I have been trying to write this post for the last couple weeks now and have been unable to find the words that I’m truly looking for to explain what has been going on. 

In the wee hours of Friday morning, 28 November 2008, fighting broke out here in Jos.  While it was not completely out of the blue, we all hoped it would not come to this.  Local government elections were held for the first time in about 8-10 years (have heard different numbers).  They had been put off and put off, so going into Thursday we were not even sure that the elections would actually take place; however, they did and everything seemed to run smoothly.

Friday some of us were supposed to head to Senegal for a conference, but that did not happen.  Instead we woke to gun shots and smoke filling the air.  It is hard to stay what goes through one’s mind in the midst of all of this.  I knew that I was not the focus of the unrest but I knew that my Nigerian friends were not all out of harms way.  Many missionaries were evacuated out of their homes because they were close to the action.  Katy and I even humored our boss and stayed at the guesthouse for a few days. 

Over the next few days, we heard stories coming in of churches, mosques, homes, cars, tires, and stores being burned and people being killed.  We were under curfew, 24 hour one in some areas, in others it was 6pm-8am and now we still remain under curfew from 7pm-6am.  In a matter of only a couple days, hundreds were dead with many more injured and thousands became refugees.  While the election may have been the front for the violence, it was not political for no politicians were targeted; rather it was a religious battle.  Before results were even announced, it was heard that the predominately Christian party had won and the predominately Muslim party was not happy about it.  Revenge and retaliation became the feelings of many in the area.  Christians were fighting, Muslims were fighting.  Tell me, how are Christians to reach those who do not believe when the react in the same way?

This is not the first time that crisis has taken place in Jos due to religious conflict.   Jos sets in the middle of the country, most areas south are considered Christians; most areas north are considered to be Muslim.  While most of the time we live in peace here, occasionally unrest happens.  The Hausa (predominately Muslim tribe that takes up much of the north) have tried to conquer the Plateau State of which Jos is the capital, therefore, if they can take Jos then they can take the whole state, they have yet to achieve this goal.

I am thankful we have a forgiving and loving and just Father!  Only He can bring about good in the midst of a crisis.  Friday, 5 December 2008, one week after the fighting began, it rained!  Now as many of you know, December is right in the middle of dry season, it is not supposed to rain.  I heard from someone that it has been 8 years since it has rained in December.  This rain was not just a little sprinkle; it rained and rained and rained for a few hours.  Maybe it was God’s way of washing away the blood so a new start can be made.