End of an Era?

After nearly two years of stand-off between the Ivorian government forces(FANCI) and the former rebel New forces, hostilities broke out again on Thursday Nov 4 and Friday Nov 5, 2004, when fighter planes bombed four centers in the northern half of the country, presently still under New forces control.

After a military camp in Bouaké got bombed, killing nine French soldiers, the French army retaliated by disabling or destroying the Ivorian airforce.

This unleashed in an enormous anger among the Ivorians in the south of the country resulting in looting and plundering in the cities of Abidjan and Yamoussoukro for a couple of days. Anti white sentiments were running high.

As pressure grew it was decided that our newly re-started VIS-YIS MK school in Yamoussoukro had to close. Preparations were made and the whole school was evacuated to Accra on Friday November 12, 2004.

Re-opening in Yamoussoukro is not foreseen in the near future.

But how long can we keep VIS on hold? The place was built to serve the kingdom of God. It has served its purpose for many years. How many have spent years around the place getting their education? How many have come out, giving one or two years or more to provide this training for our children? God has blessed us with this property, and it has been a boon for many. That's why we want the site to be a benediction in the years to come. We would like to maintain the site for another year and a half, but the coffer is struggling.

We do not know in what form, but our desire is that the site again be useful in the kingdom of our Lord Jesus. Will VIS be a school, for others? We do not know at this moment.

Elections are scheduled to take place soon. We see encouraging signs in the peace process.

We can en vision the place being occupied again. Can you visualize VIS being used anew for a God-chosen purpose?

Will you pray with us, that we together discern God's plan for this school?