Difficult Times

As we read the news of all the trials and tribulations in the UK over the Brexit vote etc. We contemplate the situation that we find ourselves in here. The teachers in the state schools have not taught at all this school year, because of strike action over pay. If it reaches the 15th of December with no resolution they will call it a l'année blanche, meaning that no teaching for the rest of the year also as to many days have passed without a day taught. This is disastrous for the students and the country as a whole. All students will wait until September to retake the year lost. Even those in private schools who are working will have to retake the year as it is the Government who produces the exams and these will not be set if it is a 'white year'.   At our monthly retreat we celebrated Thanksgiving with our other workers from North America. There was plenty of food to go around, one family had marinated a leg of beef and another had brought a meringue two hours on a really bumpy road. It all tasted wonderful, I know because I tasted it all, even the 5 different desserts. After our return from the feast day, we heard rumours that someone had been shot in our town. It wasn't until the next day that we found out that the guy from Sierra-Leone that we change our money with in the market had lost his life. We have been changing money with him as he is such a jolly person. We had spoken to him a few months ago and he explained that one of his enemies had placed a spell on him that he would die. He showed us his leg which was absolutely terrible, it looked like a flesh eating disease we had seen on the Mercyship. He was convinced that it was a spell. He had visited a witch-doctor and paid a huge amount to have the spell removed. Then as he was returning to his home last weekend after a days work, he was shot seven times outside his house. The whole town on the day after was in such an uproar that the market closed for the day as a mark of respect and demonstrations were held outside the mayors office. The population are demanding more security officers, as people are afraid to leave their compounds. Hopefully calm will prevail as the town comes to terms with this shocking murder and that the real perpetrators will be brought to justice quickly.  Prayer Points: Please pray for the teachers and students, as this year affects many lives. Pray for the rest of the expat workers in the local vicinity, that they will be able to help those in their neighbourhoods, as the need is great. Pray for the family of our friend who lost his life early. Pray that they will be safe and secure. Pray that they will be able to move back to their home country of Sierra-Leone swiftly. Praise as our Swiss colleagues foot is healing nicely and she didn't need to return to Switzerland for an operation. We took a walk by the lake early Sunday morning, stunning views.