As I type this, the issue is not 100% settled as to what will happen. The election was peaceful. The turnout was lower than had been hoped because the "major" parties whose candidates were excluded from the elections, urged people to boycott the election. At this time it does look as if the socialist candidate Laurent Gbagbo has been elected President of Cote d’Ivoire. If the vote stands and the General steps out of the office peacefully the new President still has a big job. Establishing some connections with the outside world again is a start. He also has the task of winning the trust and acceptance of the world’s governments as well. This little country is now more in debt than it was under the corrupt leadership of the president that was overthrown last Christmas. Poor crops and falling market prices in cocoa and coffee have hurt the country’s major income sources. All this is not a recipe for the happiest of endings but with God’s help, good management and leadership this could become a peaceful and relatively prosperous country again.

Please keep Cote d’Ivoire and its people in your prayers along with the continued safety and wellbeing of the students and staff of ICA.

Prayers and warm wishes.
charley.

Issue #73
October 23, 2000

Dear Friends and Family,
Hello from the Zoo! No, I am not referring to the kids in the dorm, but I am referring to the dorm. There is quite a slew of animals around there. Near the dorm in the stable, there is a horse, a cat, and a bunch of guinea pigs and rabbits. At the dorm, there are four more cats, two dogs (when I bring Levi over), two African grey parrots, a hyrax (a small furry animal with no tail), and a python. There is no shortage of pets.

It continues to go well in the dorm. As I write this, we have no one sick at the dorm. We had one more down with malaria at the end of last week and part of the weekend. One of the girls that was sick last week finally got to go back to school on Friday. Continue to pray the everyone will stay well.

I will be in the dorm until Friday when the dorm assistant should be back. Pray that she will have safety as she returns. I am also back in the classroom this week. I am teaching two subjects a day. The elementary choir is also doing a concert on Sunday night, so we are having extra practices for that this week. It will be a busy week for me.

Elections were yesterday. I haven't heard what the final outcome was yet. I think everything was calm throughout the country. Pray that it will remain calm, and that the new president will be able to get the country back on track.

I need your help on something. I got a note from one of our staff that is on furlough. She is trying to get things to use with the elementary for computer class. She said that Cheerios (General Mills) Golden Grahams, and other of those cereals are including a free CD's - 4 different - with the cereal. If you eat these cereals, could you save up some these cd's for you. I'll let you know in the next letter where to send them, too. Thanks for your help.

I also have another item I would like for you to pray with me about. I am hoping that my fiancé, Charley, will be able to come out here to visit and see Africa over Christmas. Tickets are really expensive right now. We thought had found some, but when we went to purchase them, they had jumped $1300 in price. Please pray the we will be able to find some tickets that we can afford.

Thanks so much for your continued prayer and support.
In Christ,
Traci Epps