wfn.org | ACNS3516 Episcopal Church of Burundi encouraged by prayerful

["Anglican Communion News Service" <acnslist@anglicancommunion.org>]

ACNS 3516     |     BURUNDI	|     18 JULY 2003 

Episcopal Church of Burundi encouraged by prayerful support

by Matthew Davies

The Episcopal Church of Burundi have sent a message of thanks for all
the "prayerful and loving support" they have received in light of last
week's attacks which grounded the capital, Bujumbura, to a halt and
resulted in many people having to leave their homes.

"Bujumbura has been peaceful since the early hours of Monday and many of
the people who had to leave their homes have returned," said an official
Anglican source. "Damage to property is being dealt with where possible
and the main roads linking Bujumbura with the interior are open and
passable.

"We have discovered our fuel station in Musaga - one of the worst hit
areas of the town - has been badly damaged. Thankfully the fuel did not
ignite and explode. The station is an important means of income for the
Church and will need to be repaired at considerable expense."

According to AllAfrica.com, the South African Deputy President, Jacob
Zuma, arrived in the Burundian capital yesterday to discuss the peace
process in the country, two days after the UN began withdrawing
non-essential staff from the city because of fighting between rebel and
government troops.

The Episcopal Church of Burundi ask for your continued prayers: 

- for those still displaced 
- for the talks scheduled for Sunday in Tanzania 
- for the responses to the situation made by the  President (now
returned from Europe) and other leaders 
- for continued calm and a total cessation of violence 
- that there are no reprisals by extremist groups 
- for the bereaved 
- that the rebels will stop using children to fight 
- that those peddling drugs to youngsters will stop - some of the street
children are openly glue-sniffing 
- for their protection in an uncertain and unpredictable situation 
- that we will hear what God is saying to us - to the Church - to the
country

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