A very crazy month, but never far from God

I don't know if all who read this heard about the Jos crisis. It started right after American Thanksgiving and was very intense for my family and I on Friday and Saturday.

Some say it was a religious crisis, but most who know Nigeria and Jos say it was far more political, but since nothing in Nigeria happens outside of religion, neither was this event absent from religious tension.

The guesthouse where we live and work is in a very Muslim neighborhood and when our neighbors started to riot, their cries were very disconcerting. On Friday morning we feared the rioters would enter our compound so we had to flee from the house and run two compounds over through at least one kind of hidden door.

That first day we did not hear police or military, but the second morning it started right after the dawn to dusk curfew ended and again found us in a corner of the next compound, only that time we could hear the rioters cries met by the military response. I must confess, hearing the military's strong presence as the Muslims refused to step down was very reassuring. (I was told later by my brother-in-law who ventured out later that morning that the street was full of corpses.)

That evening (Saturday) we began hearing rumors that the Muslims might try to come from the big rocks behind the guesthouse so we began making plans to leave. I did most of the packing for the kids and I by candlelight and the light of my cell phone. We had a place to stay that was furnished, but we needed to pack food items, some kitchen stuff and our personal things.

Before 6:30 the next morning we left with a military escort and a soldier in the car and drove across town.

The road we travelled on did not show many signs of fighting, but the four neighborhoods that were hit hardest were not on that road. Schools, mosques, churches, Christian homes, Muslim homes, businesses were all lost. A few days later relief groups counted three large refugee camps with 30,000 people. That doesn't count the many, many compounds that provided refuge to family and friends who lost everything. We passed through many military checkpoints on our way through town.

The reports of compassion come from both sides, as do the many accounts of barbaric violence. Even my girl was running through the house looking for bottles to give to her uncle to make gasoline bombs. (We thank God for the poor aim of those that threw a few over the guesthouse wall.)My prayer for Jos is that the hearts of those that have lost so much will be open to the Word of God.

I think of the many Muslim widows and children who have lost their main provider and pray that their need will open the door for those ready to provide relief and a Word of Peace and Hope.

On December 4th the kids and I and one sister-in-law left Jos for our new house in Yola. From the moment we stepped in the door is seemed like we had come home. I remembered a few weeks earlier when I wondered if we were being selfish to build such a nice house when we had no long term plans to use it. I immediately felt God whispering to me, "Don't worry, you will have a need for it." I still don't know if He means more than this one month when our need has been great, but I see his hand in how hard Amson has been working on the house. I also see his hand in how He led me to get the marking I did before Thanksgiving and get it all entered into the school system.

When school was to start last week I just wasn't ready to head back. I thank God for those that stepped in to allow me the time to heal in Yola. Even now, when I think of going back, I feel the tears wanting to fall and yet I trust that when it is time, He will strengthen me. At this point we plan to return around January 8th.

In the meantime, I have other marking that I am trying to finish. The essays for AP World are done, now I am working on portfolio reports for my basic world history class and then I have some tests and essays to finish in US History. On Sunday Amson will come with part of the exams to mark, mostly essays and portfolios from my AP students. Much to think about while the holidays are going on and during the days we are in the village.

In some ways I feel the stress of the workload, but the peace in our Yola refuge still surrounds me and I know, in God's timing, all will work out.

God is in charge and even though crazy events like this happen in the world we have to trust that God is in control and remember, even when all seems well from the newsreports, there are still many who need your prayers to continue living and caring for their families.

Dorthea in Yola