantage of our pine tree was that it really is no-drop so no matter how many times Luke pulled the baubles down there wasn't a pile of needles to be found (there were however piles of sand everywhere as a dust storm came through during Christmas Eve).

Helping Daddy

Presents are just whats needed to reach the baubles!
                       
On the 23rd we had our staff Christmas party, which was held on our compound this year. The staff and their families (60 people altogether) came along to play games and eat together. Three of the national staff cooked up an amazing array of Chadian food, our Dutch colleagues introduced everyone to a variant of football that involved trying to knock over other players' water bottles whilst protecting your own bottle. We used an idea from a Christmas party in Madagascar and sent everyone on a photo challenge around the compound. There were gifts for the children, lots of laughter and a chance to meet the spouses and children of our colleagues.

'Dutch Football'

Colourful array of Chadian food

Receiving of gifts

MAF Chad staff and families

In the weeks leading up to Christmas the children in our church had been rehearsing for a Christmas play with readings and songs with actions. Bethan was really excited about the performance and we all had the songs stuck in our heads for days as she practiced at home. The children gave a great performance during the Sunday service on Christmas Eve, then we sang carols and came back home to make Christingles with Bethan and her friends.

Luke enjoyed blowing the Christingle out 


Christmas day was very relaxed! We enjoyed sharing presents with the children, having time to play games and explore new toys. We read a lot to Bethan and listened to her practising reading short stories. As a team we had a shared Christmas lunch and therefore each family had to prepare a part of the roast meal (it turns out you can get sprouts in Chad – but only from a tin!). It was really nice to be able to spend time eating together as a big family. On Boxing day, Bethan got Matt to show her how to use her new tool kit and Luke enjoyed playing with their new wooden airport. The office was closed all week so we had time to relax and rest, which was much needed after a busy few months.

Compound Christmas lunch

A real tool box for Bethan and toddler safe one for Luke

Testing out the saw

Happily playing together


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