A VISIT WITH THE NOMADS

Shortly after arriving in Abéché our team leader Jill took us for a day trip to visit the Nomads in Tabor Tabor. We traveled about 30 kms out of town by Ruckshaw on a paved road. Camels are particularly important to Nomads and as we approached the Nomad camp we began to see more and more camels grazing.

Camels grazing

The first extended family we visited are now semi-nomadic. They are settled in one place along with some other families but the men will travel with the animals according to the weather, going South in the dry season and then heading back North when the rains return. When they asked me (in Arabic through Jill our team leader) about my wife, and I mentioned that Gloria was still in Canada. They offered to give Gloria a camel saddle so she could travel with them to the South and then come back with them when the rains returned. I thankfully, with a smile, declined the offer on Gloria's behalf. Imagine Gloria traveling on a camel over many dry miles, with no bathroom but the place where you squat, and sleeping under a plastic tarp suspended over a rope bed platform about 2 feet above the ground. Definitely not Ishtar! (Sorry but I did not get a picture of their makeshift tents)

The family compound was fenced with dried branches about 5 feet high, had a main mud hut, another smaller mud hut, and cooking facilities outside.

Mud hut (from another location)

 Here one of the ladies is grinding the millet into flour. We all tried our hand at grinding with the stone. I did not do very well. My millet never seemed to get fully ground. Better leave the work to those who know what they are doing.

Grinding Millet

Young girl pounding garlic (from another location)

Before we entered the compound we went over to where all the men where gathered. They were putting up a fence which was to surround the area where they were going to build their modest mosque. After greetings we went back to the compound and into the hut. We were treated with loving hospitality. After I took a picture of them they insisted that they take a picture of the team with them.

Team with Nomads at Tabor Tabor

Before lunch we went across the paved road to another group of Nomads who had arrived and camped there a couple of weeks before with their herds. The men visited with the men and we were not allowed to go near to or meet the women. The men were gathered together having a community discussion. They gave us warm milk to drink and I had a sip. They also gave us a bowl of sour milk mixed with millet which is popular here. The ladies went to visit the women and were able to read some Scripture to them. I would love to have a picture for you of their colorful clothing, bangles and nose rings.

Milk for the guests

Then we went back to our host family and had lunch with the men in the hut and then made our return trip to Abéché. We were attacked by flying, biting ants as we were leaving and I got bit in the chest. Ouch did that hurt!

Children are precious in God's sight. God blessed me with this young boy who had made a molded mud motorcycle. May the true God show this boy that he is created in the image of God to live for Christ. Pray for the children of Tabor Tabor and that many of the Nomad children will come to know Christ above all else.

Motorcycle molded from mud, mirrors included

 During our time in the hut a number of visitors dropped in. Jill was able to share some short sermons with them from her phone and they in turn transferred these sermons to their phones through "Bluetooth". Jill has a number of videos and sermons and scripture on her phone and tablet for this very purpose. She also has some memory cards for phones which contain scripture and other evangelistic items which she can give or sell to those who are hungry to know more. Praise God for the use of modern technology in promoting the Good News of Jesus Christ. Pray for the Word that has gone out to these Nomads and for more Gospel seeding to take place. Pray that God, the Lord of the Harvest will send men to join the team for long term service to the Nomads in Chad.