Demonstrations and riots

Tuesday we had a very busy day, ending with dinner with Fredna and Gaylord Brown, Assembly of God missionaries who live in this compound and are from TEXAS!! Yeah!! we became friends with them a couple years ago and always look forward to a dinner invitation. We had a wonderful dinner of meatloaf, fried okra and mashed potatoes (I said they were from Texas, right?). We discussed the upcoming scheduled 'peaceful' demonstrations for Wed, July 20. We had been told to 'stay in' (meaning on the compound) Wednesday. Yes, the demonstrations occurred, and true to demonstrations seemingly everywhere, they quickly got out of hand with the bad element turning to looting, burning, stoning, etc. Pretty ugly for awhile. We are in a residential area and never felt threatened. However, we had gone to the store and stocked up on food and other supplies, we had cash and we packed 'go bags' in case we needed to get out quickly. Wednesday we were busy around the house - Michael and I organized 4 trunks of medications for the next village clinic (scheduled for Thursday but canceled) and Joseph worked on the car. It actually is driving WORSE than when we put it in the shop. Today (Thursday) we awoke to what looked like a quiet day, however, the flames of unrest flared again in the city center and we were told to stay put again. Our workers here than don't live on the compound were sent home, to be with and possibly protect their families. I did get Sampson, the gardener, to bike up to get us units for the phones before we left. The cell phones here use units, and you have to keep replenishing them. Apparently Malawians on bikes are safer than azungus (white people) in cars - mainly because they attack the cars, not the people??!! Anyway, the guards left, and we were told to not open the gates to anyone we did not know, that the bad guys had stolen uniforms from police and military and were using them to gain entry. Sounds exciting, I know, but really, it was quite boring. No one even knocked! We spent time on the Internet, catching the news as best as we could (apparently some of the riots were covered by BBC but we don't have TV here). We went to the Magaffeys (another missionary family on the compound) and got some lettuce from their garden. Michael played with their dogs - two big Rhodesian Ridgeback puppies, Joseph made some awesome chocolate chip / pecan cookies, and I cooked dinner. Our night guard biked in from one of the villages that had some trouble today, but he said all is well and everything is quite. Reportedly the military has moved into the city and everything has settled down there. We hope so!

Thanksgiving / Praise - that we have remained safe, that we have adequate supplies and gas at this time, that we have so many people praying for us at this time (I can feel the prayers of God's people, surrounding us)

Prayer requests - continued safety, that the riots would not re-occur, that God would become evident in these circumstances, that the people who have lost loved ones, or suffered injury or other loss would be comforted, that the Malawian government would see the complaints of the people and not just the actions of a few insurgents.

Pictures (they are backwards in order, sorry)

Michael and Joseph, along with Noreen Magaffey looking at the two 'puppies'. Note - this makes a total of 5 very big dogs on this compound.

Noreen picking lettuce for us (very yummy)

Michael 'playing' with one of the puppies

A guard house and gate with no guard - but see previous picture to know why we aren't too worried.

Sampson, the gardener, as he leaves to get units for the phone - yes, his T shirt says NICKELBACK, LOCAL CREW, (Mandy this is for you)

Michael and Fredna Brown, as she explains one of Gaylord's many walking sticks

Michael and Joseph in the Brown's living room

Watson, the Brown's cook, in the kitchen.

For all of you blog followers, the little guy, Chickbutt, - his real name is Chikumbutso.

And he is doing fine in the ward!