September 6, 2007

Dear Friends,

Greetings from Madagascar! This year, members from two supporting churches have visited. We enjoyed their fellowship and the chance to share firsthand with them the impact of their ministries with the FJKM.

This school break, we have had several trips away from home. The highlight was when we and Betsy Langford, a wonderful PC(USA) volunteer, took 10 days to drive to the northern tip of Madagascar and back. It was wonderful to get away, explore new parts of Madagascar, and visit FJKM ministries along the way. Robert and Frances are almost ready to start school next week (September 10th). Dan has written another newsletter about his work.

Water update

The FJKM health program has many exciting and challenging opportunities for us to incarnate the good news. This past year, I have come to understand the word “incarnate” and what God did in sending Christ in a whole new light as the water ministry has progressed (or not progressed in some cases!).

In July 2005, we began raising money for a special water project—36 wells for community health villages associated with three FJKM dispensaries in northwestern Madagascar. In one sense, the water ministry has not lived up to our (missionaries’, PCUSA’s, FJKM’s, FJKM doctors’, and villagers’) expectations. We all hoped the wells would be finished before December 2006. For many reasons, this did not happen—only three were completed on time. 

Over time I realized we were being given an opportunity to incarnate God’s care by being present with people in the midst of their circumstances. God sent Christ to live with us in the midst of our troubled world to save us. PC(USA), through your gifts and prayers and our service in Madagascar, is incarnate in God’s name in Madagascar and in the lives of the villagers receiving wells. Even in the midst of difficulties and set-backs, the PC(USA) and FJKM churches have not abandoned the villagers who need clean water. I’m happy to report that over 30 wells have been dug and all should be finished by early October!  Already many villages report a decrease in diarrhea.  One village reports no more schistosomiasis since their well was dug.

Water without crocodiles: Robert and Frances with villagers in Dakabe.

Passing through Dakabe this August and seeing their new well and pump was quite a joy. In May 2005, I visited this community health village with a team from the Outreach Foundation, and we learned that the villagers got their water from a stream that had crocodiles in it during the rainy season.

It took time, but now they have safe water, new hope, and no more crocodiles, thanks to PC(USA) and FJKM!

AIDS update

The FJKM continues to be in the forefront in the fight against HIV/AIDS.  PC(USA)’s partnership enabled three FJKM dispensaries to continue a vital ministry to those living with HIV when other funding ceased.

Another exciting AIDS ministry is the Peer Educator Program, which trains youth from FJKM schools and youth groups to share with their peers about the dangers of HIV/AIDS and how to withstand negative peer pressure. It is exciting to hear their stories.

Thanks to PC(USA), FJKM’s National AIDS Committee was able to send representatives to FJKM branches’ national meetings. They had about two hours to share about the church’s role in the fight against AIDS and challenge members in each branch to see how they can best fight AIDS by promoting abstinence among youth, stronger marriages, and better parenting and care for those with HIV.

Malaria update

The malaria prevention program continues strong with training of health volunteers and the distribution of mosquito nets dipped in insecticide in dispensaries and remote villages.

Mission Challenge ’07

This October, 47 PC(USA) missionaries will be sharing their stories in 143 presbyteries to spread the news that every day, in Christ’s name—and thanks to your faithful support—lives are being saved, wells are being dug, and Christ’s hope is being shared with people around the world. Mission Challenge ’07 also includes an appeal to every church in the denomination to support Presbyterian missionaries like us. A DVD and bulletin inserts will be sent to every PC(USA) church. (See Dan’s newsletter for more details).

If you can’t have a missionary in your church this October, please encourage your church to participate in Mission Challenge ’07 by choosing a Sunday to view the DVD and distribute the bulletin inserts. Please help PC(USA) do even more—there is a hurting world that waits for us to share the incarnate Christ.

Thanks to all who support us and the mission work of the PC(USA). Great things are being done here in Madagascar and around the world to spread God’s love and good news.

Peace in Christ,

Elizabeth
Ephesians 3:20-21

The 2007 Mission Yearbook for Prayer & Study, p. 327