A sideline of ours is occasionally spending time with the neighborhood and church children with a mind to teaching them to think and reason - and ultimately become leaders in the church and community. 

Uno cards have proved very popular. Alas, Mark seems to create more confusion for these tender young minds than he clears up. (look at the Uno card he's holding). 

A visit by the top leadership of the Evangelical Church of Chad to Chageen in April was much appreciated. From Left, Diane, Bekayo Joel, the Pastor Lago Jacob, the president of the EET, Pastor Batein, Moses Djidaboum, and the chauffer of their vehicle. 

During much of early 2007, in the quietness of the night, we could hear a low rumble - the sound of the oil drilling rig 10 miles to the east of Chageen. One day, we went to see the operation, which was being undertaken by the Chinese. A bunch of local Kwong guys got hired as day laborers and were keen to have their picture taken with Diane. Apparently, they found oil.

Life in Chageen means being cut off from the rest of the world for the duration of the rainy season, which means purchasing nearly a year's worth of food in one fell swoop. Rainy season also means spectacular cloud formations and sunsets (right).