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Hi! I wanna just know how about your travel? I hope that it's fine? We love you so much... Our heart will stay always with you.

Sent from my I-phone
Doulgue Laomi Valery, vice principal of Bere(Tchad) Adventist school

Its Been an Amazing Journey!

We did try and send this message to you a few weeks ago but the internet in Chad was so bad!  We are in Washington right now and realized that all the emails did not get sent even though it said they were a few weeks ago.  Sorry if you are among the ones that didn't get this earlier and sorry to those that are getting this message again. 

Dear Friends and Family, 

June 29, 2009 God clearly sent us to this little bush Hospital in Bere, Chad Africa.  Now we are sad to announce that our time is coming to a close here.  We believe that God is sending us back to America.  We have just as many questions as to "why" as we did when He sent us here 5 years ago.  We know that God is still leading us, we hear his voice but He has not reviled everything to us yet.  We want to do His will but it seems as though the doors are closing for us here in Chad.  

As we are packing our things and going through everything, we have come across so many pictures and memories from our time here.  We are going to miss our Chadian family that has become such a big part of our lives .  We will miss working with the people and being someone they can come to when they need help.  We are going to miss our missionary family as well.  We have met so many wonderful people that have come through here that have given so much of their love and support.   When you live in a third world country as a missionary there are ties with people that will be there for life.  Jamie has told me that this has been his dream job and that is something that he is going to miss.  We are also going to miss this old, dirty, hard cement floor, full of spider web home that has so many fun memories.  In our living room we have put a saying up on the wall for everyone to see and it says, "May all who enter as guests, leave as friends".  We believe that this is exactly what has happened with everyone who has been here with us. 

We don't understand it!  There is so much more to do here!  But we have learned that we need to do what God wants and that His ways are not our ways.  We know that He could have worked things out for us to stay but so many of our prayers have lead us to this decision.  We have a peace in our hearts that this is the right thing to do for what ever reason.  We just want to go where God is leading us.  

To all of you, thank you everyone for going with us on this amazing journey.  We will keep you posted on what God has planned for us next.  But for now we are headed back to the states December 1st.  This has been an experience that we will never forget and one that we will cherish forever.  The experiences that we have had will make an everlasting difference in our lives.  We hope that by sharing our journey it has helped you with your own walk with the Lord. Thank you for supporting us through it all, we couldn't have done it without you.  We have been a great team with God as our leader. 

We ask that you stop any donations that you are sending in to AHI.  We will not be receiving any of this money.  If you find it in your heart to still help us we invite any gifts to the address below to help us through this transition.  But there will be no tax deduction for these gifts but we would really appreciate anything you can help us with.  We really have no idea what our next step is or where we are going to live.  We are just trusting that God will continue to take care of us and lead.  

With much love, 

Jamie and Tammy Parker

For any further donations, please send to: 

James and Tammy Parker 

P.O. Box 1366 

Collegedale, TN  37315

parkers4bere.blogspot.com

parkers4bere@gmail.com

Our phone #'s in the states when we get back. 

Jamie phone:  (423) 310-2485

Tammy phone:  (423) 284-0242 

Goodbye Everyone!

We are on our way back to Chad this morning with 2 hours of sleep behind us!  Woke up at 2 a.m. to start our three day journey back to Bere.  Thank you to everyone for all you have done for us while we were in America.   We are so ready to see our friends and family back in Chad but you all will be missed.  Keep us in prayer for things are crazy in Africa right now!   We love you all and will be in touch to let you know we made it there okay.  

Jamie and Tammy Parker

Returning to Chad!

Dear Friends and Family,

The time has come for us to go back to Chad.  Jamie met with his doctor and he said that we can move forward with our plans to go back to Africa.  He has one last appointment at the end of the month and he still has problems with his foot but the doctor believes that it will just take time to improve.  We have tickets to leave Monday November 3rd. So we are now getting serious with packing and saying our goodbyes. 

As you all know this year has been quite a challenge for us but God has once again shown us His never ending love and grace.  God has used many of you to reach out to us in so many ways to encourage us and for that we are forever grateful.  We feel so blessed to have so many wonderful people in our lives.  God is good, all the time!  All the time God is good! 

When we get back to Chad we will continue to write our blogs but we are also encouraging everyone to check us out on Facebook.  We will be putting up a lot more pictures and short notes on what is happening with us in Bere. 

Please continue to keep us and all the other missionaries in prayer for times are getting tougher and I believe it will continue to be that way until God comes.  But there is so much work to do and many people to reach before that can happen.  Thank you for your support and we look forward to hearing from you as we continue working for God in Africa. 

With much love,

Jamie and Tammy Parker

parkers4bere.blogspot.com

parkers4bere@gmail.com

Jamie phone: +235 93 46 46 35 

Tammy phone: +235 95 25 86 58 

Jamie & Tammy Parker 

Hopital Adventiste de Bere 

52 Boite Postale 

Kelo, TChad 

Afique 

Parker Update!

Dear Friends and Family,

We want to thank everyone for all the prayers for our family and especially for Jamie and his health.  God has really been using all of you to encourage us and for that we are so grateful!  We feel so blessed to have so many good people in our lives that love us and have taken the time to help us through this challenging time in our lives.  We have tried to be the people to do the encouraging whether it be here or in Chad and it is hard to have it switched.  But God has repeatedly been there for us and we know that He is not going to leave us now in our time of need. We also want to thank those who have helped us out financially.  This has been a huge relieve! So thank you all so much! 

The update on Jamie is that he is not going to have to have surgery again.  He had an MRI again and it didn't show that anything had moved or that anything was pressing on that nerve going to his foot.  "Thank you Jesus!"  So the next thing that we are waiting for is approval from insurance to give him a cortisone shot which is scheduled for September 12.  He is also taking some pills that are suppose to help his nerves.  Walking is suppose to be the best medicine though and so he has been out everyday trying to walk about a mile.  Walking has become a little more difficult with his drop foot but he is a very determined man to get this pain to subside.  I am very proud of him but it has been really hard to watch him suffer everyday the way he is.  So please continue to keep him on your prayer list for healing. 

This next paragraph is a little more difficult to write.  I sat here crying for a couple of minutes before I could compose myself enough to write it.  Satan is still attacking us.  A week ago on Monday we found out that our 19 year old son Cory got married to a 25 year old with 4 children!  Many of you may know this already and saw it on Facebook, which is the way we found out! It has been a difficult week of emotions that we are trying to put into perspective, but it has just been difficult for us.  So please put our whole family on your prayer list. 

Parker's Update!!

Hi Everyone!

We just wanted to update everyone on what has been going on with us.  Jamie had his surgery on the 29th of July and everything seemed to be okay.  He still had some problems with his sciatic nerve going down his left side down his leg.  We thought that it was just the swelling from the operation and that it would subside.  But three weeks later he is still having intense pain.  It has been such a hard three weeks for him from the pain and for the caregiver, me. I feel really bad for him after seeing him trying to work through all this pain.  But the bottom line is that it is just not going away. 

This Wednesday he started experiencing some loss of control  in that leg to control lifting his foot.   We have come to the conclusion that he has what they call "drop foot" for those of you who know what that is.  He has lost control of the ability to lift his left foot when he walks.  He went back to the doctor and he said that there was reason for concern and so Jamie had an MRI on Thursday, yesterday, to determine the problem.  He is going to the doctor today to read the MRI and figure out what needs to be done.  Another surgery may be what he needs.  

I am writing this because we are very discouraged.  It has been a very discouraging situation.  We never thought that it would be like this.  We are definitely needing prayer!  

We are also experiencing financial difficulty staying in the states this long.  Everything costs so much, just food and fuel and household expenses are catching up with us.  I have never wanted to write for help like this but it is getting to that point.  We need help.  I know that so many of you are helping with so many of the needs and programs that we have for the Chadian people but we are really having a hard time.   It is hard for me to ask for help but I don't know what else to do.  We are struggling financially.  Please, those that feel like they can help us please!  We will make sure that we are conservative with what we spend but we need help!  

Thank you all for everything you have done for us in the past.  Especially those that donate monthly to keep us going.  But right now we are looking for a sign that God wants us to go back. 

Tammy Parker

parkers4bere.blogspot.com

parkers4bere@gmail.com

Jamie phone: +235 93 46 46 35 

Tammy phone: +235 95 25 86 58 

Jamie &Tammy Parker 

Hopital Adventiste de Bere 

52 Boite Postale 

Kelo, TChad 

Afique 

Parkers Update!

Dear Friends and Family,

 

It has been a while since we have written to you.  We have been in the states now since April.  We are enjoying every minute!   We started our time here with a two week, much needed, vacation.  We love being here with our children again. And we have been able to go around to quite a few churches talking about our work in Chad.  We have met a lot of new people and some have been so wonderful to us that we know we will remain good friends for life.  We have also spent some time in doctor's offices checking on our health and some concerns have come up.  

Some of you know that this last year in Chad was really rough on us.  Being away from our children for the first time was not easy and I know it is the same for so many others.  But me being a hovering mother was really hard to do from Chad.  I had many conversations on the phone with my kids in tears and that was the worst to not be able to go and run to their rescue.  But on the other hand, it was probably good for them to grow and figure things out on their own too.  It was a blessing to be able to pick up our kids from school and bring them "home".   Cory was at Andrews but is now in Chattanooga and he will be taking a year off of school and work.  Brichelle was at GCA (Georgia Cumberland Academy) and plans on returning in the fall.  I am proud of both of them for getting through this year.  

We spent some time traveling around to different churches and sharing what has been going on in Chad.  This is always such a blessing for us because it continually reminds us of why we are there.  We have also met so many new people that have been so great to us and I just want to thank them for opening up their homes and their lives to us.  We want to keep this door open for anyone that would like us to come to your church.  It looks like we will be here through October, at least.  We would like to continue to do work for the people of Chad from here as much as we can.  So please consider this if you feel like this is something your church would be interested in.  You can reach us through email or my phone number is (423) 284-0242 and send me a text. 

So for the big reason we will be here through October.  Jamie has been having severe pain in his back since February.  He was cutting a mahogany tree in Bere when something happened and he started having pain ever since.  He can't sleep and so we have been working hard to try and work with insurance and doctors to get something done ever since we have been in the states.  So now he is going to have back surgery July 29.  The doctor wants him to stay all year but we all know that we can't stay away from Bere that long so we are going to have his 3 month check up and if everything looks good we will be going back.  Until then I want you all to know that all of the programs will continue.  We are in the process of sending money to Chad now for the baby formula program and many other things that we have a commitment to.  This is a huge concern for me and I will be sure that it is taken care of.  

We need prayer for our future endeavor in Chad.  We are considering building an Orphanage.  We take care of so many children now and it only made sense to us.  We already have the land, which is in the perfect location just a 15 minute walk from the hospital and school.  We bought 8 acres already for $1,500 and we are looking into buying the land next to that which has so many fruit trees already.  The land is perfect because half of it is perfect for growing rice during the rainy season and the other half is on higher ground for housing.  We don't know if this is what God wants us to do but our hearts are into it 100 percent.  Please help us to see if this is something God wants us to do.  Pray for us! 

We now have a Facebook page for (Parkers4Bere) and we would appreciate you going there and checking it out and if you like it push the like it button and this will help us in many ways.  We will be putting up a lot more pictures and stories in the next week, so look for that.  This is new for us but we are so excited about it so that we can keep you more informed on big and little things that are going on weekly.  We also want you to know that our blog now has a donation button that is set up for credit cards and this still goes through Adventist giving dot.org which will still goes through our church and a tax write off.  One time donations are always welcome especially for the orphanage but for us to continue on a steady basis donations monthly are what we need.  

Thanks again for your continual support for what we are doing in Chad.  I can see that, since we have been in the states,  God really is coming soon.  Help us reach the part of the world that is in desperate need of knowing Him. 

Tammy Parker

parkers4bere.blogspot.com

parkers4bere@gmail.com

Jamie phone: +235 93 46 46 35 

Tammy phone: +235 95 25 86 58 

Jamie & Tammy Parker 

Hopital Adventiste de Bere 

52 Boite Postale 

Kelo, TChad 

Afique 

To Donate with Debit Card and Credit Card click on link below.

AdventistGiving.org

All donations can be sent to: 

Harrison SDA Church 

P.O. Box 969 

Harrison,  TN  37341 

Make Checks payable to: 

Harrison SDA Church 

Earmark:  "The Bere Project" 

On our way Back!

Hello Friends and Family, 

We have come to the end of another year and we are on our way back to the states.  This year has been a tough one for many reasons emotionally, spiritually and physically.  We are exhausted and ready to come back and see all our family and friends and spend a lot of time getting spiritually refilled.  

We will be officially be back the evening of April 19th.  We have some things scheduled back to back for the first two week but after that not much.  We will be doing the Broadview Academy alumni reunion April 26th in Illinois and then off to retrieve our son, Cory, from Andrews University.  Then a quick drive back to Tennessee to get to our daughter's gymnastics home show at GCA, can't miss that. 

We like to open the floor to any of you that would like us to come speak, about our mission in Africa, anywhere that you would like. We have a few more things scheduled while we are back but welcome the chance to continue doing what we can for the people in Chad while we are here. We plan on being in the states until the first of August so if anything comes up, let us know. 

We are excited to be back speaking English and spending time with those we love.  

Thank you all again for being the biggest part of our mission.  You have supported us through some really rough times and for that we are forever grateful.  

Love and blessings, 

Tammy and Jamie Parker 

parkers4bere.blogspot.com

parkers4bere@gmail.com

Jamie phone: +235 93 46 46 35 

Tammy phone: +235 95 25 86 58 

Jamie & Tammy Parker 

Hopital Adventiste de Bere 

52 Boite Postale 

Kelo, TChad 

Afique 

All donations can be sent to: 

Harrison SDA Church 

P.O. Box 969 

Harrison,  TN  37341 

Make Checks payable to: 

Harrison SDA Church 

Earmark:  "The Bere Project" 

A missionary heart!

Sometimes I think that I have this place all figured out and then something else comes my way that surprises me.  If you are an ultra sensitive person then you should stop reading now.   I believe it is important that you understand how hard and overwhelming my work can be sometimes.  I have been getting out into the village and met a new family. 

I met a woman named Ellen.  She is a missionary and she doesn't even know it.  She has taken in several children that are not hers and then she has four of her own.  One of her sisters died of aids so she took in her two children.  Then, her brothers wife died and the sister to her was abusive to two other children so she took the two little ones so the abuse could stop.   This woman's life is not easy.  Being a single parent is hard enough with your own children yet alone adding other children to the family.  I decided to visit her and listen to her story and see what I could do to help. 

As I walked toward her house I passed Ellen's oldest son.  He was working digging up sand, mixing in hay and water to make bricks.  This young 17 year old boy was doing this holding crutches.  He was born with a deformity that makes it impossible for him to walk normally.  I really respect the fact that this does not keep him down.   Then a bench was brought over from a neighbor's house for me to sit on.  I look over, under a tree, and there lays a woman that is pregnant and in pain because her husband beat her up.  She ran to this lady to help take care of her until she had the power to go against her husband again.  Then here come all the little children in their tattered clothes.  One by one shake my hand, he smallest not even afraid.  

I begin our visit asking her general questions about her life and telling her a little about my own.  She tells me about why she got the other children.   I found out about the kind of abuse these little kids had to withstand.  Their aunt would tie up the second youngest.  Tie him up around his hands and his feet.  Then keep him in the hut.  When he would cry she would go in with pliers and pinch his skin around his stomach until the skin would come off, they showed me his scares.   One of the neighbors witnessed this and informed Ellen on what was going on.  Everyone around wants Ellen to take this lady to the police but she said that she is going to leave it in God's hands to punish her.  I think that she is a little afraid of the police and the fact that the police are so corrupt that even if she were to try she would have to pay them money that she just doesn't have. 

I ended our visit by giving her one of the bags that a  woman in the Maranatha group left for us to fill with things that a person here may need and money to start a business.  I also gave her a big bag full of many food items.  I gave her an invitation to bring the smallest boy to the hospital because his neck is swollen under his ear, quite a bit.  The next day she did come to the hospital and we pay for all the hospital needs.   I  gathered a big bag of clothes and a tooth brush for all the eight boys she has at her house.  

I would like it if you would please join with me in prayer for this woman.  I know I will be praying that she will continue to be a living example to others around her on how to have a missionary heart. 

Thank you and God bless, 

Tammy Parker

parkers4bere.blogspot.com

parkers4bere@gmail.com

Jamie phone: +235 93 46 46 35 

Tammy phone: +235 95 25 86 58 

Jamie & Tammy Parker 

Hopital Adventiste de Bere 

52 Boite Postale 

Kelo, TChad 

Afique 

All donations can be sent to: 

Harrison SDA Church 

P.O. Box 969 

Harrison,  TN  37341 

Make Checks payable to: 

Harrison SDA Church 

Earmark:  "The Bere Project" 

What should we do ?

This sweet little girl's mother died and her eight year old sister takes care of her because their father is a drunk.  One of the boys that I take care of, Papa, brought this family to my attention.  I was very happy about that because this is the first time that one of my "Bere' Boys" wanted to do something for someone else and the first sight of being mission minded and thinking of others.    This place trains you from the time you are young that you have to think of yourself and your own needs because no one else will.  Get the getting while the getting is good or you might not ever get anything.  Papa told me that every time he passes these girls on his way to the market, it touches his heart  and makes him want to cry because he just knows that they are hungry and suffering.   This is coming from a boy who knows what suffering looks like. 

This time I thought it would be fun to throw the situation out at all of you and see what kind of suggestions you come up with.  I have a giving fund and ready to help.  I just thought you could help me this time come up with some ideas.   What do you think we should do for this family? 

I look forward to your responses. 

Here is one of my Bere Boys, Papa. 

Love and blessings, 

Tammy Parker 

parkers4bere.blogspot.com

parkers4bere@gmail.com

Jamie phone: +235 93 46 46 35 

Tammy phone: +235 95 25 86 58 

Jamie & Tammy Parker 

Hopital Adventiste de Bere 

52 Boite Postale 

Kelo, TChad 

Afique 

All donations can be sent to: 

Harrison SDA Church 

P.O. Box 969 

Harrison,  TN  37341 

Make Checks payable to: 

Harrison SDA Church 

Earmark:  "The Bere Project" 

More Christmas pictures

Tammy Parker

parkers4bere.blogspot.com
parkers4bere@gmail.com

Jamie phone: +235 93 46 46 35
Tammy phone: +235 95 25 86 58

Jamie & Tammy Parker
Hopital Adventiste de Bere
52 Boite Postale
Kelo, TChad
Afique

All donations can be sent to:

Harrison SDA Church
P.O. Box 969
Harrison,  TN  37341

Make Checks payable to:
Harrison SDA Church
Earmark:  "The Bere Project"

A baby in a box!

This gentleman is on our baby milk program with his daughter.  His wife died when the child was born.  He rides his bike from 31 miles away to come and get the formula that his baby needs.  He has  carefully made this box to transport his daughter to us to check her out every month.   He is listening to every word I say and hasn't given his 4 month baby girl any water from well and he is boiling the water that he does mix up for her formula.  I have printed these pictures out for other people on the baby milk program to see.  I just want to encourage others to do the same and  their child can be big and healthy like this one.  

Thank you to all of you who continue to give to this very much needed program.  Thank you for helping me feed the babies, it has been such a great outreach.  

Tammy Parker

parkers4bere.blogspot.com

parkers4bere@gmail.com

Jamie phone: +235 93 46 46 35 

Tammy phone: +235 95 25 86 58 

Jamie & Tammy Parker 

Hopital Adventiste de Bere 

52 Boite Postale 

Kelo, TChad 

Afique 

All donations can be sent to: 

Harrison SDA Church 

P.O. Box 969 

Harrison,  TN  37341 

Make Checks payable to: 

Harrison SDA Church 

Earmark:  "The Bere Project" 

Chained up Man Update!

!

Three of our volunteers were out in the village with Naomi and they saw the man that use to be chained up.  He was doing much better and we just wanted to get the word out to all of you who prayed for him.  We are told that he suffered like that for 2 months and one week.  Praise the Lord he is better now.    He is the man in the yellow and red stripped shirt. 

Tammy Parker

parkers4bere.blogspot.com

parkers4bere@gmail.com

Jamie phone: +235 93 46 46 35 

Tammy phone: +235 95 25 86 58 

Jamie & Tammy Parker 

Hopital Adventiste de Bere 

52 Boite Postale 

Kelo, TChad 

Afique 

All donations can be sent to: 

Harrison SDA Church 

P.O. Box 969 

Harrison,  TN  37341 

Make Checks payable to: 

Harrison SDA Church 

Earmark:  "The Bere Project" 

After 2 Weeks!

It is so rewarding for me to see the fruits of my efforts.  This is not something that we always get to see.  This boy's mother came to me from a far away village, maybe 20 miles away.  She started her journey one day and came to me the next.  Her little boy is 2 1/2 years old and weighted 14 pounds.  It was another case that just broke my heart when I saw him.  But I was happy to hear that people are hearing about how we are helping others from further and further away.  

I sat her down on my back porch and gave her a bowl of rice and beans.  Food is the biggest thing here that you can give someone.  I wanted to do this, not just to help her, but also to let her know I care so that I can get her to listen to me. And I believe it worked.  I sat down with her and showed her the pictures of the other boy I helped.  I showed her the before and after pictures to build her confidence up in me.   After talking with the mother for a while and educating her, I made her some porridge and brought it to them for her to try and for the little boy to eat since he was starving.  I bought some medicine at the hospital to help with any parasites that he may have and then had Tony take her almost all the way back on our four wheeler so she didn't have that far to walk.  

Just this week, two weeks later, she showed up with the little boy looking so great!  I was so excited to see how much he had improved.  She told me that he now has enough power to stand up.  I gave her some more supplies to make him the porridge with all the different nutrition in it and had Tony take her as far as he did before.  She asked me if she should come back again and I told her I would like her to until we can get him walking.  

Praise the Lord!  Thank you God for giving us the means to help this family.  Thank you for helping me know what to do.  And thank you for caring for even the little children. 

Tammy Parker

parkers4bere.blogspot.com

parkers4bere@gmail.com

Jamie phone: +235 93 46 46 35 

Tammy phone: +235 95 25 86 58 

Jamie & Tammy Parker 

Hopital Adventiste de Bere 

52 Boite Postale 

Kelo, TChad 

Afique 

All donations can be sent to: 

Harrison SDA Church 

P.O. Box 969 

Harrison,  TN  37341 

Make Checks payable to: 

Harrison SDA Church 

Earmark:  "The Bere Project" 

It is the Season for Giving!

Tis the season for giving and Bere Adventist School is a great place to start.  I am in the process of trying to raise money for the school again.   I can't express to you enough how badly this building is needed.  These kids have no choice but to go to the other schools that are so wicked.  It breaks my heart.  And now that some of these kids, that are with me and Jamie,  are going to be in that next class next year it is hitting home even more how desperately we need this school.  Please help us help them!  I wonder how many other mothers are thinking the same thing here?  How scary it feels to put our children in a place where all the spiritual work we have put into these kids can be destroyed because there just is no other option.  

We are still needing $40,000 to build a 5 room building in order to make our school complete for all the education necessary before these kids go to the University.    I know it is a lot but it isn't to God.  I just believe that if we work together we can get this done, no problem.   I would like to start building the new addition in December.  Most may be thinking that I am crazy for thinking that I can raise $40,000 by next month.  But I don't think so.  I have seen what God has done here in the past and  how He multiplies $100.  I don't want to sound too forward but I believe that if this is something that God wants it will get done.  I have committed everything that I am to Him for this project.  I have been reading the book, The Circle Maker, and I am circling promises that God has made to His children.  I am willing to be His hands and feet here.   I took some time this last week and circled the school, I walked around the school once every evening for six days and then on the seventh I walked around 7 times.  I am not trying to manipulate God for that is impossible but I am trying to show Him my commitment.  I had several people staring at me and some yelling and asking me questions as to why I am going behind all the buildings?  I just kept moving forward and praying to God.  I had a whole list of things that I handed over to Him.  Now it is in His hands and I have shared every detail of what is needed.  Not that He didn't know already but God wants to hear our every need.  And sometimes it can be that one prayer away from a miracle.

Things may not go as I plan but whatever happens I will know that it is the will of God.  I will keep you all informed of what happens as the days go by and God provides for His children.  Thank you for your willingness to help.  Find your promises and help me circle them so that we can have a better opportunity to reach these kids and get them ready for Christ's coming! 

This is where we would like to put the new school building to complete the high school.  It will face the one that is in the picture. 

Love and blessings, 

Tammy Parker

parkers4bere.blogspot.com

parkers4bere@gmail.com

Jamie phone: +235 93 46 46 35 

Tammy phone: +235 95 25 86 58 

Jamie & Tammy Parker 

Hopital Adventiste de Bere 

52 Boite Postale 

Kelo, TChad 

Afique 

All donations can be sent to: 

Harrison SDA Church 

P.O. Box 969 

Harrison,  TN  37341 

Make Checks payable to: 

Harrison SDA Church 

Earmark:  "The Bere Project" 

School Controversy .

I have not been talking about the school lately because I quit.  I quit right before our annual leave in March.  Many of you may not understand my tactics but it was the only way to get the people here to listen.  The buildings where looking better and more functional and we had full classrooms but none of that mattered if we are not using the school as a spiritual outreach to the children.  

On my resignation letter I gave 4 points as to why I was quitting.  The reasons were as follows. 

1.  Lack of spirituality in the school

2.  Problems with the administration 

3.  Corruption in the school 

4.  Lack of adventist teachers 

Next, I gave the solution to each point.  They had several meetings over this and they accepted all of my stipulations on coming back except one.  One thing they felt like they could not vote on and that was getting rid of the very corrupt principal.  I let them know that I would not come back and work with the school until we had a good, trust worthy and spiritual leader.  There was no getting around it but oh they did try.  I stuck to it though with God on my side.  I spoke boldly  in the board meetings and uncovered the paper trail of lost money and unvalidated receipts.  I was the treasurer last year which really revealed a lot.  I praise God for allowing me to see these things and for giving me the strength, as a woman, to go forth and not be afraid to say the truth before the board.  I have to admit though that right when I was called into a meeting a got very nervous and I called Jamie and Dr. Bland to pray with me to give me God's strength.  I know I was not alone. 

No one wanted to take that responsibility of firing a man that was clearly stealing not even the pastor.  But I guess it is culture.  Everything is about relationships.  I continued to be persistent that  a decision needed to be made.  I called Dr. James Appel to come help me.  He was very understanding and four days later he had Gary Roberts fly him in for the meeting along with the Director of Education from Ndjamena and the pastor came as well.   Four hours later the decision was made and the principal was replaced and all points accepted.  This was six months later, 3 while I was in the states on leave and then the last three being active trying to get heard.  

Wow!  So now I am on fire!  I am so excited because now I see that the doors are open to really make a difference in the lives of the children.   But I can't do all this alone.  Again, I need your help.  I am going to need money again.  I am moving forward in faith and I am going to build the next building.  I want to complete this school and give these kids the opportunity to have a christian education all the way through high school.  I have some money already that some people have given in the past but I know it is not going to be enough.  Right now our school only goes up to 10th grade then the kids have to join the other children in the market school with drunk teachers along with a lot of other corrupt things they do.  I believe that this is a very influential age and they would be so much better to stay in the better environment that is going to focus them on a better future.  Please consider joining me on this endeavor.  Please consider this to be something that your sabbath school class or church or whatever group to take on as a real mission to help reach the lives of young people.  Along the way I am also going to be asking for help with getting some books for the kids because right now they have nothing.   There is so much to do.  But I am willing to do all the foot work and the communication and give you all the pictures you need.  I will do anything and everything if you will join with me.  Let me know your questions. 

Thank you for your support through all these different journeys that this place has given us.  You all have helped me in so many ways especially here lately.  Thank you for the prayers, I know that they have made the difference.  I can see the light and the mission for the people in this place again, hallelujah!  

Love and blessings, 

Tammy Parker

parkers4bere.blogspot.com

parkers4bere@gmail.com

Jamie phone: +235 93 46 46 35 

Tammy phone: +235 95 25 86 58 

Jamie & Tammy Parker 

Hopital Adventiste de Bere 

52 Boite Postale 

Kelo, TChad 

Afique 

All donations can be sent to: 

Harrison SDA Church 

P.O. Box 969 

Harrison,  TN  37341 

Make Checks payable to: 

Harrison SDA Church 

Earmark:  "The Bere Project" 

The Darkness is Lifted .

Thank you to all of you who have been praying for us these last couple of weeks.  Thank you for all of the encouraging letters.  It was over whelming to have so many letters come flooding in.  I am so grateful to God for putting so many wonderful people in our lives and for giving us such a great support system.  Thank you all so much for loving us and our mission.  

Just now as I am trying to get my thoughts in this letter the tears are flowing down my face.  Not because I am sad but because I am in awe of the love that God has for us.  Because I know that He has answered all of our prayers.  He has lifted my darkness.  He has given me a clear mind with a real mission.  I have seen God's love coming through to us from each one of you and your letters. (except one, there is always that one!)  But all of your letters were exactly what I needed.  Now I say "I needed" but Jamie was feeling this way too but he just leaves the writing to me.    I was so down in the dumps.  I have never felt so bad since we have been here and I am so glad that I wrote that letter to all of you.  Some said that it was bad for me to write such negative things but I have no regrets.  I believe that God wants us to lean on each other.  I also believe that when you are working everyday on the front lines in another country with such a different culture as a missionary that we need encouragement we need those extra prayers.  It is not easy here.  But I can honestly say that God took away all those awful feelings.  I can honestly say that I am loving life again, even being in Chad.  It didn't happen over night but God worked with me everyday and I believe that I am happier now than I have been in a long, long time.  

God not only had all of our friends and family write us but random people from around the world, like Australia.  People who we do not know that found our blog and wrote us saying that they are praying for us.  What a wonderful, wonderful God we serve!  He is so much bigger than we give Him credit for.  

We are also going to be giving bible studies out of our home with some of the young adults we are close to here.  It just kind of happened.  I am actually very excited about it.  I can't wait to share what I know and learn on top of that.  This is really not something that I  thought I would be doing but God knows what we are capable of.  I am just trying to be willing to do what He wants me to do.  

I have a pretty big story to tell about the school but I am not quite ready to tell all yet.  I will know more after this week.  Before this week is over I will have all the answers in order to be able to share my story.   I can say though that I need everyones prayers, again.  I am making a really big move against what is going on at the school and I need prayers that when the mission president comes here this week to make a vote on it that things will swing God's way.  That God will be in control of His school and He will use me to change things that need to be changed but also that He will give me the right spirit, the right words and the strength at this big meeting.  

This week I will also be following Jamie around.  I will get some pictures and some stories of what he is doing.  He has been very busy.

We want you to know that we love all of you and I can't thank you enough for being there for us during our dark days. 

   

Tammy Parker

parkers4bere.blogspot.com

parkers4bere@gmail.com

Jamie phone: +235 93 46 46 35 

Tammy phone: +235 95 25 86 58 

Jamie & Tammy Parker 

Hopital Adventiste de Bere 

52 Boite Postale 

Kelo, TChad 

Afique 

All donations can be sent to: 

Harrison SDA Church 

P.O. Box 969 

Harrison,  TN  37341 

Make Checks payable to: 

Harrison SDA Church 

Earmark:  "The Bere Project" 

Why are we here ?

Sometimes I ask myself, do I really know anyone here?  Is there anyone here that can be honest?  How can they validate their wrong actions?  How is it that if someone sees a crime they just turn their face and act like nothing happened.  Is there anyone here that considers us their friends?   Does anyone here feel like they have a real friendship toward us with certain dedication, at all?  Can anyone be honest and do the right thing here?  Does anyone want to know who Jesus really is?  Is there anyone here I can reach? Do they see anything different in me?  If so, do they see that it is Jesus?  Is anything I am doing making a difference?  Am I just saving a child from death to put them in a life of corruption, suffering and abuse?  I have to ask, would that child be better off to die and maybe grow up in heaven?  What are we doing here?  I need answers!  I need God to remind me what in the world am I doing in this place?  

All of these things may seem harsh.  It may seem like I am over exaggerating.  But this is a very hard place to live in.  You can be surrounded by a thousand people and feel so alone.  I haven't been writing blogs because I am so discouraged.  I know that satan is attacking us.  But I need God to talk to me and tell me how to handle all of this.  I don't have any of the answers.  It seems like the work is too much and we are too small.   But the corruption here is getting to be too much.  We have had so much stuff happen in the last month that it is just overwhelming.  I haven't been writing about it because no one wants to hear about some of the bad realities here.  All of the things getting stolen by the people we trust the most in our inner circle.  Or our friends getting married to little girls UNDER the age of 14.  This is such a hard job to work with the people here.  Just take everything that you have been raised to know.  Now, throw it up in the air and turn it all upside down.  That is how the people believe here.  The police are people to be afraid of.  They are not here to help but to give anyone a hard time and threaten you to get money from you.  Not being able to tell if even the pastor is converted.  Who do we go to for help?  I know God is the answer.  

Right now, if any of you have been following our stories, we need you.  We need you to pray for us.  We need the prayer to be specific.  Why are we here?  How can we reach the people?  Does God still want us here?  What does God want from our mission?  We want to do what God wants us to do.  But what is it?

We need encouragement.  I have been afraid to be so rawly honest.  Sometimes I get people to write back and judge us for not being good enough.  We are human and right now are discouraged.  Please, help us get the answers we need from God.  I believe if we pray together God will make it all clear.   Right now I am reading the book, Power of Prayer, written by Ellen G. White.   I know that through faith I can hear Gods voice for our lives.  He can and will show us what to do.  But I also don't think that there is anything wrong in asking for help, help from all of our friends.  

Please keep our health in prayer as well.  Right now I have typhoid and Jamie continues, off and on, to have problems with his heart.  

Thank you all for all of your support.  We appreciate you. 

Love and blessings, 

Tammy Parker

parkers4bere.blogspot.com

parkers4bere@gmail.com

Jamie phone: +235 93 46 46 35 

Tammy phone: +235 95 25 86 58 

Jamie & Tammy Parker 

Hopital Adventiste de Bere 

52 Boite Postale 

Kelo, TChad 

Afique 

All donations can be sent to: 

Harrison SDA Church 

P.O. Box 969 

Harrison,  TN  37341 

Make Checks payable to: 

Harrison SDA Church 

Earmark:  "The Bere Project" 

Couple more heaven pics

Too good to not share.  Hope you enjoy them as much as I did.  It made me think of the second coming.  Are you ready?

Tammy Parker

parkers4bere.

blogspot.com

parkers4bere@gmail.com

Jamie phone: +235 93 46 46 35 

Tammy phone: +235 95 25 86 58 

Jamie & Tammy Parker 

Hopital Adventiste de Bere 

52 Boite Postale 

Kelo, TChad 

Afique 

All donations can be sent to: 

Harrison SDA Church 

P.O. Box 969 

Harrison,  TN  37341 

Make Checks payable to: 

Harrison SDA Church 

Earmark:  "The Bere Project" 

Visited by a Piece of Heaven!

This was such a gift, especially here.  We never get to see anything so beautiful in Chad.  I hope those here in Bere that may have been discouraged looked up and found some hope.  This was the most beautiful breathtaking thing I have ever seen.  If you would like to see more like these you can look in Facebook in one of my photo albums.  What a great way to end the sabbath! 

Tammy Parker

parkers4bere.blogspot.com

parkers4bere@gmail.com

Jamie phone: +235 93 46 46 35 

Tammy phone: +235 95 25 86 58 

Jamie & Tammy Parker 

Hopital Adventiste de Bere 

52 Boite Postale 

Kelo, TChad 

Afique 

All donations can be sent to: 

Harrison SDA Church 

P.O. Box 969 

Harrison,  TN  37341 

Make Checks payable to: 

Harrison SDA Church 

Earmark:  "The Bere Project"