Dear Friends,
It is 9.30a.m. on the 1st January 2008.
The night passed peacefully for us here in TFH, though few of us actually slept as gunfire and other sounds of disturbance still made themselves heard through the night.
The government has increased police and army presence in the District, but peace still does not seem very close since the Election Result is still strongly contensted by the Opposition and 50% of the Electorate are on their side. This might sound a purely political crisis, but to some extent deep rooted ethnic animosities are also taking advantage of the situation to increase mayhem.
The LORD has give us all Psalm 91 as our Security and we are without anxiety.
Thye main problem has been how to obtain provisions with all shops closed - some have been burned to the ground - and even our regular suppliers have been afraid to assist us obtain even basic rations. Just now we have been invited to drive down into the town to try and get SOME provisions from a friendly Supermarket which is still closed, but the proprietor willing to let us in briefly.
The President addressed the Nation last night at midnight, but in truth there seems little real hope of a return to normal daily life very quickly and as long as law and order is not able to be insisted upon. A large amount of the present problem also comes from simple criminality and the opportunity to rob, steal, and pillage without any political or tribal reason - just simple lack of a national moral rectitude.
We thank you all for praying for us, and we have felt the strength and comfort of those prayers. We do Thank you all, and we Thank our Father watching over us, who has kept us in peace within our compounds.
God Bless you all.
John and Esther
