Another Village Robbery

Jackson, a family friend, came by yesterday, and although he couldn't stay long, he wanted to tell us about some sad events that took place the night previous. Langwa, Jackson's cousin, and his wife had been badly injured by thieves that had broken into their house. I visited the family today and got a fuller account.

Langwa's brother explained to me that thieves had approached the home by boat (the house is right down by the lake). Armed with machetes, they began making loud threats to the neighbors in order to scare them into staying in their homes. Then they wrenched the door open with much effort. Wishing to strong-arm Langwa into giving up his money, they threatened to cut his youngest child to death. The mother begged them not to, and instead they cut her twice across the front and back of her head. They were even more violent with Langwa, and in the end left both he and his wife for dead.

Before the thieves had entered in, Langwa and his wife had managed to call the police and Langwa's father- an old man that lives just behind our house. Langwa's brother and two others, after hearing the news, went running toward the house in order to help. They began throwing rocks on top of the metal roof. These efforts to scare the thieves caused the violence to pause. Then the police arrived. Langwa's brother is probably the reason why Langwa and his wife were not killed.

The thieves left with a large sum of money - nearly $300 - fleeing back to their boat. After firing the motor up, they rode away across the inlet. The police, in chase, opened fire on the thieves, and the gunfire scared six of Langwa's cows into breaking down the stable fence, and they fled. 

So when Jackson arrived yesterday, he and his relatives were still continuing to look for Langwa's cows. The police had brought Langwa and his wife to Bugando, Mwanza's largest hospital, and because of the loss of blood, Langwa was in shock. Langwa's wife was already home by the close of yesterday. As I have heard, Langwa was to return home this evening.

These are sad circumstances, but they have been frequently repeated. Within the last 2 weeks, we have heard of  six such incidents that we have taken place within walking distance of our home. We are taking the necessary precautions in order to deter thieves from attempting a break-in on our home, and we have not felt immediately threatened by these events. We know that our confidence is not in padlocks or gates, fences or barred windows, but in God. 

Please pray for wisdom and safety for us and our neighbors, and thank God for his provision of protection.

Comments

[acmuri]

Dan, I was just thinking the other day and giving thanks to God for our very comfortable weather, beautiful surroundings, and risk-free living. As I was doing so I thought about people living in many places in the world where the things we take for granted are luxuries they only dream of. Thanks for the reminder to pray for issues we're not used to considering.