G and I have a lot of contacts among tentmakers all over the world. As a reminder, tentmakers are people who choose to use their career or skill set as a means to secure a job in a country somewhere, so that they can meet people, form relationships, and tell people about JC so that they have the option of choosing to follow him or not. The term "tentmaker" comes from a man called Paul who was a leader in the early ch and he was trained in making tents, so he went from town to town making tents and teaching in the towns that he went to. You can read more about him in the book called Acts.
We receive update letters from tentmakers all over the world- Northwest China, North Africa, Southeast Asia, Europe, and also from the US. Today we received a letter that really surprised us from some tentmakers in Nigeria, in the city of Jos. We had no idea that there were problems there, but in fact last week there were very serious riots in Nigeria. This information didn't even hit the mainstream news, although if you search for Jos on CNN you'll find some articles buried there. The fact is that this kind of violence and rioting happens a lot in Nigeria. I've posted the letter from our friends there (I had to clean it up for security reasons) and I hope you'll read it over and pr for the people there. This couple is teaching at a university in Jos, and have lived there for 4 years now. They are in their 50s, and have children and grandchildren living Stateside.
By now many of you have likely heard some news of the Jos crisis that began early Friday morning Nov 28th (around 2 am). We trust that you have already been prompted to pr for the peace of Jos. What a difficult world for so many! Reports indicate that over 300 have been killed, many have been injured and many have fled their homes to take refuge with family, friends, at army barracks, in schools, etc. Pr especially for strength for all the care givers, patience, a forgiving spirit that will prevent taking revenge and adequate supply of water, food and medical care. Pr for wisdom and cooperation in the relief efforts being coordinated as you will read about further down.
We three couples were in our own homes at our Colleges of Education (each of us being about 1.5 - 2 hours from Jos) and so are thankful that we we were not in Jos. It was a very traumatic time for our colleagues living in North Jos on the University of Jos staff quarters, with their high school age children. They lived through the crisis in 2001 - their hearts have relived horrors again. They all had their houses full of displaced people with little running water and electricity! Our African director is continually journaling and that is giving us a little picture of what happened as we are able to receive them.
Thursday (Nov 27th) was Plateau State local government area elections and the Mslm community was not happy that their candidate lost in Jos North! Mslms were brought into the city to add to the vote!! Early Friday morning a number of chchs around Uni Jos were burned as well as other targeted buildings - well planned destruction. Many "C" homes in Mslm areas were burned. Some key people were targeted and killed. We are thankful that Governor Jang took such quick action in dispatching police and the army quickly came from Abuja the capital to try and restore order. Things have quieted down but there is a tense quiet in the city and on the Plateau. We don't know what the days ahead will bring. When we first arrived on the Plateau in 2004, we would sometimes pass through 8 police check points on our 110 km journey from Pankshin to Jos!
Relief efforts are under way by the Emergency Preparedness Response Team (EPRT) of Plateau State working together with MCC. Their plan is to target about a dozen refugee camps within Jos. They have emailed us a well laid out plan. We have yet to know how we will contribute to the efforts.
Nigerian's consider themselves either Mslm or C. But many are C in name only. Since 2001 there has been much talk of non-retaliation, but we are sorry to say that some Cs attacked Mslms - we do not know the extent. But our local ch leader along with about 100 others were taken in by one of our coworkers. His ch in the area has been burned down twice since 2001 and this is the third time!!!!! His ch people went to great efforts to do good to the Mslms around them and at some point these even discouraged damage to the ch. But millitants will do their work!
Please pr for those ch families who have lost their places of worship, some have lost their leader and many are grieving the loss of their homes and loved ones. We have heard that since the last crisis there were Mslms who decided to follow JC as a result and we are pring that many more will be turned from darkness to light - we need to pray the same for nominal Cs.
Pr for the large coworker community in Jos - love and wisdom in giving help needed. May the Ld accomplish his purposes and give us the grace to help as he prompts us.
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