Raiders

I've been pessimistic about the disarmament, fearing that this would happen, as Chrissie describes in her last update:

last night there was a huge raid. the word is that the pokot came over from kenya--they all have their guns still, so they can easily take advantage of the people here who have already been disarmed. they came in shooting, and the people had no way to fight back. some came to bob and told him to call the army, so he called the commander and informed him. it's the commander's responsibility to protect the people since they have no way of defending themselves now--or at least an unfair way: bows and arrows are hardly a match for ak47s. the army came out to fight back, but five or six people were killed, more were injured, and all the cows were taken. a few cows came back, but the villages here have pretty much been devastated. the army is still pursuing the thieves, so there is hope that the cattle will be returned. if they aren't returned, it's likely that a retaliation will be organized. so that was pretty bad news. most of the workers didn't show up this morning to work with bob and craig; they were out on the hills looking for bodies. we shall see what tomorrow holds.

I often forget that the Karamojong warriors do this very same thing to the Pekot when they get the chance...it's just that these people are my friends, and I don't want them hurt. But it's good news that the army did indeed step in quickly to protect the village.

My prayers for safety for those in Karamoja have been slacking off lately; it's ever a pressing need, though, among many other things.