another update on the "sitch" over here

Hey, i figured i should probably try to update since my last note might been a little shocking. Well, the situation has definitely calmed down and the airport opened back up! That is always a good sign... There is fighting still in upper parts of Congo but not here anymore. We are advised not to go out at night but we had church Sunday and went out to a restaurant...all of that is downtown. We passed tons of buildings that had missing windows because they were in the middle of the crossfire and so therefore were shot at. My friend in French class had to stay at TASOK on thursday night and left friday evening. As I said, there were 75 kids that spent the night thursday but anyway when he got home he discovered his car had been stolen and 2 of his workers were killed. Apparently some soldiers broke into his compound (he lives RIGHT where it was all happening, across the street from the cemetery downtown) and stole his car and his 2 dogs but didn't touch the house. His family had left the keys to the car in the car because if they hadn't the soldier's would've tried to find a way to break into the house and find the keys. It was a good thing none of his family were home that day because loads of bullets came through their windows ... he said his house is pretty much destroyed and really needs some work before they can move back in -- they're staying with cousins. The dogs that were stolen were returned! Figure that one out! lol. Ah, le Congo. C'est la vie. I heard some other crazy stories today...my friend Jisung got home and found that his gate had a lot of blood on it... at this hotel Memling, a bullet came through the window and a French delegate was hit and died on the way to the hospital from loss of blood! Downtown many of the little shops were pillaged...some of them have nothing left inside. The soldiers would put chains on the metal fences that are over the doors/front windows, attach the chains to a truck and pull so that the metal broke loose and they could easily break in. So SAD!The major grocery stores were not pillaged though, so we were able to do some grocery shopping and it all looked about the same. We were safe the entire time... it was completely calm by saturday so we got out of the house and went to TASOK, had lunch, and i made some cookies while we hung out with friends! God is SO GOOD! I don't know anyone personally who was hurt, so i am very thankful!
Well that's it for now! Thank you for ALL your thoughts and prayers! Continue praying that peace will continue and we can go on with our normal lives...and school.Love & Miss you all!!