Moving Ahead

February 28, 2007 by Beth.

I just wanted to write a letter here to let you all know what is going on and has gone on with Guinea, and where we are here.

First of all, thanks for all your prayers for the elections here. I know there was some violence just before but things since then have been pretty calm and we’ve not seen any trouble from here. School is back in session without interruption which is also a blessing.

Guinea: Things are changing fast there. We heard on the 26th (Monday) that negotiations were taking place and that the president had agreed to select a new Prime Minister, and one that was on the list of approved choices. People were ordered back to work and the strike was “suspended”. The unions are not going to officially call it off until they see that things are going to change. By yesterday a new Prime Minister was chosen and he was, indeed, one that was approved by all. The only question that is left now is, How much power will he actually be given. There was an agreement signed by the president and the unions back in January that said that the new PM would be given the right to chose his government and “clean house” (so to speak). He is to get rid of the corruption that has held the people close to starvation point for too long. The agreement was signed but then a PM was chosen that was close to the president. In the past Guinea has had Prime Ministers but they are more just figureheads. Whenever a PM would try to actually do something for the good of the country, he was sacked. So the question now is, Will this new leader be given the power to do the things he has been asked and even chosen to do?? If so it looks like we may be able to go home soon!! Some say that if he is not given that power and is not supported by the president, the backlash will be worse than the first one when the other Prime Minister was chosen. The  situation continues to need prayers so that a good outcome is achieved and we can all go home!!

The Heineys: AHHH! What can I say?? We’re watching plans being made right and left…this person is moving here, that person will stay there. It will be a long time before our little mission community looks like it did before we left. Even for us, we have Donna leaving for the US tomorrow, Tim in Togo, Andrea trying to decide if she wants to stay here at the Academy to finish the year, and I’m making plans to visit Togo as well. Andrea asked me, “Mom, don’t you wish sometimes that you could just know the future even just a little bit ahead?” I instantly said “YES!!” but then we decided that maybe then we wouldn’t have the chance to trust God for what we don’t know. Sigh.

Meanwhile, thanks again for all the prayers and support. For more information on what’s going on with Guinea please go to: http://allafrica.com/stories/200702270431.html or http://www.afrol.com/articles/24507 

Prayers for all of us would be greatly appreciated as well, as we try to make major decisions in the midst of having our lives all tossed up in the air. Pray for our co-workers, Tim and Heidi Norton, and Andrea Herman, still in Bamako as they decide too what is best for them in this situation. But mostly pray for Guinea and the people there, and for peace and a good solution.

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