June 1, 2003

Dear Friends,

Eastertide greetings from Madagascar! We are well and hope you are the same. We write from a country that is increasing in stability every day, though the aftermath of 2002's political crisis is still with us. A cyclone ravaged the east coast last month, and the impact on rice prices, at a time of year when people expect them to be low, has been very difficult for people here. Still, we are often in awe of the faith and hope we see in the country. There is much news to share.

Teaching

Mark has continued to teach New Testament this year and to advise three master's students on their theses. Cynthia continues teaching and has just two advisees this year. Both of us will be heavily involved in oral defense of theses in the coming weeks—Mark will take part in seven two-hour sessions and Cynthia in six. We are tired by the end of those days! But it is great to see our students come to the end of their efforts well. Our teaching continues to be a fulfilling highlight of life for us both. Graduation for this year's class is June 29.

Community education

Last year, Cynthia interviewed many church development workers for her doctoral research. One of them, Dr. Ralaivita Mamy, heads up the HIV-AIDS program for the church. Dr. Mamy is able to talk about serious subjects in an engaging and funny way, which makes people comfortable quickly. Dr. Mamy agreed to do a community education session for students and faculty in April on HIV-AIDS, which was very well-received. The rate of HIV infection in Madagascar is comparatively low for an African country; the nation's island status protects us. But all the lifestyle patterns that are risk factors for HIV epidemic, including promiscuity, adultery and high rates of other sexually-transmitted diseases, are rife in the society. Our students are in a good position, therefore, to make a real difference in their ministries with people in keeping the infection rate low. We are really pleased to have been able to have Dr. Mamy come.

Women’s committee work

Cynthia continues to be involved with the work of the women's committee. The committee has received funding for the second and the third phases of family center construction. They plan to break ground this month.

In further developments on the income-production side of the committee's work, the decision has been made to form a working agreement between Maky Madagascar and a project in Antsirabe that reaches out to prostitutes and to girls that have dropped out of school, offering them a viable employment alternative in teaching embroidery. The project plans to offer embroidered and woven items in the future. Both projects have received legalization from the Malagasy government as businesses; their collective non-governmental organization status, copyright protection and export licensing are in process. Monica Cox, a new missionary who will soon move to the far north of the country, has interest in working with women's income production. She will be working with a Malagasy woman in Antsiranana (on the northern tip of the island) to start an embroidery education project there with prostitutes. In addition, she will be working, some via email and phone and a few times a year onsite, with both the Antsirabe and Fianarantsoa branches on coordinating income production goals. Monica will also be involved in developing marketing strategies aimed at U.S. churches and church-related organizations.

Thanks

We do thank you for all your orders for Maky Madagascar products! Your support makes life better for women and families, and makes the vital work of the Women's Committee in their fight against domestic violence and for women's empowerment possible.

Book publishing

Mark has been working on a book to be published in Malagasy on the letters of Paul. It will be a much-needed addition to the few resources in Malagasy in biblical studies. Mark has been very encouraged by the positive responses of his students in learning the results of more recent New Testament studies, and he hopes this book may help future students and laypeople in Madagascar in their discipleship.

Family news

Our three children are doing well and are coming to the end of their respective school years. You will recall that educational issues arose for two of our children when we were in the United States last year. To allow us to return to Madagascar, volunteer missionaries Pastor Ron Nielsen and Kathie Nielsen came and taught two of our kids. Kathie is a learning disabilities teacher with many years experience. Ron is an ELCA pastor. Their presence this year was nothing less than the grace of God for us; it made our work possible. They have returned to the United States by now and went with our heartfelt thanks and prayers for their future.

Kathie was able to do a very well-received workshop for church school teachers on learning disabilities during the year. Learning differences are not really understood in Madagascar, so she was offering really new learning to the teachers. It was great that she had this opportunity and really helpful to the teachers.

Cynthia is closing in on her doctoral dissertation and plans to submit it in July. She will go to South Africa in June to present a paper at the Annual Congress of the Theological Society of South Africa.

Because of the concerns that have been raised for our children's education, we have made the difficult decision to return to the United States after this academic year. We will leave next month, arriving in the United States in mid-July. This was a hard decision, but we are confident that the time is right. As always, we are filled with the deepest gratitude for your graciousness in sharing, our brothers and sister in Christ! By the grace of God you have all made our work and our life here possible. Our time here has been nothing short of life-changing for us, and we have tried to express some of that to you in our newsletters and visits. We especially appreciate your prayers for our work and for our family! We ask that you particularly pray for:

• Our students at both seminaries that they may lead the churches of Madagascar in the ways and will of God.
• The Lutheran Graduate Seminary and Amboniavaratra Theological College, as both face significant challenges in the near- and long-term.
• The people of Madagascar, who strive with many fewer resources than we to find a life of freedom and peace. May God bless them so that their struggle may end in its fulfillment.

In Christ,

Cynthia Holder Rich and Mark Hrecz Rich
PC(USA) and ELCA mission staff, Fianarantsoa, Madagascar

The 2003 Mission Yearbook for Prayer & Study, p. 46