It’s birthday! I’m about to leave the mid twenties to the late twenties. But I think that’s more for next year. 27 is still mid twenties right?

So what happens on a birthday in Chad? Well for a normal birthday, not too much. Seems like about 60% of the population are registered as born on January 1 so New Years takes the cake that day. At the nutrition center we really have to work to get an approximate age for the kids. We ask what was happening when the kid was born? Was it raining? Was there rice? Were there mangoes? That’s usually accurate to about 3 months.

But I was born in a hospital as a premature little runt, just ready to get out and about at 4:10 am in San Bernardino on January 23rd. Some time around age 12 I started waking everyone up at 4:10 to let them know it was my birthday. Since that birthday when I set all the alarms in the house to go off simultaneously, my mom has been trying to get me back and every year it hasn’t worked. But this year she succeeded. Thanks Ma for me!

Other than that, it’s been a normal day. Work. Browse for cars. Speaking of which, we broke $10,000! Thanks guys! So instead of birthday gives, send cash or check to the previously mentioned places and we’ll reach the goal of $15,000! Yay!

Questions? Just email!

Zachary Gately, MPH
Deputy Director
Adventist Health International-Tchad
zchgtly@gmail.com
zgately.com
+235 68920884
+235 91122492

L’Hopital Adventiste de Béré
ATTN: Zachary Gately
52 Boîte Postal
Kelo, Tchad
Africa

I am stellar at sharing. If it can be shared, I’ll share it. If asked, I really can’t say no. Or maybe I’m good at making sure things can’t be shared. When it’s the last box of Kraft Macaroni & Cheese, I make sure that no one is coming to visit. Or whatever…..maybe I hide my Tang powder somewhere so it can’t be found….hmmm

Growing up, I thought my sister and I were good at sharing or maybe that’s just because we each had enough to keep busy. Idk. We weren’t good at sharing the middle seat on car trips. We named it “dead man’s land” and anything was fair game there. We could hit or pinch or steal whatever was there. But then when one of us was tired, it was ok to sleep there (which more often was my sister).

Now as an adult, with sharing comes responsibility. If I borrow something and on my watch it breaks, it’s my responsibility to fix it. Well, when one doesn’t have total control of something, one cannot dictate how it is maintained. In borrowing a car from a friend to drive to Moundou, some lug nuts weren’t properly tightened. Which, in turn, ended badly but not as badly as it could have. You can see in the picture below that the lug nut holes are worn. The lugs themselves were worn as well! To the point that when noticed, we only had 10km left. Thankfully we were already in Moundou. Jesus took the wheel on this one!

Thankfully it was an easy fix but it really renforces the need of a vehicle for my new position. We are down to the 11th hour for donations. We are still waiting for all the totals from the different groups that are helping out but I can confidently say we have at least $9,000! Thank you guys! So let’s keep it up! Still praying for God to multiple your donations like loves and fishes to reach $15,000!

You can send in your tax deductible donation to either Quincy SDA Church, PO Box J, Quincy, CA 95971 or Adventist Health International, 11060 Anderson Street, Loma Linda, CA 92350. Checks should be made out to either organization, just note the donation is for “Bere vehicle.” You can also make donations via paypal at http://www.ahiglobal.org/main/donate-now. You’re donations go 100% to this project! No percentage is taken off for other things! Get those deductions in!

We rely on you for your generous donations to keep many of our small projects afloat. Please share this with your friends, churches and other groups! We are together!

Smiles and blessings to you all in 2017! #expatlife #chad #tchad #whenintchad #ndj #travel #worktravel #ngo #missions #ong #donatenow

Lug nut damage

Two sisters who just after this phot started fighting over sharing a stick!

Zachary Gately, MPH
Deputy Director
Adventist Health International-Tchad
zchgtly@gmail.com
zgately.com
+235 68920884
+235 91122492

L’Hopital Adventiste de Béré
ATTN: Zachary Gately
52 Boîte Postal
Kelo, Tchad
Africa

During my last trip to N’Djamena, I encountered much more dusty wind than expected. Normally these winds begin as the nighttime temperatures drop during the dry months, bring the sand from the Sahara down to us. These winds (as I think I’ve said before) are called the Harmattans and can be quite forceful. During the months of June, July, and August, you can see these winds coming across the Mediterranean. Everything has its season I guess….

Well because of these winds, my sinuses have been working overtime to keep things filtered and they are getting tired. Last night after another 8 hr bus ride, my voice decide it had had enough and would be out of commission. Considering talking, both face to face and on the phone, are a major part of my job (and personality, let’s be real!), it’s been hard to get a few things done today. I strain and sound like I’m from some horror movie, a raspy whisper that sounds like a death rattle (before or after death is yet to be determined!). There’s no pain like in strep or tonsillitis. I just can’t really talk is all.

But the work must go on! Thankfully Magory Dolcy is taking over most of my running around job as of this month. She’s way more organized than I am so it’s really working out well! Tomorrow we have a big New Years party for those working with our programs. Maybe I’ll call in sick….

The major holidays have passed now so hopefully things can be a bit more programmable. Seems like I’ll be in N’Djamena for the month of February! We have many papers that need to get pushed through the Ministry of Health so I’m going to go use my “woo” skills and see where that gets us.

Still in search of the perfect vehicle. I know that shouldn’t worry too much but I still do. I found a number of great ones back in August but lately it’s been tricky to find some with fewer miles. If there’s anyone with words of wisdom for used cars or deep pockets for a new one, please let me know. I’d be very appreciative for your advice and involvement. I’m going back and forth between a Toyota Landcruiser Prado or a RAV4. As you can see, I’ve made up my mind on three things: Toyota, 4×4, and 4 door. After that, I’m lost with the decisions. You can also make your recommendations by sending links from places like picknbuy24.com and cars2africa.com. Both have great reputations and I get a trip to Cameroon out of it to pick it up.

Please remember, you can send in your tax deductible donation to either Quincy SDA Church, PO Box J, Quincy, CA 95971 or Adventist Health International, 11060 Anderson Street, Loma Linda, CA 92350. Checks should be made out to either organization, just note the donation is for “Bere vehicle.” You can also make donations via paypal at www.ahiglobal.org/main/donate-now. You’re donations go 100% to this project! No percentage is taken off for other things!

We rely on you for your generous donations to keep many of our small projects afloat. Please share this with your friends, churches and other groups! We are together!

Sunset over N’Djamena.

Zachary Gately, MPHDeputy Director
Adventist Health International-Tchad
zchgtly
zgately.com
+235 68920884
+235 91122492

L’Hopital Adventiste de Béré
ATTN: Zachary Gately
52 Boîte Postal
Kelo, Tchad
Africa