Issue #40
December 24, 1999
I try to phone Traci about once a month. It's not often anyone here gets a call from Traci because of the awful expense. This morning I got an unexpected call. I am sending this now so you all know Traci is okay and that ICA and staff are aware of what is going on. Here is an excerpt from notes she sent me earlier today:

Early morning:
Did you hear about the excitement in Abidjan yesterday? Guess some soldiers got unhappy and went a little crazy. You can probably read about it on the web. Someone sent us a bunch of news releases off the web today. We haven't heard if anything is happening today. The Embassy will notify us as soon as they find anything out. I'm sure glad that I wasn't in Abidjan though. Our guesthouse is not too far from the military camp. If you read any of the reports they will mention the road to Bingerville and the Riveria area, that is where the guesthouse is. Of course I think it is enough off the beaten path that you would have just been able to hear what was happening from there.

Midday:
Well, more things have happened since I wrote you this morning. I guess we have actually moved into a coup. I'm not sure exactly what is happening. The way I understand it the soldiers are trying to take over the government. We are ordered not to leave campus. I guess there is shooting going on in town. I'm not sure if it is just shooting up in the air like it was yesterday [in Abidjan]. Things are continuing as normal on campus. It does put a bit of a damper on the Christmas spirit though. I'll let you know what else happens here. So far it is nothing effecting us other than we have to stay on campus.

Cote d'Ivoire is a country noted for its stability in West Africa and is a refuge for many people with the means to leave neighboring countries that have been restless for many years.

ICA is now a closed campus. No one is going into town. Traci was told she needed to have her essential things packed in a state of readiness for a possible evacuation. No one at the school expects anything to come of this "state of readiness." While we were talking, Traci was still going about her business for the day. She was making cinnamon rolls for the Christmas festivities and dinner rolls as well.

I encourage anyone interested to look at news web sites like www.foxnews.com and www.yahoo.com and search for key words like "Cote d'Ivoire," "Ivory Coast," Abidjan," and "Bouake."

Prayer is always a good idea. Along with your prayers for Traci and ICA and the families staying there during this holiday intercession, you might add something for the people of Cote d'Ivoire. Fortunately few of the children that are normally on campus are around at this time of year. Some of the children that would be at ICA are now in Abidjan though. Many missionaries are in Cote d'Ivoire; all of them will have similar concerns.

Thank you for your time and prayers.
charley.
Possum Ranch Publications.