“Thou will keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on thee, for he trusts in thee.” Isa. 26:3
This verse from my quiet time this morning was a special reminder of where our peace comes from. How meaningful it is right now to all of us to be able to say, “I trust you, God,” even when we don’t understand why things are happening. It’s that trust which brings us peace.
Although things still seem quiet around here, some of us were scheduled to attend an African International Educators conference next week in Abidjan which has now been canceled at the recommendation of the American Embassy. There would have been Americans (as well as other nationalities) from all over Africa flying in for this conference, and I guess they felt it was too high-profile at this time. One mission agency in Cote d’Ivoire whose kids attend ICA has made the decision to ‘pull out’, and will be leaving in December. They have been the target of multiple break-ins and robberies. These conditions are hardest on the ‘old-timers’ who knew this country when it was the most stable country in West Africa. They are having to change the way they’ve always done things, and eliminate activities from their lives which were always safe. We knew what we were getting into when we came; we’re just now choosing our activities, and don’t know anything different. Our expectations were that anything outside of America wouldn’t be as safe. (How little we knew!)
We ask again that you pray for the sale of our house. We have temporary renters now, but when they’re gone, we’ll have to make the house payments until it sells – out of our support. Also pray that we can get some of the supplies needed here at ICA since short-termers who were bringing them have now understandably canceled their trips.
Remember that we pray for you as you pray for us.