However, as I left Northern Ireland on Monday with all the 'unknowns' of what was ahead, I was so excited in the certainty that I am indeed under the shadow of my fathers wings... the 'God with us' and the God of Madagascar. What an amazing privilege to go to this land and simply get alongside with what God is already doing.
Well, we arrived in Antananarivo on monday night with no problems. The first thing we had to do was to get some visa things sorted. This proved to be sort of interesting. Our flight had a lot of French people on it, so it was funny to watch the developements of the queue for visas..Hmm.. basically the 'french queue' is summed up in- 'get to the front at all costs.' Needless to say, the only 3 Northern Irish people on the flight somehow ended up in the back of the line:)
The first few days we stayed with some missionaries in Madagascar. We had a few days of language training-this is done by meeting with some of the local people of Madagascar who become our 'language learners'. This has been so good, allowing us to build relationships with people. The idea of learning language in this way, rather than simply studying books is that we are immediately allowing the people to teach us. We are here as learners-to serve and to get alongside the people. It has been amazing to see how the language learning is indeed not something that just has to be done before doing any sort of ministry to the people. Rather, I think that this is a massive way to minister. In allowing myself to become vulnerable and maybe look a wee tad silly (they spend most of their time laughing as I attempt to speak to them...) it enables them to see that we are here to learn from them too. God is not the God simply of my culture in Northern Ireland. Rather, God has been in Madagascar from the beginning. So, this has been a great thing to be part of. Yes, I admit...I struggle with language learning. However, just been able to see how in this I can still build relationships with these woman has been wonderful.
So, what to say about Antananarivo? It is such an interesting city full of so many wonderful people and things. Imagine, streets full of people at their stalls selling all sorts of things, markets, more people, mountains, rice paddies, chickens, the smell of burning charcoal, plants, dirt roads and the blue sky, the sounds of chatter, laughter and children, and then you have a little glimpse of what Tana is like. The people here will start the day early-so I sleep to the sound of crickets and wake to the noise of people and children. About half the population of Tana is under the age of 16!
I am growing to love this country more and more each day. There are certainly many adventures to be had. Some may complain about the good old ulsterbus services in Northern Ireland. But, oh man..wait until you experience a 'taxi-bus'..Basically, it looks like a minibus with as many people squeezed inside it and as many people clinging to the outside of it. So, we set off on our first journey..all was going well. We had managed to get inside, which I think is always a bonus! However, the next challenge was to fit inbetween the normal seats(which were taken) to sit on the plank..(this proves more difficult than one would think saying I am quite a bit bigger than the Malagasy people.) So, after that second hurdle was over..I was getting pretty confident. Then I heard a noise..Hmm, people looked around and the bus randomly pulled over. I thought that this must be normal 'taxi-bus behavior'..however, everyone began to pile out of the bus..and it wasnt my stop yet. I was a tad confused, so followed. I realised that we had actually got a tyre puncture! Despite this interesting twist, I did actually make it home. I am beginning to find that every journey on the 'taxi-bus' is a unique experience.:)
On saturday..Sarah and I had our first experience of a market in Madagascar without anyone who actually speaks malagasy to keep us right. So, armed with our few words..'hello' and 'I can only speak a little' we travelled to the market. We actually managed to get everything we set out to..which was quite an achievement. I really like the market though, it is such an interesting place. Somehow, I don't think I will be brave enough to go for the meat section yet..;)
Tomorrow begins the start of out teaching. We will be teaching four days a week in MCA. This is a christian english school which is part of YMCA. I am so excited about this. We got to meet the principal and some of the kids. They are all so great..:)We will be teaching the kids english, alongside helping in an english christian club every wed. So I am so excited to get to know these kids! There are about 70 children in the school Please pray that we would be able to encourage the children and the teachers. Pray for this school. That they would not only be teaching them knowledge, but also that they would be able to build disciples of Jesus.
Every Wednesday, we will be helping in a conversation club with some Malagsy women. We got to meet them and I am so excited about this. They are such wonderful woman. We will be able to spend a few hours every week just talking to these women and having discussions about God aswell as other things. I am so excited about building friendships with them. Please pray for these women.
Madagascar really is a country of such beauty. However, it is so easy to see the problems and the corruption everywhere. Most people here live only on $1 a day. There is much poverty and corruption. Sin and its effects are clear to see everywhere. The church here is established, however..not many people are being taught the truth through church. Please continue to pray for this country.
The past week as I have started to learn more about this country it is easy to focus on the problems and the evil. Yet, in the face of this I have been amazed by God. The God of Madagascar. The God who is greater than the evil that surrounds us.I am amazed at his love for me and these people. In this love I don't need to fear and worry. His love is complete. His power is unfathomable and he simply has commanded us to love him. We are complete in this love, and therefore we are completely free to love others..to love these people I meet. I am so excited about the journey ahead.
I am reading 'kings cross' at the minute and thought that this was a beautiful description of Jesus,
'Unpredictable yet reliable
Gentle yet powerful
Authoritive yet humble
Human yet divine'
Wow. What a mindblowing privilige to be a loved and to love this King.
Thank you so much for your prayers..this was a bit rushed..but more updates should come..:)
So, what to say about Antananarivo? It is such an interesting city full of so many wonderful people and things. Imagine, streets full of people at their stalls selling all sorts of things, markets, more people, mountains, rice paddies, chickens, the smell of burning charcoal, plants, dirt roads and the blue sky, the sounds of chatter, laughter and children, and then you have a little glimpse of what Tana is like. The people here will start the day early-so I sleep to the sound of crickets and wake to the noise of people and children. About half the population of Tana is under the age of 16!
I am growing to love this country more and more each day. There are certainly many adventures to be had. Some may complain about the good old ulsterbus services in Northern Ireland. But, oh man..wait until you experience a 'taxi-bus'..Basically, it looks like a minibus with as many people squeezed inside it and as many people clinging to the outside of it. So, we set off on our first journey..all was going well. We had managed to get inside, which I think is always a bonus! However, the next challenge was to fit inbetween the normal seats(which were taken) to sit on the plank..(this proves more difficult than one would think saying I am quite a bit bigger than the Malagasy people.) So, after that second hurdle was over..I was getting pretty confident. Then I heard a noise..Hmm, people looked around and the bus randomly pulled over. I thought that this must be normal 'taxi-bus behavior'..however, everyone began to pile out of the bus..and it wasnt my stop yet. I was a tad confused, so followed. I realised that we had actually got a tyre puncture! Despite this interesting twist, I did actually make it home. I am beginning to find that every journey on the 'taxi-bus' is a unique experience.:)
On saturday..Sarah and I had our first experience of a market in Madagascar without anyone who actually speaks malagasy to keep us right. So, armed with our few words..'hello' and 'I can only speak a little' we travelled to the market. We actually managed to get everything we set out to..which was quite an achievement. I really like the market though, it is such an interesting place. Somehow, I don't think I will be brave enough to go for the meat section yet..;)
Tomorrow begins the start of out teaching. We will be teaching four days a week in MCA. This is a christian english school which is part of YMCA. I am so excited about this. We got to meet the principal and some of the kids. They are all so great..:)We will be teaching the kids english, alongside helping in an english christian club every wed. So I am so excited to get to know these kids! There are about 70 children in the school Please pray that we would be able to encourage the children and the teachers. Pray for this school. That they would not only be teaching them knowledge, but also that they would be able to build disciples of Jesus.
Every Wednesday, we will be helping in a conversation club with some Malagsy women. We got to meet them and I am so excited about this. They are such wonderful woman. We will be able to spend a few hours every week just talking to these women and having discussions about God aswell as other things. I am so excited about building friendships with them. Please pray for these women.
Madagascar really is a country of such beauty. However, it is so easy to see the problems and the corruption everywhere. Most people here live only on $1 a day. There is much poverty and corruption. Sin and its effects are clear to see everywhere. The church here is established, however..not many people are being taught the truth through church. Please continue to pray for this country.
The past week as I have started to learn more about this country it is easy to focus on the problems and the evil. Yet, in the face of this I have been amazed by God. The God of Madagascar. The God who is greater than the evil that surrounds us.I am amazed at his love for me and these people. In this love I don't need to fear and worry. His love is complete. His power is unfathomable and he simply has commanded us to love him. We are complete in this love, and therefore we are completely free to love others..to love these people I meet. I am so excited about the journey ahead.
I am reading 'kings cross' at the minute and thought that this was a beautiful description of Jesus,
'Unpredictable yet reliable
Gentle yet powerful
Authoritive yet humble
Human yet divine'
Wow. What a mindblowing privilige to be a loved and to love this King.
Thank you so much for your prayers..this was a bit rushed..but more updates should come..:)
Great blog, will be so interested to read about the rest of your stay:) God bless, Jenni x
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