October 1999

Dear Friends,

Hello again! Here's an update on the ministry of the the Church of Jesus Christ in Madagascar (FJKM) and our lives. Thank you for your prayers and continued support.

Answers to prayers:

1. FJKM development department elections: This August over 150 representatives of FJKM's development program gathered in Tulear to vote on policy changes and to elect the director of the development department and members of the advisory committee for the 2000-2001 term. The meeting went well and everyone seems pleased with the results. David Ranaivoson was reelected unopposed as national director for another two years.
2. Trainings: The nine trainings we have been involved with since April all went well. Over 75 development department personnel received training in tree-growing, including hands-on grafting of citrus and avocados, nursery management, and techniques for collecting seeds and planting native trees. Over 20 community health volunteers learned about health education techniques, malaria, cholera, measles, and childhood vaccinations.
3. Cholera: Although the cholera epidemic continues in western Madagascar and in Antananarivo, it is not spreading as rapidly as before. Contributions from PC(USA) and others are being used to promote improved sanitary conditions, especially the use of latrines and safe drinking water. These efforts are having positive effects throughout much of the country and should help diminish the frequency of other diarrheal diseases.
4. Daniel: As of September, our eight-month old neighbor was playful and healthy.

In August, we visited Ikiray, a village near Ambositra where FJKM has an exciting development ministry. We would like to highlight Ikiray's story so that you might gain a better understanding of FJKM's development ministry.

In 1991, faced with food shortages, poor access to medicines, inadequate veterinary care, and low income, the people of Ikiray sought help from the church's development program. In the beginning, the local FJKM development unit (VOTETA) worked with the community to form a village association that was open to all interested people, regardless of age, sex, or religious affiliation. The first project with the Ikiray village association was to organize communal rice storage. In subsequent years, VOTETA continued to work with the village association as needs were expressed by the community. VOTETA helped train a villager to give animal vaccinations and obtain effective vaccines, introduced the idea of growing potatoes and other crops in fallow rice fields, and provided credit to start an income-generating pig project.

In response to the lack of available medicines, the FJKM development program's health unit began a community pharmacy in Ikiray in 1992. The pharmacy was stocked with about 75 essential medicines. Dr. Etienne Ravelomanantsoa, head of the FJKM health work in Ambositra, trained a manager and committee from Ikiray in how to manage the community pharmacy. The medicines were sold based on prescriptions from the local nurse.

In 1998, FJKM started a community health program, and Ikiray was invited to participate. Samoelijaona, the current community pharmacy manager, was trained as a community health volunteer. After his training, he conducted a community health assessment in Ikiray with Dr. Etienne and members of the community. Food shortages were still identified as a problem as well as high alcohol consumption among youth. The community made plans to expand the rice granary so that it could store more rice for use during the yearly rice-shortage period. The parents built a basketball court and organized Sunday afternoon athletic activities. They do not allow anyone with alcohol on his/her breath to participate. Community members donated a basketball and uniforms. Often other villages send teams to play.

Through its ministry to Ikiray, the FJKM church has made a difference. Daniel Rakotoarinala of VOTETA estimated that in 1991 only 35 percent of children in Ikiray attended school while now over 90 percent attend school. The day we visited Ikiray, a truck was unloading three tons of manioc the community had purchased collectively to eat during the rice shortage period. We actually played an impromptu game on the new basketball court. Samoelijaona reported that alcohol consumption among youth had dropped drastically over the past give months since the court had been built.

Ikiray is an example of how the church works with communities to help minister to their needs. In other communities, needs might include safe drinking water, tree-planting for fuelwood, fruit production, or small income-generating projects.

Family news

Everyone is staying healthy. Robert has relearned Malagasy quite well and is busy counting and working on the alphabet. He likes flying kites. Frances has two teeth, can feed herself finger foods, crawls, and is learning to stand.

We appreciate your continued prayers and support.

Peace,

Elizabeth , Dan, Robert, and Frances Turk