Arriving in the Village of Doh

The anything-but-physically-smooth road to Doh has been paved with an unimaginable smoothness as experienced through the Lord’s kindness and faithfulness throughout our journey. Like all our contemporary predecessors and those who will come after us, we completed Seminary, studied French for a year in France, studied Chadian Arabic for a year in the capital of Chad, N’Djamena, and have (finally!) recently moved to our decided-upon ministry site, Doh. It has been quite the journey just to get to where we sense the Lord has been calling us, through many ups and downs and everything in between. We are thrilled to be in our lovely new home right next to our encouraging teammates, the Narvesens, amongst the beautiful people of Doh. This excitement and sense of accomplishment is simultaneously coupled with a sense of infancy and inadequacy as we find ourselves learning another language, another culture, and another way of life. We look forward to the day that we can speak with our Fulbe neighbors, but that day is a long way off. For now, we will continue to have a ministry of presence, simply being present and listening, observing, and praying for the people sharing the mats with us.

Like our drive from N’Djamena to Doh, there are many times when we have had to veer off the road, because the main road is worse than the dirt path next to the road, and seemingly detour around various difficulties. Our difficulties, for the most part, have not been physical in nature (and for this, we praise the Lord and seek his continued protection!). The Lord has physically and seemingly effortlessly brought us to this place. However, our struggles have been with the spiritual, emotional, and mental aspects of life on this journey. Throughout this journey, we have had to depend upon the Lord like never before. We simply reach the end of our abilities much quicker than if we were called to a different life. Now we have no choice but to turn to him to carry us. Thankfully, this is what he desires from us, and his grace and strength are sufficient (2 Cor 12:9). We lean heavily on his Word to carry us through, as the spiritual battles Paul talks about in Ephesians 6 have become very real. Paul’s letters to the Thessalonians have been especially encouraging to us as of late. We cling to 1 Thessalonians 5:24, “He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it” (ESV, emphasis mine). And 2 Thessalonians 3:3, “But the Lord is faithful, and he will strengthen you and protect you from the evil one.” Each day we are stretched to lean not on our own understanding, but on the Lord. We thank and praise him for his faithfulness, even when our faith and trust may falter.

We would love your prayers as we continue to transition to our life in Doh. We have had many visitors and are looking to get into a routine as a family. Pray for our relationship with our teammates. Pray for our future ministry together.

• We have commenced official Fulfulde studies as of the end of February, and would greatly appreciate your prayers for patience, grace, encouragement, stamina, and for the Lord to quicken our minds as we continue to be stretched linguistically. 
• Pray for homeschooling. We have never attempted this before, and it is a new added dynamic to our previous family dynamic. Pray for grace and patience, compassion and understanding for both the students and teachers.
• Pray for the people of Doh. What a blessing to live among these warm, gracious people! Pray that the Lord of the harvest would grow faith and call believers unto himself.

The fact that it is not easy, does not mean it’s not worth it. Despite the hard work, it is worth it because he is worth it. And he is faithful in both his calling and acting, as well as in his sustaining of us. Isaiah 58:11 reads, “The Lord will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail.” These words to Isaiah have never spoken more truthfully into our lives than they do here in Chad. Whatever the future holds, we cannot fail if we are obedient to his leading. He never fails, and this truly is his mission, on which we have the privilege of joining him.

Claire Rose and her husband Dan serve as missionaries to the unreached people of Chad.