Hi all:

Wow! what a morning! I am still shaking from an incident that occurred this morning.  Around 2:30 A.M. I heard a number of  people trying to break into my home at both the front door and back door and at two different windows in the house. One was yelling “give us your money or we will kill you”. He kept repeating that phrase. 

I am sure they knew an american lives in this house as they asked for the money in English. I went and turned on all the outside lights in hopes of scaring them off (you know, not wanting to be recognized).

Armando (my gaurd) grabbed his machete and an axe and came out of his gaurd house. One of the men yelled “we know you do not have money, we want his! Go back into your gaurd house.” He did not, and moments later they fled. He and I stayed inside my house for the rest of the morning having coffee, tea and bread/butter - he with his mechete and axe – and me with a couple of big kitchen knvies at the ready.

Neither of us have a gun, and this incident was so intense that I ask you to say a prayer for my safety, Armondo’s saftey, and Grace’s safety when she is here during the day and evening when she is here by herself. 

Grace was the victim of a robbery at her  her brother’s house last year where they threatened to kill everybody unless they were satisfied with the loot.  It was the third time the same robbers came to the house with the first two being failed attempts to get in (as neighbors helped to scare them away on those occassions).

I have to admit, it is the first time since I got here that I was genuinly in fear for my life; and will probably have a lousy night’s sleep tonight in fear of a repeat performance. The riots were one thing, but that was country wide. I was such a basket case, I could not even go to church today (which is something that does not occur often.  

Again, keep me in your thoughts.

James C. Baker http://bakerinafrica.com/ p: ++258.84.82.77077 Mozambique (GMT+2)

Pastor Mark here. When we visited Chimoi Mozambique and Vida Human, we brought with us t-shirts that bore the logo we developed side-by-side with Vida Humana. This was an effort to raise awareness in the community about their efforts. We bought more than enough shirts for future volunteers. I wanted to are with you a message I received from James a few minutes ago

Today, we gave an activist a shirt. He has come from time-to-time, but for the last two weeks he has come every day. The team (all of us, decided he was deserving of the shirt – believe me when I say that the shirts are something MANY in the community would like). We gathered together and said a prayer. My contribution is that I ask all members present to gather in Misheck’s office for a moment of prayer before giving the shirt. Thereafter, I hand the shirt to the person next to me, who hands it next to him/her, etc. When it finally gets to the intended person, the joy he/she feels is one of warmth, acceptance, love, and true testament to what we are about. I shed few tears in life, but I have cried more in the last five months knowing what Our Saviours is doing for others than I have in my lifetime.

Mozambique seems to be back to calm after three days of riots over food, fuel, and power prices.  The police are saying that clashes with demonstrators protesting rising food and electricity prices in Chimoio are now over.

The riots started in Maputo on Sept. 1, then spread to other places after people sent text messages urging Mozambicans to strike against price increases. The government announced plans to raise water and electricity rates by 30 percent starting on Sept. 1 and the price of bread by 25 percent on Sept. 6. Fuel and cement prices have also risen.

Police in Chimoio fired rubber bullets at protesters who barricaded roads and arrested more than 50 of them. Seven people died in Maputo in the first two days of street clashes and the final toll is placed at ten.  Supposodly three people have died in Chimoio whilst rioting occurred in the local market.

A strong police presence, including units of the riot police, is evident at a number of flashpoints in Chimoio. A heavy police presence exists and is patrolling on foot and in vehicles. I have been impressed by the professionalism, restraint, and unity of the police force.  In the last several days it is evident that the police are here to protect and serve.  The riot gear they have seems current and they did look unified in how to quell a situation. 

But most banks and shops remain closed for fear of looting. Large crowds gather at the bus stops – but the small number of buses on the roads cannot transport them all. This is frustrating for all as tensions are quite high.  It is also hot outside with very little wind, so this simply fuels tempers as you almost have to gasp for air.  Most of the privately owned minibuses (known as chapas) are still off the roads, since their owners clearly believe that the riots could resume at any moment.  Many taxis have stopped since yesterday people were throwing stones and bricks at passing cars.

On Thursday the rail and port company, CFM suspended all rail services in or out of Maputo.  While people are saying things are back to normal, I do not consider things as back to normal as of yet.  Some here think this is a bit of calm before the storm.  Bread prices go up on Monday, so we will see then, or within a few days of that.  When a staple like bread and/or rice prices increase you are simply taking the only items of food many can afford and struggle to pay for it even at today’s price.

Cement is nowhere to be found so construction has come to a stop. Lines for gasoline are long and that creates a level of anxiety Businesses that shut down (and all did yesterday) send their workers home and do not get paid (e.g., no work, no pay).  It is sad to see a city with potential at a stand-still; but it is good to see that there is order and unity of purpose within the police force.

In closing here is what I can say (as witnessed by those who have visited my home):  I am safe inside these gates; and feel relatively comfortable today walking outside.  I have two fortified gates; locks on all the doors; heavy iron security coverings on all windows and doors; and enough neighborhood guards that take extra notice on my property because of how nice I am to them (e.g., I always say hello and frequently give them a bottle of water or Gatorade – they are always grateful for that act alone as bottled water and Gatorade is a luxury few can afford).  As such, I have a higher level of protection because they know the level of respect I have for them and I am confident it is being reciprocated by them keeping an extra eye on my house as well.  While I have a guard, he does not carry a gun, so the only real protection that he is such a nice guy and has such a warm heart with a genuine smile, that I feel he could defuse a situation.  That was sort of a joke!

So all is good for now, and let’s hope it stays that way.  I tried to insert a few pictures, but it just does not work that easily here!

Peace for now, James.