Author name: Lois Gillespie

It will be difficult to describe all that has happened since our last newsletter, and most of it within the past 3 weeks, suddenly and unexpectedly. It all started with the death of a well-loved dorm father on September 18th from a massive heart attack to be followed the next day by events that ultimately resulted in the closing of International Christian Academy (ICA) and our emergency evacuation from the Bouake area of the Ivory Coast.

Dave Golding was the dorm father at Bethel dorm, a middle school boys’dorm where we often spent time covering for the Goldings’ days off. He was considered the most physically fit man on campus. He was probably also the most well liked. Dave made everyone feel that they were special to him, and we can’t even imagine ICA without him. His memorial service was a testimony of God’s grace lived out in the life of a man who loved being a husband, father, dorm dad, and friend.

The very next morning, we awoke to the sight of the red flag outside our main office, warning us that conditions were unsettled in town, and we should not leave campus. That day began what appears to be a political and military battle for control between the mostly Muslim rebels of the north and the mostly ‘Christian’ loyalists of the south. Throughout the next week, we could often hear gunfire in the near distance as rebels took control of Bouake. Electricity and power was cut, and we were operating a diesel generator for limited hours and were running out of fuel. During that time, we had rebel soldiers stationed outside our wall within 100 yards, and several battles were fought within 3 kilometers. One of the worst battles for us was actually fought across our campus, with tracers from bullets clearly seen in the air above our heads, and evidence of some bullets actually falling inside our walls. Because of lockdown drills instituted since the robbery of July 17th, all staff and students quickly ran to ‘safe’ places. How like our God to take that previous ugly event and turn it into something good!

After that intense and too-close battle, we increased the urgency of our request for a military-escorted evacuation. Finally, on Wednesday, September 25th, we were filled with relief as the French military arrived to secure our campus and then to escort us out of town. This 90-kilometer trip took 10 hours because of the route required to avoid the rebel forces, and the need to have gasoline brought to our 21-vehicle convoy by helicopters. The next day, the remaining 1000 or so expatriots in Bouake were also evacuated during a 48-hour ceasefire.

We wish to thank everyone for their concern and prayers as we were facing all of this; we received e-mails of encouragement from all over the world, and were amazed at how far-reached the body of Christ is. Even though many were killed in the city of Bouake, God protected all the missionaries in town and at ICA. All students are now home with their parents or in the states with other relatives.

Again, as with the robbery at ICA on July 17th, we can see so many ways in which God again loved and protected us. When staff gathered for a two-day retreat before flying out from Abidjan, we were encouraged to jot down some of these things and share them. Even though our hearts hurt from recent events, we came away blessed to realize that our God is still in control.

The future of ICA is now in question. The longer this war lasts the more likely it is that the campus will be looted and destroyed. As all of us left everything behind except for what would fit in an evacuation back pack, students and staff alike will also loose personal possessions.

The need for ICA in West Africa is great. Since many of our parents have no other option for the education of their children, some will be forced to return to the states.

We fully expect to return to West Africa and be part of rebuilding the school, wherever it may be. However, half of our monthly support was coming from a school subsidy that ICA was able to provide. The new school will probably not be able to provide this same supplement, so we must raise additional support while we are back in the states.

With hurting and tender hearts, we thank you for your prayers and ask for your continued prayers for the following:

• increased support needs; 
• comfort for Denise, Josh, Mark, and Nicole Golding; 
• peace in the Ivory Coast; 
• safety for missionaries who have not yet been able to get airline tickets to return home; 
• emotional healing for all ICAers?it?s been a chaotic 2 months; 
• the educational needs of ICA students evacuated last week; 
• the future of ICA.

Bob and I are sitting here in Abidjan with all the missionaries and the other expatriates, waiting for flights out of Cote d’Ivoire.  Some of our school people flew directly to Accra, Ghana, while most came on to Abidjan. 

Since we already had tickets to fly out at Christmas, we were able to exchange them without any problem or additional cost. However, some are having difficulty getting tickets, especially since the US Embassy has recommended that all Americans leave the country.  Also, the airlines aren’t accepting American checks or dollars, but only take CFA and are giving an outrageous exchange rate.

There are so many emotions and feelings going on with us all right now.  We know without a doubt that your prayers this week have been answered.  Please continue to pray for emotional healing for everyone, and for flights ‘home’.

We will be cutting the generator in about an hour until dusk tonight.  We had a relatively peaceful night, although gunfire continued sporadically throughout the night nearby.

I think people slept well; most adults slept with our 2-way radios glued to our ears to keep posted by our guards and staff members who are posted to ‘watch the road’.

This is getting old; I’m reminded, though, of those who live this way days, weeks, months, even years at a time.  I think I will understand their mindset just a bit more now.  People, even students, have begun to greet each other with their favorite Bible passages about God’s protection.  As a community, our spirits are good.  However, we do have some who are struggling.

Well, I want to make sure this goes before we loose power.  Thanks for your prayers.  If you e-mail us, and right now those e-mails are pretty special, please send a copy to us here at bobnloisgillespie@hotmail.com as well as a copy to lgillespie@ica.ed.ci. We’re not getting mail at either place consistently, but each place occasionally.