The Best of Times; the Worst of Times

Sue writes:

It challenging to sort through all the good and bad that has befallen our community this week. I'll briefly list the events.

Our college employee at last was granted bail. The employee has not yet been released from prison.

The manager of the college grocery store was kidnapped from the yard of his house as he was coming home from work. He was held at knife point, bound, and his key to the store taken. The robbers then took the money that was in the store. The employee was shaken, but otherwise unhurt.

The house of the Nazarene minister in Bunem Wo, one of the two villages that border the college, was burned down today. His two-year-old child died in the house. A collection is being taken up to help the pastor and his family out some.

Prices at the markets are going up. A huge, ripe, juicy pineapple now costs $2 US (!). As I bought the fresh produce for the graduate retreat for this week-end, it was a good thing a local woman came along to help me. She looked out for the way I held my money (so it would not be accessible to anyone else). She also knew how to pick ripe cooking bananas and alternative markets at which we could comparison shop. We were able to make all our purchases for within a dollar of the estimated cost.

Several student wives are cooking for the men on (on-campus) retreat this week-end. They and the principal's wife are busy marinating beef and baking lemon cake for the guys for tonight. Tomorrow I will go over and show the wives how to bake banana bread.

Jeff and another faculty man are in charge of the retreat. They are well prepared with the college principal speaking about leadership qualities, a couple action movies, a hike to a nearby waterfall, and tasty food.

Please join us in prayer that God would use the retreat this week-end to encourage and refresh the men who are ready to graduate and go out as ministers. Also ask God to show us how to continue to meet the needs of our neighbors with tragedies in their lives. We really appreciate you who pray and our God who supplies answers.