First Term Updates – Cote d’Ivoire/Senegal

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.

“Things continue to be calm here at ICA. We still hear shooting in the distance but none near or directed at ICA. Rebel military vehicles have been driving in front of the school often this morning and one is still parked near the bridge at the foot of the hill. Three vehicles with soldiers took the road around the monastery, starting near the bridge towards town, and returned from the other end towards M’Bahiakro. When they returned they only had drivers in the vehicles. We assume there are 20 or so soldiers placed somewhere behind the monastery toward Belleville. 

“I have been in phone contact with the US Embassy liaison with the French troops. He knows our position and I have informed him of all military activity near ICA. He also has been given several options for communicating directly with myself or the business manager if he would need to do that quickly. We have no confirmation of any personnel arriving at ICA nor any direction concerning an evacuation. We remain in contact with missionaries in town. 

“The electricity is still off so we are now running our generator for one hour which is why this message is getting through. Our water system is adequate for our needs but we are seeking to reduce unnecessary use of water where possible. Students and staff continue to move freely inside the established perimeter and directly to staff housing as needed. We can lock down this campus in one minute and then account for every person here. 

“This message goes to mission leaders in an attempt to get accurate information out to those who need to know. We are starting to receive requests from news agencies for interviews and have established a procedure to answer these requests. We have been in contact with Reuters and perceive them to be giving accurate information, based on discussion with the business manager, and this will continue from time to time. On the advice of people helping us in the US, I accepted to do one interview with CNN last evening. CNN described ICA as caught in the shootout which does not accurately describe our situation so I have declined any further interviews with CNN or other news agencies. 

“When we are contacted by the press we are telling them to please direct their attention to the Reuters reports. Should they need more information they are being told to contact Freewill Baptist Mission in Tennessee where people have been in constant phone and email contact with us since this started. They are the best source for information about what is happening at ICA at any time. Please feel free to communicate what I am sending to you but we have felt it necessary to make these arrangements in view of the publicity surrounding this event.”