love Madagascar

My life these days is a constant state of awe and wonder. There have been more days that I have been just brought to tears because God has been so good to me. He allows me to be part of His plan and see things come to be that I never thought were possible. He has answered prayer after prayer. Secret prayers from the depths of my heart. Prayers that I had started to wonder if they would ever be answered. He gave me sweet friends. Friends that even though we don't share the same blood, we are family. My skin is just a little (or a lot) lighter than theirs. He's given me a family that not only teaches me culture, but reminds me of spiritual truths. They carry the load with me. They protect me from unwanted marriage possibilities. They laugh when my feet are as dirty as theirs are. They ask me to sing songs in English. They tease me and joke with me. They open scripture with me. They know the things that break my heart and when I need encouragement. So, to honor these peop...

In preparation for life overseas, we were prepped with all the tools necessary. We were warned of the pitfalls that happen to many workers on the field. I left with a hefty tool bag and an idealized picture of mission work. All these tools are helpful, but there have been many times that I have thought, "man, I wasn't prepared for THIS." So, in order to somehow help people that come after me, I've created a short list of things that I've learned in my short (though it felt long) 2 years on the field. 1. People are sinners. Now, I know you're thinking that this is a given. And I even know that you probably think I'm crazy for putting it at the number 1 spot. But let me tell you that people are sinners to their very core. Nothing about us is good. The only good thing about me is the Jesus I serve. Nothing else is good. People will, forever, disappoint you. God, however, will NEVER disappoint. This helps in dealing with people that have never heard of Jes...

About 35 kilometers north of Manakara is a place called Asasaina. About 3 years ago, Ancil met a man who then invited him to his home on the side of the road. For 2 1/2 years they met under a mango tree. The man stopped coming, but the group began to grow in number. About 6 months ago, 4 leading men from the village started attending. Ever the skeptics, they sat and asked hard questions. Ancil could tell they were strong men who would eventually be strong leaders in the church, if this group ever became one. Many faithful children, women, and young people continued to come and learn. One woman even left to follow Islam for awhile but realized the truth is Jesus and returned. The men sat and asked many, many questions. Searching to find truth. A few months ago, Ancil's family came from Miami and did a vision clinic. This clinic was to strengthen existing churches and help show compassion to outsiders. These clinics were wildly successful! The gospel was shared at each p...

Like frost on a rose/Winter comes for us all/Oh how nature acquaints us/With the nature of patience/Like a seed in the snow I've been buried to grow/For your promise is loyal from seed to sequoia  Hillsong wrote a beautiful song called Seasons. I'll be honest and tell you that it wasn't immediately the top song I listen to. I'll also tell you it was because I didn't really know the words. It wasn't until a friend gently told me I was crazy for not liking the song...and told me the actual words of the song. If there is something I've become more aware of, its seasons. There is hot season, and rainy season, and my personal favorite, mango and litchi season. That last season, I wish every season were like that, but unfortunately, mangoes and litchi do not grow year round. Each season has a purpose. And the purpose is to bring the fruit. There has to be a dry season for all the dead to fall away and make way for growth. There has to be a rainy season be...

The first invasion was noticed upon my return from a 2 week training. I was very tired. Excited to be in my own house, sleeping in my own bed, taking a shower in my own shower. So, you can imagine the shock (and horror) of finding poop scattered all over the floor of my shower when I arrived home. After many google searches, I determined it was, in fact, a rat. *I would like to give a disclaimer and say that up until now, there has been no rat presence around my home. A bottle of bleach and half a bottle of VIM (comet type cleaner) later, I had a clean shower, a clearer head and slept semi-peacefully. Until, I woke up the next morning to that dumb rodent had used the toilet in my CLEAN shower AGAIN! So, a friend sent me the instructions to a trap they had made and used with success. So, I made said trap, and CAUGHT THE RODENT! I was so proud and excited that life could get back to normal. So, I took the trap out of my shower, put it on the back porch, and cleaned my shower (with 2 ...

Two weeks ago, it rained for 2 days straight. If you need to know anything about Madagascar, its that most of the roads here are NOT paved. This means there usually isn't a road that isn't full of potholes, crevices deep enough to hide soldiers in in the event of war, and red clay that just makes everything worse when wet. This particular time, I had been traveling to a different city and didn't know that it had rained. This is problematic only on 1 road that I travel weekly. My national partner and I gear up and head for the village. On the way, I realize that the road was still very wet from the rain. This road has 2 main problem areas. The first being a small hill that is completely slick (meaning no rocks or crevices) red clay. Got up that hill. Thank goodness for 4wd! The second problem area, not as exciting. This is a picture of this specific hill when it's dry This hill is high. It has two main crevices and what isn't in the crevice are rocks. There i...

A typical week can be an emotional roller-coaster. Just ask anyone on the field and they will probably tell you about how the power got cut and they forgot about their wet laundry in the washing machine and how it frustrated them. Then they will tell you about the hard day that they had and cried their eyes out for most of it. And then (as if that wasn't enough), they will share their joy with you about the 1 person that accepted Jesus, because sometimes you can share and share and share and only 1 person sees their need for a Savior. Sometimes its just too much. Need after need is brought to you, expecting to be fulfilled. Anywhere from "foreigner, my house is falling apart, fix it" to "yes! Tell us about Jesus because the people need to know hope that will change their lives." There is not enough you to fulfill all the needs. There is not enough money or time or words. I love what the Lord has called me to. I love that I live where the people are friendly ...

Madagascar. If you have heard of Madagascar, you have probably only heard of it from the movies Madagascar. Other things you may find interesting are that 90% of the flora and fauna found in Madagascar, is found no where else in the world. Madagascar is the 4th largest island in the world! Can you believe it? And you thought it was a tiny island off the coast of mainland Africa...well think again. The population of Madagascar is around 25 million. The Antemoro people make up about 1.5 million of that and live on the southeastern coast. Did you know that Madagascar, on some lists, ranks in the top 5 poorest nations in the world? I see poverty every day. And lest you think it is only in the village, poverty is everywhere. I see poverty monetarily and poverty spiritually. Can you remember a time where you saw both types of poverty in one person? Can you remember a time when you saw it every day? I'm not saying it doesn't happen in the United States, because it does. But the ...

I have been visiting a specific area to the west of Manakara for about 4-5 months now. I have made some good contacts in this area and enjoy the honest answers I get to questions I ask about Malagasy culture.  There is one specific village I have been visiting every week for the past 4 weeks now. The first time I entered this village, I met with the mpanjaka, or king, of the village. He was very warm and inviting and kind. I was instantly drawn to him and knew he would be a good soil to sow seed. The next few visits, there was a funeral and he was not there. However, his wife was each time. We visited with her that week and weeks following. You could instantly see the walls that had been built up around her heart. Walls that were built with culture and decorated with animism. Fast forward to this week. We went, armed with stories from scripture, because we knew those are the only things that can extinguish the walls the enemy has built in this couple's hearts. We arrived, and t...

I'm not about to sit here and tell you life is peachy on this side of the world. Truth is, life is not always "peachy", no matter where you live. Distance doesn't really change the fact that trials will come and try to rob your joy. It's in those trials that you must dig deep and find the joy that sustains you. Life in a country like Madagascar is not easy. The days are hot and LONG. Boy are they long. It seems that the hotter the day, the longer each one is. I don't know how that works exactly, but that is a fact of life here. With hot days come sun that will burn your skin within moments of stepping outside...unless you're the type of person that doesn't burn. In which case, you can keep that tidbit to yourself, because it might make me give you a very large and exaggerated eye roll. Culture wears on you. Things are done slowly. Never the "good" way of doing them...aka the American way. There is no way to blend in. I will always stand o...