Salama from Antananarivo (pronounced “n-ta-na-na-reve”) Madagascar!
It feels so crazy to say that I live in Madagascar. MADAGASCAR. And no, it is nothing like the movie… I have yet to see a lemur, but there are plans to visit a lemur park before we leave.
This month, we are partnering with an organization called Operation Mobilization International who has a branch here in Antananarivo (Tana for short). OM Madagascar partners with teams from around the world to help mobilize and equip local Malagasy churches and believers to take the gospel to the unreached people of Madagascar and beyond. It is the first time in World Race history that a group has been sent to Madagascar. This is also all-squad month, which means all 37 racers of E-squad are living together. We split up into our teams to do different ministries, but we eat breakfast and dinner together and sleep at the same compound. We have actual beds, which we share; we are cooked 3 hot meals a day, we have electricity most of the time, and we are about a 15 min walk away from the U.S. Embassy (that American flag has never looked so good).
Madagascar is a beautiful place with extreme poverty. The city we live in hosts nearly half of the population of the entire island (~10 million). Geographically, Madagascar is considered to be a part of Africa, but culturally it looks a lot more like Asia. Being the fourth largest island in the world, it was settled by immigrants from Indonesia, Africa, Arabia, and later Comoros, China, and Pakistan. They speak Malagasy and French (they were once colonized by France, but gained independence in 1960). They eat rice for every single meal. I’m talkin’ white rice, wild rice, fried rice, pink rice, long grain rice, brown rice… ALL kinds of rice. There are also lots of fresh fruits and veggies (thank the Lord) such as tomatoes, a cousin to zucchini, bananas, pineapple, papaya, and some new things that I can’t pronounce or spell.
My team and I have been working with a local church in the lower part of the city (both socioeconomically and geographically). The pastor and his wife help run the church as well as a school for children living in this underprivileged area. On our first day of ministry, we took an hour drive on a crowded public bus to the church. I had to sit on a plank of wood in the isle between a man who kept sneezing directly onto my arm, and a woman who stared at me the entire ride. Just by casting a smile and saying “salama” in each direction was an opportunity for me to make both of them feel seen and loved. (God presents us with little opportunities like this all the time.)
Once we arrived, we met the pastor and he led us to a dark alley where over a hundred kids were lined up to greet us. Some of them were holding signs with the letters that spelled “W E L C O M E” backwards and others did their best to say “hello visitors” in English. This put the biggest smile on my face.
Over the past two weeks, we have taught English, led children’s church for over 200 kids, held Bible studies for the women and decons of the church, and prayed with people in the community. We will be finishing up our time in the church on Sunday with a day of fasting and prayer along with preaching. I am thankful for the time spent with the pastor and his family. They have taught us so much about the people and culture here in Tana. This Tuesday, the entire squad will be packing our smaller day packs and tents as we head out to the bush. We will conclude our time here in Madagascar doing ministry in rural villages. Hopefully I will have more details in the next blog.
I cannot believe we are winding down month three and getting prepared for SE Asia. Time is flying by. I also cannot thank you enough for your outpour of prayers during this spiritually heavy time. I have to put on the full armor of God daily in order to make it through ministry. This is not something that is scary or burdensome, but a privilege. This month I have learned what is means to truly be a warrior for the Lord and his kingdom. To fight demons and call on the Holy Spirit to fill people and places. Ephesians 3:16 reminds me “that according to the riches and his glory he may grant [me] to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in [my] inner being.” It is my desire to being light to the darkness of Madagascar. Not by my own strength, but the strength of the Lord that dwells within me. Light signifies God’s presence and favor. 2 Corinthians 4:6 says “let light shine out of darkness, has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ”
A girl on my squad gave this quote to the group as encouragement:
“It’s high time we act like lions and take the Kingdom by force” …and that is exactly what the world race is doing here in Madagascar. This has definitely been the most challenging month of the race so far, but also the most rewarding. Thank you again for making this journey possible through your financial gifts and prayers!
xx
Ali
