HOWLAND Ivory Coast siege hits local family

French troops secured the school last week and escorted the children and faculty to safety.
By DENISE DICK
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
HOWLAND -- Last week was one of the longest weeks of Judy Amstutz's life.
Amstutz and her husband, Dr. Roger Amstutz, of Howland, were waiting to learn about the safety of their grandchildren, Kalyn, 14, and Brett, 11, who were in a boarding school in Bouake, Ivory Coast.
Bouake is one of two Ivory Coast cities held by rebels. The latest uprising started Sept. 19 when soldiers, dismissed from the army because of suspected disloyalty, launched a coup attempt in the African country's commercial capital.
The hostilities were extinguished in about 12 hours, but about 270 were killed.
The rebel forces then moved into Bouake and Korhogo.
The school, International Christian Academy, was caught in the crossfire between rebel and government forces, Amstutz said.
"They weren't aiming at the children, but the two factions were firing over their school," she said.
The children could see the bullets whizzing by, she said.
Missionaries
Amstutz's son and daughter-in-law, Jeff and Carrie Amstutz, the children's parents, are missionaries in Gabon, about 2,000 miles from the children's school.
French troops secured the school Sept. 25, taking the children and faculty to safety.
Amstutz said she was glued to the television news coverage.
"On the news you saw some of the children waving American flags," she said. "You heard some yelling, 'Viva La France.' That was our grandson. I just kept thinking 'Thank you Lord. My two grandchildren are someone in one of those cars.'
"That was the longest week of my life," she said.
The children were reunited with their parents in Burkina Faso, another West African country, and were to make the 10-hour trek by Land Rover back to Gabon today.
The family called the Amstutzes on Sunday, assuring them of their safety.
Brett was in an area of the school without any adults for about 20 minutes during one bout of gunfire, so his grandparents were concerned about his state of mind.
"He sounded good," she said. "It was so good to hear his voice. They all sounded good."
The family was thankful to be reunited.
"They were hugging a lot, talking about the experience and how thankful they are that the Lord had everything in his hands and they got out safely and were together again," Amstutz said.
About their work
Jeff Amstutz, a dentist, used to be in practice in Warren with his father. In Gabon, he provides dental services in the morning, teaches dentistry in French to two nationals by afternoon and in the evening, prepares the next day's lesson.
His wife teaches English as a second language and works in the dental clinic. Whether the children's school will reopen or be moved to a different country is uncertain. Their mother may teach them at home in the meantime.
The family, formerly of Johnston, went to West Africa four years ago. The children formerly attended Maplewood East School.
"He had been on some short-term mission trips and he felt the call," Amstutz said of her son. "He just felt that the Lord had somewhere else where he was more needed."
They had to learn French, but veteran missionaries commented that the couple adjusted more quickly than most new missionaries to the different way of life, Amstutz said. They will return from Africa next summer before learning their new assignment.
The family could go back to another African nation or be sent to a different part of the world.
The Howland couple plans to visit the family in Africa for Christmas. Dr. Amstutz will work in the dental clinic with his son for two weeks.
Amstutz is grateful to all of the people who prayed for her family during the crisis. The couple belongs to North Mar Christian Missionary Alliance of Howland.
"The prayer support we had was just amazing," she said. "People told us they were praying for us, our grandchildren and our children."
dick@vindy.com