Mission Madagascar

David Jones was one of the first missionaries to Madagascar during the early 1800s.  He faced many hardships, but pressed on for the Gospel’s sake.  Through his faithful labors, he developed a written language system for Malagasy (still in use today). Shortly thereafter he, with the help of coworkers and Malagasy nationals, translated the entire Bible into the Malgasasy language.  The Word of the Lord spread rapidly and had free course among the people.  But within 20 years of Jones’ arrival, severe persecution took place at the hand of Queen Ranavalona, including the enslaving and killing of many believers.  God used the affliction to purify His people; and, as so often is the case amongst the persecuted, to strengthen and spread His kingdom in Madagascar.  The years of trial were followed by a period of religious freedom, after which came the bondage of European colonization.  To this day, millions of Malagasy have never heard the true Gospel.

How then will they call on Him in whom they have not believed? How will they believe in Him whom they have not heard? And how will they hear without a preacher?

Daniel put together the video posted above for a class project several years ago.  At that time, the population of Madagascar was 18 million.  The census now reports over 20 million.  (It seems that ever since we’ve been researching this country, the population has grown at a rate of 1 million per year!)

Street Scene Near Tana

Daniel sent me this picture of a street scene near Tana (short for Antananarivo, the capital). He’s leaving tomorrow afternoon for Fort Dauphin, and I don’t know if have opportunity to post before then. I know he would especially appreciate your prayers for 1) recovery from jetlag and 2)wisdom, clear thinking, and communicability in in Fort Dauphin, where he will be going alone without knowing anyone there and without knowing the language.

Most of us use “I’m waiting for God to reveal His calling on my life” as a means of avoiding action. Did you hear God calling you to sit in front of the television yesterday? Or to go on your last vacation? Or exercise this morning? probably not, but you still did it. The point isn’t that vacations or exercise are wrong, but that we are quick to rationalize our entertainment and priorities yet are slow to commit to serving God. -Francis Chan, Crazy Love

Just before church Wednesday night, we learned of a possible schedule conflict that would cause Daniel to miss his flight from South Africa to Madagascar. After a few phone calls to my sister following the service, we had the flight rescheduled for Thursday evening, instead of Friday evening. Ah, the adrenaline rush!

It was neat to see how God arranged our planning ahead of time so that we had taken care of most of the important details ahead of time. Details even down to Daniel’s choice to wash the car, change the oil, and cut the grass on Wednesday instead of Thursday; details that included Daniel’s preparation of collecting all the items he’d be taking with him and the shipped in items for some missionaries there. We had reserved Thursday to spend some time together as a family, and planned to spend time just enjoying our last day together. But God had other plans, and we had a wonderful trip down to Atlanta and the airport, in spite an earlier departure than we had originally planned.

Flying standby can have disadvantages, but it also comes with a few perks. For Daniel, it meant a discounted ticket, and a last-minute move to first class. I’m praying he’ll be able to have a physically refreshing and spiritually profitable trip, as much as a 15-hour flight can be. We are so thankful for all the help that my sister Kelly and here husband Erik have been in helping us arrange our flights with Delta!

As I write, Daniel is now in the air and should be arriving tomorrow evening in South Africa, Lord willing. We would appreciate your prayers as we are one step closer to what we believe will be a crucial step in discerning where in Madagscar God would eventually have us begin our ministry. We are thankful for the great encouragement we have had from so many praying friends and family, and now covet your prayer more than ever. Hana Kate and I would also appreciate prayer for God’s grace and strength while our daddy and beloved husband are away.

Our pastor has been recently preaching on prayer preceding our Wednesday night prayer time, and preached a couple of weeks ago on perservering prayer. I was personally challenged to return to continuing in prayer for God to open the door for Hana Kate and I to also be able visit Madagascar during this survey trip. God has promised that He will not give his children stones when they ask for bread, or snakes when we ask for fish. But often we give up in our persistent prayer because we assume too quickly that it is not God’s will, when instead God desires our persistence in prayer. For now, though, the bread that God has clearly given to us is for us to be apart, at least for the present. Yet still, I will persist in prayer, knowing all the while that my gracious Father loves to give His children good gifts; and I will persist in accepting His good and perfect gifts as He sovereignly gives.

Air Madagascar plane

We got our refund from Keren’s ticket (US to S. Africa) and are purchasing Daniel’s second ticket: from Joburg to MADAGASCAR! These are round trip, so now Daniel can make there and back, Lord willing!

Next up, continuing to arrange helicopter flights to visit several remote locations! Believe it or not, it’s less expensive than regular airfare.

Yup, that’s a real Air Madagascar plane. The little emblem on the end? That’s a Traveler’s Palm, famous in Madagascar.