Tag Archives: travel

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Amandine Bakery: What would N’Djaména be without it?

Restaurants which open today may be forced to close within a few years.  All it takes is a bad decision by the owner one day. Then, tomorrow, you find that the owner has locked the doors.  This is especially true in countries with a less than welcoming business environment.

Like restaurant owners, God’s servants have to find a way to make a living while serving overseas.  To do so, they must find businesses that last – and run them in a way that makes them an indispensable part of their community.

L’Amandine: a durable N’Djaména classic

Gourmet cakes at l'amandineAmandine Bakery is a durable N’Djaména classic; what would life in N’Djaména be without it? The bakers and staff have served baked goods, pizza and ice cream for over twenty years and through at least three revolutions. During one of the skirmishes when they were on Charles de Gaulle Street when the trees were intact, a stray bullet put the ice cream dispenser out of commission!

For many years, L’Amandine has been a favorite gathering place for Chadian musicians and artists. Now it reaches out to all sorts of people as a meeting place. Going there during the week is a special treat.  It’s a great place to celebrate and meet with friends and family. (more…)

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3 Reasons Why I Bought a Camel

and why you should, too...

While in Chad, I often got lost in the Sahara desert.  The GPS I used there would only point me in the right direction to my destination, as the roads I was following weren’t on any map.

I'm so thankful for "99", my camel! Here is a picture of him.This led me, more than once, to cross dry river beds and thorn-bush forests with “Twila”, our Speed the Light vehicle.

I often got all disoriented from following a cow trail, with very few options but to turn around and start back where I left the main road.

And each time I did, I prayed that God would provide the money for me to buy a camel…

Here are three of the best reasons I can think of, why everyone should own one of these “ships of the desert”. (more…)

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The Road System Across Chad: The Good and The Bad

The Road Across Chad: Not as bad as before

During my last term in Chad, my boss asked me to explain why our vehicle in Chad had so many expensive repairs.  Here is what I said about the roads across Chad:

This bus hit something standing on the road on the way to its destination“I could easily speak of the inconveniences of Chadian driving. It is very easy to get lost without a GPS along the way. My vehicle would often get stuck in soft sand. However, I will limit my comments here to the conditions that are hazardous to vehicles.”
“The roads in Chad have improved since I started serving in Chad in 1992. Back then, there were only 80 miles of paved tarmac, and we spent most of our time driving around the pits that had been dug in by the big transport trucks. Thankfully in our day, there is a paved highway from N’Djaména to Andoum and beyond to the Cameroon border, and all but 160 miles of highway from N’Djaména to Abéché.” (more…)