November 30, 2004

Dear Friends,

Greetings from Madagascar where the rainy season is just beginning! Below are updates with prayer requests sprinkled about. We are convinced that the success of the church’s work is rooted in prayer.

FJKM General Assembly

It was completed in August with many new officers elected and many constitutional changes. The new president, Pasteur Lala Rasendrahasina, was the former head of the Works of the Church Department. Thank you to all who prayed for the FJKM General Assembly. Please join those in the FJKM in their prayers for the new team that these next four years will be years of spiritual growth and renewal for the FJKM.

Environment program

The past year has been a time of steady progress on fruit tree, native tree, and environmental education projects, and preparation for expansion of reforestation efforts. Please pray for inspiration for the environment team as we seek to contribute long-lasting solutions to the environmental problems.

Fruit trees

The environment program now has orchards of grafted citrus trees at over 10 sites. Internationally known varieties were planted at each orchard, such as Valencia Late oranges, and Clementine tangerines. Orchard establishment included trainings in local pest management techniques and propagation. Distribution of low-chill peach varieties to rural people is underway. We are propagating blueberries adapted to warmer climates, using varieties first brought into Madagascar from the United States in 2001.

Environmental education

In July, Dan visited Zafimaniry country, a place on the edge of the eastern highlands, where fog and mist cloak tiny villages of wooden houses with bamboo roofs perched on lofty crags, where the people live somewhere between just barely having enough to eat and malnutrition, between a traditional past and an uncertain future. The FJKM environmental education program there is basic: help 16 schools set up vegetable gardens and plant grafted fruit trees, and help preserve valuable native trees. The indefatigable efforts of two extraordinary men who travel many miles by foot to encourage their neighbors make this program possible. This year, each school has planted 100 kilograms of seed potatoes to help the children ward off hunger in the lean months ahead.

In a similar program at Ambondromisotra, 20 schools will each plant 19 varieties of grafted fruit trees (citrus, peaches, mangos, avocados) as well as 10 species each of native trees over the next three years.

Native trees

A number of projects are in the works to promote native trees for planting in public places. Particularly exciting is the prospect of planting native trees from Zafimaniry country in Ambositra, including the bamboo used as roofing, Arundinaria ambositrensis. Another project involves planting over 15 species of native palms in a major green space in Antananarivo.

Foods Resource Bank Food Security Project

Exciting work includes a refurbished six-kilometer irrigation canal that will help farmers increase rice production, and rice storage granaries that will enable people to have rice during the period when they normally go hungry. Many thanks to those who make this partnership possible including the FRB team that recently visited. Please pray that work continues well.

AIDS program

World Bank funding has been delayed until 2005. Please pray for the FJKM AIDS team as it seeks to wisely allocate existing PC(USA) and Outreach Foundation funds. Training seminary students, work at evangelism posts, educational events, and minimal work in the synods continues. Please pray that World Bank funds will be available in early 2005. Please pray that all of the FJKM churches will achieve the goal of talking about AIDS every Sunday. On a recent family outing, we were encouraged to hear from members of a rural FJKM church that their pastor was regularly talking about AIDS. They knew that the best ways to prevent AIDS are abstinence and fidelity. Pray that seeds sown on Sundays about AIDS bear fruit in the lives of the FJKM Christians: in their everyday behavior and in their attitude towards those with AIDS.

Community health program

Many community health villages are beginning work on community projects. Wells continue to be the biggest need. Please pray for adequate funds to be able to help villagers as they work to improve their lives and those of their children.

Elizabeth helped train the first village health workers in the pilot malaria project funded by the Medical Benevolence Foundation and the PC(USA). Malaria is the biggest cause of death and illness in Madagascar. It was a joy to see the eagerness and commitment of the volunteers to help their communities. They were trained in the proper home care of those with malaria and in the care and distribution of medicated mosquito nets. Pregnant women and children under five will receive free bed nets. This project will save many lives. Please pray that the health volunteers remember what they have learned as they minister in their communities.

Family

Robert and Frances are enjoying third grade and kindergarten. They enjoy playing soccer and swimming. Robert has started tennis lessons and has an aquarium. Frances keeps busy with drawing and caring for animals. We enjoyed Elizabeth’s mother’s visit at Thanksgiving. Please pray for us as we balance outside ministries and family.

Thank you for your support and care of the Malagasy people. Please pray for them and their leaders as rice prices are at all-time highs and the next harvest several months away.

Please know that we are your hands and feet here and none of what we do would be possible without your prayer and support from the other side of the ocean. Let us remember with joy the hope that Christmas brings:

Emmanuel—God with us. In all circumstances. Merry Christmas!

Partners in Christ,

Elizabeth and Dan

The 2004 Mission Yearbook for Prayer & Study, p. 57