Current Events and Plans

What does one say in the situation we find ourselves? How can I explain and express the feelings, thoughts and emotions going on both in myself and my friends who remain in Ivory Coast? While friends and family back in America feel a sense of relief (as I do for the safety of my wife and children), however I wish I could remain in Ivory Coast and continue working and serving alongside our national partners and friends. The need for hope and love has never been greater.

So many people are struggling to get by. The people in western Ivory Coast and in Abidjan are surrounded by violence, literally caught in crossfires. Food prices continue to rise while the amount of cash people have at home shrinks. The banks are closed and most people have not received a salary the past two months. Cash itself is becoming a scarce commodity throughout the country.

And all these things because of the hunger for power by a few men. Long awaited elections (5 years overdue) were meant to reunite the country, however it has driven a wedge further between various people groups and ideologies. The former president, Laurent Gbagbo, lost the election overseen by the UN to his long-time rival Allasane Ouattara. Gbagbo has preyed on the fears and deeply entrenched prejudices within society in order to keep his hold on power. The military continues to follow his orders, along with other militias who support him, and have attacked , threatened and intimidated all those who dared to support Ouattara publically. Ouattara's supporters had enough and began to fight back. These are the clashes that the news has been talking about in Abidjan and in the west.

The African Union has had representatives in Abidjan trying to mediate the conflict, however they have made little to no progress. They have repeatedly delayed making an announcement of their recommendations... and now their delayed announcement has been pushed back another month.

The eastern part of Ivory Coast has mostly remained peaceful. We were able to return and continue working and serving the Abengourou community. However, earlier this week Gbagbo called for his supporters to fight "the enemies and rebels" (who the enemies are was left to interpretation) on state television while one of his aides openly called on militias to kill foreigners (in response to the international community's stance against the former president). We decided it was time for us to leave before trouble found its way to us.

When looking at the current situation, there doesn't seem much to be hopeful about. But this thought gives me hope: God is still God and He is still sitting on His throne. Jesus calls his church the salt and light of the world. In the darkest of times, a small light shines brightest. Just last week we purchased 100 kg of rice that the church members plan to share with their neighbors struggling to find enough for even one meal a day. The church still plans on serving and loving their neighbors as Christ commands. Shining the light of true hope into the darkness.

So, please continue to pray for our friends and family who remain in Ivory Coast. Pray that God may give the endurance, courage and passion to follow and serve Jesus to a world desperately seeking hope. Pray for the church leaders to set the example. Pray for their protection and inspiration from the Holy Spirit. Pray especially for our two sister churches in Abidjan: the Abidjan Christian Church and the Anono Christian Church. Both churches are found in the midst of the heaviest fighting in Abidjan.

For now we are still in Ghana. Tomorrow we are headed to the capital, Accra, and will be returning to America March 12th. It will take us a couple of weeks to get acclimated and plan our unscheduled furlough. Pray also for our team mate, Christina Skelton, as she heads to Burkina Faso to continue studying language and helping CMF's Burkina Field Team. Also, before heading to Burkina Faso, she needs to get some treatment for her back and sciatic nerve that has been ailing her for over a month.

We appreciate your prayers and support and ask that you continue to pray ardently for Ivory Coast and the Lord's people there. May God give them peace and a leader that will guide them towards unity and reconciliation.

Andy Gable

Heading Home

It's never easy living away from home for an extended time. While there have been many great blessings for our family here in Burkina Faso, it has not been easy as well. When we first came for a visit, by no means did we plan to stay this long, but then again it's hard to predict that both candidates will assume they are president (because having two presidents for one country works so well). The Burkina visas we acquired for Stephanie and the kids were good for two months. This coming Monday, the two months come to an end. New Burkina visas bought here in-country would cost over $1,800 and only be good for six months. Our truck also has to get its Ivorian vehicle inspection re-authorized (available only in Ivory Coast) by February 1st.

So we have been praying hard and asking lots of well-informed people (CMF staff, other missionaries and our Ivorian friends) about the various options we have before us. While it is clear that we cannot go to Abidjan, life in Abengourou has changed little and remains a peaceful corner of Ivory Coast. In terms of safety and living conditions, the current situation seems to be similar to the situation in 2004 when Ivory Coast went through a serious time of instability. In 2004, we were able to stay and continue working in Abengourou with little difficulty. Given the current circumstances, our team has decided to head back home to Abengourou and continue serving the people and ministry God has called us to.

God continues to bless and move forward the ministries of the Association of Christian Churches in Ivory Coast, the PIM clinic, the CHE program and the outreach to Djoula-speaking Muslims. We believe God is leading us back to Abengourou to continue working with our great national friends and partners, serving together as a source of light and hope during difficult times. It's not a decision we have taken lightly, but one that gives us peace.

So please be in prayer for our family and our team-mate Christina Skelton this next week. We will be leaving Burkina Faso next Monday morning and traveling through western Ghana. We plan to spend the night in Sunyani, Ghana and then cross the border into Ivory Coast Tuesday morning, arriving in Abengourou sometime in the early afternoon, Lord willing. Pray for safety on the roads, easy and quick border crossings and sane parents at the end of our long journey. Also continue to pray that God would bring peace to Ivory Coast so that the Good News of Jesus Christ might be spread unhindered and the people of Ivory Coast experience true and lasting peace. Thanks so much for your prayers, they are felt.

Andy

Life as a Refugee

I have thought quite a bit about what I wanted to write about during this time while we are in Burkina Faso. By now most of you know that Ivory Coast had its long awaited elections. The essential information is that both candidates claim to have won, formed their own ministerial cabinets and neither of them is budging from their position. Add to all that the UN, US, France and several other international bodies backing the opposition candidates claims to the presidency and you get one big mess where people have started getting hurt and unfortunately killed. If you want to read more details about it, go to www.bbc.co.uk/news and click on the Africa link. You will see at least one story about the Ivorian situation and inside the article there are other news links that explain what's going on. The best way to sum up the situation is how another missionary friend put it to me the other day, "Sorry your country sucks right now." I would say that's pretty accurate from a political and social point-of-view.


I was able to go back into Ivory Coast a little over a week ago to get some necessities for living here for a little while (like Christmas presents, school curriculum, etc.). While I was there I also met with some of our key national leaders about the continuing ministry in Ivory Coast. It was a blessing to hear that despite all the noise going on about the presidential election and its aftermath, their resolve and plans for the ministry had not changed. There of course were a few modifications and postponements (they were living under a 7:00 PM curfew afterall), but the task of planting churches, training leaders and impacting communities has not changed. Very soon two national church planters are to head to Beoumi in the central part of the country to start four new churches. Those plans have not changed. "God has called us there and we will continue to trust in His call for us." The clinic continues to operate and minister to hundreds of people every week. CHE continues to engage the Cocoterrain region, seeking to bring health and hope to that community in Abengourou. Though the world around them is unstable, unclear and at times unfriendly, they continue to look to the Prince of Peace and serve Him as ministers of peace.


One of the blessings of this technology age we live in is the ability to stay in touch from afar. Not only with you all back home, but even during times like these we continue to work with our national partners to do the Lord's work in Ivory Coast. While here in Burkina Faso, we continue to work with them in translating materials, coordinating ministry activities, the construction of the Kids' Church/Djoula Worship Center (which is nearly finished!) and looking to future planning. Also while I am here I have the opportunity to study the Djoula language with less distractions than when I am living in Abengourou. Rest assured that our time in Burkina is not just a long holiday... at least it sure doesn't feel like one.


Thank you all for your prayers for both our family and Ivory Coast. Please continue lift up the Ivorian political situation and that all the leaders involved would be moved to look at the people of Ivory Coast who have suffered much during this time and would do what is best for them. Continue to pray for our family too while we live here in our friends', the Burks, house. They have been so gracious to let us live in their home while they are on furlough. Though living in Burkina for the past month is not what we inteded to do, there have been many surprise blessings. Pray too for our health, there has been some sort of "bug" we have been passing around the past couple of days. Thank you again for your prayers. God has heard them and has answered many already (the situation in Ivory Coast could be much worse than it is). May God continue to answer the prayers of His faithful.


Andy