Jos Crisis Update

This news update from the SIM director here in Jos reflects what is going on for us. I've been quite busy in the past couple of days, especially yesterday and last night, trying to assess the information and communicate with SIM and other missions about the best response.

Jos is still very tense after rioting last Friday and Saturday. There are rumours of reprisal attacks and some reports of armed personnel attempting to enter the city. Presently the police and military have control of the situation and we pray that there will be no further violence. Many of the SIM personnel are moving out of Jos for the weekend which is also a Muslim holiday. Hillcrest School has closed till next Wednesday. There are ten to twenty thousand displaced people in refugee camps around the city. SIM is providing food for one of these refugee camps. SIM has a funding project for relief, medical care and rebuilding destroyed church facilities as a result of the crisis. Donations are welcomed to this project and can be sent to any SIM office earmarked with project number NG96038.

The other missionary families on Evangel hospital compound are leaving today or tomorrow to spend a few days at Miango until this all blows over. We're not sure yet whether we'll stay or go.