My Daily Journey

Walking to anywhere

2011-07-22T03:40:00.003+03:00

Today I decided to go against my sometimes flow and take a nice long walk - with no end destination in mind, just needed to get out and walk. Does walking help me think, sometimes.

As I was walking I felt my legs under me in a way that brought back a true feeling of possible exhaustion that I missed. I was noticing things all around me when all the sudden, as in Colorado, It started to rain. Now since I was just at the start of my walk and feeling sort of low, I had to resist all sorts of feelings telling me to turn back, yet I kept going, one step in front of the other. As I walked it rained on me, sometimes large drops and sometimes many small drops, sort of refreshing really so I endured.

As I was walking I found myself thinking about who I am in Christ and all the promises in scripture that are there for us in times like this. So I was thinking of these things and turned a corner in the road. I looked up and there before me as if the painter was using the brightest watercolors imagineable I saw a beautiful and very distinct rainbow. This caused me to smile and even chuckle out loud. I hear you GOD, yes I am thinking on your promises, knowing that you never leave me, you love me, and so many more... Would have caused me to cry but the rain had that part covered.

I continued to think on things that are noble, true, praiseworthy, and filled with TRUST and guess what? I looked up again to stare at that amazing and very distinct rainbow and was almost shocked, but really should not have been, because there was another larger, brighter rainbow towering over the one I had seen at first and together it was amazing. People were coming out of store fronts, pointing it out to others and yet there was the very real distraction of many cars driving right by.

I don't want to be a person that forgets to sit in awe and wonder over rainbows, and things that God has created. I earnestly want to be that person that would stop what I was doing to ponder the greatness of the creator, in every color, distinct pattern and amazing view that HE gives to me.

Do you stop to stare or do you just drive by?

Some of my favorite lemur pictures

2011-06-11T23:24:00.010+03:00

Madagascar, the world's fourth largest island, is located in the Indian Ocean 250 miles off the southeastern coast of Africa. At 226,658 square miles in size, Madagascar and the tiny Comoro Islands to its north provide the world's only present-day native habitat to lemurs.

It's suggested that lemurs made their way to Madagascar from the larger African continent millions of years ago and have since adapted and evolved into the diverse number of species we see today.

The climate of Madagascar is tropical, with a rainy season lasting from December until April and a dry season from May to November. The island's terrain is extremely diverse, ranging from coastal beaches and lagoons to mountains, rivers, grasslands, and desert. Many of Madagascar's plant and animal species are found nowhere else in the world; the island's biology is even more diverse than its geography.

In the past much of the island was covered by forest, but the majority of it — up to 80% — has been destroyed, largely for economic reasons such as logging and crop cultivation. The Malagasy people often carve out a subsistence living on a per capita income equal to US$200 per year, so on an individual level getting by often seems more important than preserving the environment.

On separate occasions I have been able to go to VAKONA - a lodge near the Andasibe rainforest about 3 to 4 hours to the East, outside of the Capital city, Antananarivo.

Within walking distance there is a lemur reserve amongst a secondary forrest on a series of little islands you can get to by canoe with a guide. This reserve area and employees care for abused or neglected lemurs of all variety.

Here are a few that I have been able to interact with directly. What an incredible time, having them crawl on me, hold onto my hair, beg for bananas and jump from person to person...

Once in a lifetime!

VAKONA FOREST LODGE

Situated in an eucalyptus plantation, 7kms away from the Périnet National Park entrance, Vakona Forest Lodge is considered one of the most comfortable hotels in this area.

The individual bungalows are thoughtfully scattered throughout the grounds, and boast generous space, with a good bathroom, electric heaters, mini bar and safe.

Various activities are on offer for guests including horse riding, squash, mountain biking and the use of the hotels' swimming pool.

Vakona Forest Lodge is also highly complimented for the very good cuisine that it serves up in its restaurant. A mixture of cuisines are on offer and can be enjoyed in comfort by the restaurants' huge fireplace.

The lodge is the perfect base to explore the nearby Andasibe/Perinet National Park. Accompanied by personal drivers and a local guide, guests can explore this famous reserve on foot, during the night or day, and at thier own pace.

Perinet National Park is renowned for its variety of diurnal and nocturnal species, and is probably best known for the Indri Indri lemur – the largest member of the lemur family.

Vakona Forest Lodge is situated 140km from the capital, 1km from Andasibe and 6km from the main road of the island, which makes it easily accessible by 4x4 or bush taxi.

2011-06-10T06:35:00.000+03:00

Over the years I have come to appreciate God's creativity in creatures.

While I was living in Madagascar I caught many moments like this in my memory.

This is my favorite picture of them all.

Discovering all the details that GOD put into one of his creatures, makes being one of those that HE loves all the more amazing.

This dragonfly is delicate, colorful, very energetic... The incredible beauty caught here leaves me speechless. What thoughts do you have surrounding this picture?

Lalaina (La-line-a)

2011-05-16T20:37:00.000+03:00

May I introduce you to Lalaina? He is a 5 yr old boy that lives in Madagascar. Pictured on the right of this first picture with one of his cousins at a recent birthday party for his sister.

His parents, Dinah and Frank are like a Sister and Brother to me. We have spent many hours together as a family over my time in Madagascar.

As I have lived amongst them I have realized some very hard truths. One being that just affording food, three meals a day, is a luxury for not only them but many living there.

Dinah works at a Christian school as a teacher of the 1st grade, doing her best in teaching yet makes roughly about $150 dollars a month to support her immediate family and also still contributes to help with the other siblings that don't have jobs yet.

The amazing thing right now is that Dinah has a great opportunity to take her son, Lalaina to school with her so that he can get a great education, the only thing in her way is that they can't afford the discounted rate they need to pay

for this education. Do you know what it costs?

$50 a month will pay his daily bus fair to and from school, stationary needs, special learning outings and lunches. As a parents, Dinah and Frank want the best for her son and bringing Lalaina with Dinah to school she can better follow his study program and help where necessary. This is a huge blessing that they really hope they can consider.

As parents they had to stop working on their crude brick home, earlier this year so that they could provide for their daily needs, and have run out of money. They are focusing only on making enough money to feed their family right now.

It crushes me to not be able to help more often when they need it. Being that Madagascar is still in political turmoil and things there on the island are not settled, making income is quite difficult.

If you would be interested in helping Lalaina in receiving a better education then please contact me and we will do our best to make sure that he starts in August with the other children.

Judgement of others

2011-03-26T21:55:00.003+03:00

God's amazing Grace, we sing about it and we read about it but how hard is it to live amongst it?

Have you heard the saying "don't judge a book by its cover?"

Well, it is sad to report but even in Christian circles it is something that happens every day.

Are you someone that judges others or are you someone who lives in a balance of grace, mercy, forgiveness and judgement as GOD allows?

I chose to walk with GOD and live by "those who are without sin, may they cast the first stones."

Where will you live?

SURGERY

2011-02-02T02:59:00.001+03:00

Well, the surgery came and went without a hitch. I was staying with great friends here in the Littleton area, just blessed beyond measure at how they cared so graciously for me during recovery.

There was a list of medications that I needed to take daily and a little something for the pain. After about 2 days I was up and doing things for myself. So that was a great relief - now if I could just get back onto a normal sleeping pattern with the rest of the world.

The pain meds that I was given caused a small issue but nothing that a bottle of liquid E-X lax should have been able to help with. After 4 days my body was back to working normally and I was on the mend.

Thanks to all of you that prayed for me and walked through this journey with me. I am very blessed to have such a great amount of people around me that really care for me.

Upcoming surgery

2011-01-18T19:56:00.002+03:00

I found out this week that I am in need of another sinus surgery. In one year, overseas, I had 9 ear infections and two of them were double ear infections, which were in-fact, very painful.

Over the last few weeks I have been in to see an Ear, Nose, Throat (ENT) Specialist to see what could be causing this. At the end of last year, almost the last day, I had a CT scan of my sinus' and that revealed what could be the issue.

Today the ENT went over the results with me, looks like I had a fractured nose as a child, which has put a bone fragment in the way of my sinus passage, along with a dieviated septum these two issues seem to be causing drainage issues that linger over my ear canal, causing these painful and repeated infections.

Good to know the details, now what do we do?

Results: I am going in for surgery early on Wednesday, February 2nd to see what can be done to try to clear this issue. Looking forward to resolve...

Driving through the snow

2011-01-10T06:33:00.003+03:00

Here in Colorado I have been learning to drive through the snow. I wonder how this can teach me anything some of you might say ~ yet I choose to look at life with the lenses of "everything has a lesson somewhere!"

While driving here in the ice and snow I have learned quite a bit about road appropriate manners and more on defensive driving.

Anticipating others and the moves that they may make is "defensive Driving" - this can come at quite a wake up call and expense.

Having the right equipment, right tires, chains for your tires - ice scraper for the windshield so that you can see - all of this makes for the right tools and is very important.

Taking your time and not trying to get somewhere in a hurry is critical as just a tad bit more speed could catapult you into a spin across traffic lanes or into a ditch.

Ultimately so much of this learning to drive in the snow has become a bit for me of learning how to communicate with people. Both of these require taking in your surroundings and making adjustments. Sometimes I am better at this than other times and much of the time I find that I just need to call out to GOD for direction, wisdom and HIS fantastic insight.

Making Vanilla

2011-01-04T12:19:00.001+03:00

One of the things that I brought back with me was vanilla beans from Madagascar and showing people how to use the beans has been a pure delight!

I have made all sorts of treats with this vanilla and have really enjoyed sharing the stories and care for the beans with people that have also enjoyed the process...

One family has made fresh ice cream with the beans two times and are looking at making it a third time in the coming days... The first time we scrapped out the actual Vanilla from the inside of the juicy bean and the second time they just used the extract that we made... BOTH

times it was an ice cream victory!

Happy New 2011

2011-01-01T01:26:00.002+03:00

I hope that you had a great New Year celebration where ever you found yourself celebrating, I sure did!

I found myself here in Littleton, CO - staying inside where I could stay warm and out of the stress of sliding on icy roads late at night in unfamiliar territories without a cell phone. I did however spend lots of time reflecting on the journey so far, where GOD is leading and the next steps ahead. I watched videos of language teachers, friends in Madagascar and family here in the states... I even watched videos of me with my dogs and found myself missing them so much, catching myself laughing out loud at the funny things that I was doing with my dogs.

On New Years Eve - around 4 in the afternoon, I did drive very carefully down to the local store to get a few things just incase it snowed for a couple of days and I would not be able to get out. The normal stuff at Safeway like, milk, bread, butter, soup, tortalini, chips, salsa and some triscuts!

Who says if you are going to be alone for New Years that it has to be without some of the pleasures of AMERICAN foods?

Funny thing is that the cars here tell you the temp outside, not to sure that I wanted to know exactly what it was - even if it was off a little this

is still colder than I am used to in Madagascar and colder than I grew up with in California. Buuuurrrrrr

I took a walk out in the snow about 3 in the afternoon today and just about froze even though the sun was out... here are some of the pictures so that you can enjoy the journey with me...

I keep hearing GOD telling me that HE is going to show me great and indescribable things, HE is leading me on this journey of healing, sharing HIS wisdom with me and allowing this time of separation for me from Madagascar so that I can see exactly what HE wants me to do there... Right now it looks like helping to start businesses and spending time with Malagasy children in many areas, GOD keeps opening doors... I am praying for GOD to reveal how these areas will use me for the giftings and talents that HE has already given to me in order to proceed.

My heart aches to be back in Madagascar but I don't want to go back before God's timing would allow, I desire to walk with HIM, growing and learning in HIM, through HIM and with HIM... I know that you can't see His shadow there with me on this walk, but I KNOW HE is there walking along side of me, counseling me and allowing me HIS wisdom.

Do you know that GOD is walking with you? Do you hear HIS voice? Do you even take the time to listen? I am trying, what about you?

C T scan

2010-12-30T08:06:00.002+03:00

Most people might not know that over the course of my 14 months in Madagascar I had 9 ear infections and twice those infections were double ear infections.

Since I have been here in the states I have been going to a series of Dr. Appointments to check things out and make sure my body is in great working order.

Today I had a C T scan on my sinus section and there is a possibility of me having surgery to correct something, depending on what the Doctor sees this time around.

Please be praying through this process with me. The tests are evasive, time consuming and yet trying to get to the bottom of things is well worth the time.

Packing things up

2010-12-30T01:01:00.003+03:00

Since I have been here in Colorado for over 6 weeks now there have been packages arriving for me right and left and a few items I have been able to purchase on my own that will help life in Madagascar to be warmer and without parasites in my water, not to mention some other things for other people that I love there.

So, I spent about 3 hours packaging up things to send to Madagascar, weighing boxes, un-packaging things and then doing it all over again... While I was in CA I did the same thing

and since this has become a ministry I have been

praying the entire time I have been packing things up, what a great time this has been for me.

I am praying that when the items arrive in Madagascar conversations of GOD will come up, people will continue to be curious about HIS love, care and guidance in life and helping others... Lets keep the "Main thing the main thing" for now and remember that each time a package gets to Madagascar it is an opportunity to share Christ with the postal workers. A group of three postal workers there in Madagascar have just started asking me questions about the GOD that I serve. I am looking forward to sharing more and more with them once I arrive back in the country.

Here are some pictures of the boxes I packed and some that I received while I was there over last year. I am so very grateful for each and every item that was sent. Thank you to all who took the time and paid the money to send such incredibly thoughtful gifts.

The words "thank YOU" just don't express my heart... but will have to do!

Merry Christmas 2010

2010-12-25T12:42:00.001+03:00

This year at Christmas I find myself somewhere that I was not expecting, and really not very excited about, yet as Christmas approaches, this year more than ever I am reminded of the simplicity of the birth of Jesus.

The reason that we all celebrate Jesus being born has to be more than getting a tree and decorating it with shiny objects. It has to be more than the foods, the parties, stockings filled with candy and gifts or the family time.

I am reminded that this is a journey that we celebrate as much as we celebrate the birth of Jesus, we celebrate the journey of Mary and Joseph, the journey of the wise men and really our own passage of time.

This year are you closer to following the North star to the birth so that you can give your very best present to Jesus... What do I have that Jesus wants? I am sure that it is all of me and as hard as that is to give up, I do it willingly because I love him and excited that HE arrived on earth for that short time.

My prayer this Christmas is that WE don't get caught up in how many presents we get, or give but what do we have to give Jesus. What do you have that is of great worth to you and those around you, something that GOD gave you that exceeds you... Then give it to HIM, don't hoard it for yourself - share it... Is it a talent, is it a worldly posession, could it be making time to care for someone, or just being available to walk alongside of someone that is hurting?

I am giving Jesus my attention, my listening ear, my heart and my will.. Praying that HE can use all of me to bless himself and further HIS kingdom.

Blake and Brodi

2010-12-23T07:34:00.001+03:00

Blake and Brodi and I found ourselves taking a walk before going to Grandpa's house to celebrate Christmas... What a great time.

Enjoy these special pictures!

Date with Sam and Blake

2010-12-22T07:31:00.002+03:00

I was blessed with the opportunity to take a niece and nephew out for special time.

Years ago I started something special where I have intentional one on one time with my precious nieces and nephews.

Knowing that this time in CA was limited I took the two older ones with me to a local bowling alley. This was some special Anutie time and I really enjoyed it.

My Mom had saved up coupons from her bowling league, and all we had to pay for was the adult shoes ($3), thanks to the generosity of the employee at the alley I used to bowl at myself. I am so thankful that we could take that time with each other to make a memory.

Sammy and Blake were very competitive, yet they did not ever really concentrate on getting the ball down the alley, and they had assistance from the bumpers that would automatically go up each time one of their names came up on the bowling roster. I even let them bowl for me with a guaranteed gutter ball each time because I did not have bumpers that would go up.

I guess they just wanted to know what the final score was and who was in first place.

What a great time with those precious ones

Family Christmas (party #1)

2010-12-19T10:36:00.000+03:00

My Dad is one of 7 children and comes from a very large family that seems to have new members and visitors at every event, this year was like all others yet for me it was a special blessing to be here with them and not all the way across the globe and in Madagascar.

Spending time with extended family was a very unexpected blessing on this trip back to CA...

I tried to get shots with

people yet sit and take it all in so that next year I will have all these people and memories fresh in my mind.

From the prayer time for the food and for the season, to the quick and sometimes very deep conversations with family.

I found myself asking about college life, boyfriends, living situations, and all the others changes in life that come in a large family.

My time with them was way to short but a blessing just the same. I had incredible conversations with so many of them. I asked forgiveness to one Aunt because I said things on skype with her that did not come out in the best way. That was important for me to do since I could hug her and see her face to face. A few cousins had very direct and meaningful conversations with me and I with them. This day and the conversations, hugs and pictures touched my heart as only my family could.

My Brother, his wife and three children were not able to attend because a few of them had caught colds and did not want to share with the rest of the families. Later we found out it was a good decision because Brad, my brother actually had the start of Pneumonia.

I did get some sweet time with my Grandma who will be turning 94 this coming April and is a very special person in my life. She has experienced so much in life and she loves all of us, her, children their children and then the children's children...

My cousin Danny let me know how much he loved me by getting face to face and telling me he cares for me no matter what I have or had gone through.

His daughter Maddison borrowed my camera and took some of the pictures posted here - she might be a photographer some time in the future.

My nephew Blake loves to hug on me and I love to be hugged. He might not love having pictures but I do and he is a great sport. Thanks Blake.

I must say that being with the children is my favorite part of the holidays, really the best part of any family gathering is hugging on the children, asking them about themselves and hearing what they love to talk about.

Rainy days and Gingerbread

2010-12-19T10:01:00.005+03:00

Children don't do well when it keeps raining outside and they are trapped indoors. Seems even worse with a Christmas tree loaded down with shiny wrapped presents.

Today we worked on Gingerbread houses, I am certain this is where playing with candy becomes ok. This is where you see children and their cute characters come out in creativity, care and style. It was a fun time and we have pictures to help hold onto the memories.

Praising GOD for time with family - for lessons in creativity, patience, design or uniqueness and how GOD cares for each of us humans so directly and specially. Thank GOD for children, family and for LOVE! I pray that you were blessed with new memories with the ones that you love and cherish during this holiday season.

20 year wedding anniversary

2010-12-18T09:27:00.000+03:00

My cousin, Cheryl and her husband, Bill had a surprise 20 year Wedding Anniversary that I was able to attend while in CA. You see the even cooler thing was that I was in their wedding 20 years ago and for me to be at the celebration meant a lot to my cousin and to myself.

We all enjoyed dressing up and taking some family pictures for the event. I hope you enjoy the shots. We packed 4 adults and 4 children into my sisters car and we were off in the rain and traffic to this splendid event.

Once we arrived it was so great to see some of my fathers side of the family, Aunts and Uncles and my Grandmother. Especially when Cheryl and Bill arrived and they looked at me then commented "did you come home just for us." What an incredible moment for each of us. A few tears did stream down our cheeks yet they were amazing tears of JOY.

CA Drivers License

2010-12-17T03:26:00.002+03:00

I arrived in CA today to spend some time with family for Christmas (Thanks to my Brother and Sister-n-law for springing for the airline ticket). The sad but true first stop had to be the CA DMV. While I was in Madagascar my license had expired and in order to drive in the states I needed to have it renewed.

For a couple of weeks in Colorado I was trying to call the CA DMV to get answers to see what would be required when I arrived yet the automated teller just sent me on a push button spree. One day one of the three phone calls had me pushing buttons and waiting to hear the automated responses for over 47 minutes. I am all for automation yet not being able to get to a person and have a direct question answered became very time consuming.

While living in Colorado for about a month I needed to find people to get rides from to Dr. Appointments, the store and a local church. I did walk a few times a mile here or a mile there yet it was getting colder and the rain and snow made it impossible for me to walk everywhere. It was great to have time with people, and the kindness of those around me was fantastic, in this fast paced lifestyle it was wonderful to get to know a little bit about people that work at WorldVenture. It will be great to get back to Colorado and into a training/counseling regiment and have wheels at my own disposal, independence is such a part of my life yet it was great while the dependency lasted.

Praise the Lord that after about 2 hours at the DMV I was given my temporary papers and looking forward to getting the real document in the mail in the coming weeks. Glad to have a little more freedom and independence back in my life and glad to have the opportunity to be in CA with family.

Missing HOME

2010-12-14T07:45:00.003+03:00

I have now been here for one MONTH and just the last couple of days I have woken up and gone to sleep thinking of my new land, my new home, my country and the controversy, the language and how much I have been able to pick up, my animals and most of all the great friends and Malagasy contacts that I have made over the last year and a half.

I am a visitor in this once familiar land. With no ties to hold me down here yet it is as familiar as coming to my mothers home for the holidays. I have posted notes, cards and pictures around my room and living space that remind me of both lands that I love and yet the one that calls me earnestly deeply within.

Knowing full well that the HOME that I love and long for really is to be with my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, sitting amongst the heavenly's. All places on this earth pale in comparison to the incredible eternity ahead that awaits each of HIS children that desire and live a life that is after HIS heart.

Depending on others

2010-12-02T07:29:00.003+03:00

Since I have arrived in Colorado I have had to spend a lot of time waiting and asking for rides places. Normal everyday chores have become real planned events...

I am so very blessed that there are plenty of people available to help get me place to place and it is a very different place to find myself, needing others, to ride with others and to communicate my needs and wants with people. This is great to learn and grow through at this stage in life.

Do you think that you could depend on others at the stage in life you are in right now? What would that look like for you? Could you plan ahead in order to arrange your needs to be met and still get out and have fun without feeling like you are becoming a burden on other people?

VISITOR

2010-12-02T07:16:00.005+03:00

Maggie came to see me in Colorado and we talked, played games, went shopping and ate out - did things that girls do.

It was especially great to go on a walk and enjoy GOD's beautiful creation all around us. The weather did not lend to being outside much as it was really cold by my standards and I did not have all the right outside cold weather items to keep me from the icy dry cold for long amounts of time.

Over the coming days Maggie and others helped get me prepared for this weather and the cold that was bound to come. Thank you to all the people that sent items, shoes, leggings, long underware, scarfs, mittens and warm jackets and sweaters. I could not have stayed warm without all of you.

I hope you enjoy the pictures as much as we did getting out and taking the walk in nature, even though it was really cold...

making noodles

2010-11-27T07:15:00.000+03:00

There is this incredible couple that have decided to take me in as an "adopted daughter" for my time here in Colorado. John and Sue Messer. I have been very blessed to stay at their home, join them for Thanksgiving and play games, organize, watchmovies and take long naps on the couch for a lazy weekend day as we all waited for the incredible amounts of snow that were suposed to come our way.

This one particular weekend I had the fun experience of making noodles for a home made noodle soup that was to be made with the left over spoils from Thanksgiving. This event brought back great memories of times with my friend Christy years ago when we used to make great dinners and enjoy each others company.

This is a recipe that I could make in Madagascar and I will be looking forward to it when I get back!

Glad to have learned the basics and know that I can make this with next to nothing and no special machines...

Thanks for the lesson in the kitchen! I really enjoyed my time there!

Fire Alarm

2010-11-19T11:24:00.003+03:00

One of the first days back in the USA and I found a whole packet of bacon in the Missionary Fridge. Since I was the only missionary staying at the WorldVenture office apartments, I decided this was a blessing just for me and that I would cook it.

I was making an elaborate breakfast egg sandwich - with sourdough bread, chedder cheese slices, fried eggs and was so excited about the bacon.

I had not remembered that most meets here in the USA have an incredible amount of FAT or grease on them and before you know it as I am cooking the bacon, and watching the pan closely the grease starts to catch on fire. I was standing right there, this should not have happened, and yet it was going out of control fast.

I grabbed the pan off the stove top and quickly turned toward the sink, then remembered that it would be a grease fire and I should possibly take it outside and set it in the cold? Well, before I could get the pan outside the grease was smoking, like an old world indian teepee during war time setting the fire alarms in our building off.

The Fire Alarm buzzers were loud, the strobe lights gone into full effect and some people from management positions upstairs had flown downstairs in disaster/emergency mode even before I could think on my own feet. Running toward the very kitchen where I was standing, trying to fan the smoke detector so that it would stop adding to the chaos of the entire event.

So, I had to go through the embarrasment of having most of the office evacuate in groups coming down the front stairs and the back stairs, the fire department come to the building and many people parade down past me in my red leopard robe, due to the fact that all my clothes were being washed and that was all I had left. - I had not showered for the day or made myself presentable on any level yet I pretty much saw most of the employees over the next couple of minutes.

Welcome to the United States, a royal red truck welcome from the fire department.

Trading HOPE - Madagascar items

2010-11-17T17:20:00.006+03:00

Trading HOPE is an amazing part of the ministry that I am HOPEing to work with here in the United States that is just getting its start.

I just arrived in Colorado at an event where they were opening up a small shop to sell items made by people overseas at great prices - with the holidays coming this is a great opportunity to get things out there that might sell and get the word out about the country that I love and serve in.

It seems that the items I brought back were just right for this time and went like hot cakes... Because of this event I was able to place another small order and see what will happen with the items once they arrive.. Praising the Lord!

Here are some pictures of the items that GOD provided from Madagascar to share in this event. This is all so new for me, yet I am excited to see how GOD leads, guides and moves.

Please join me in praying that the items will be well received and that the message of Jesus will be brought through these business relationships.

There is so much going on in GOD's amazing kingdom!

A whole new world

2010-11-15T18:36:00.003+03:00

After 42 hours of travel, no sleep - planes, busses, trams, tarmacks, windy city's, and foreigners from all far away lands. I have just arrived in Colorado, its November 15th and woken up from a great 12 hours of sleep.

What an adventure so far. I have even been blessed to meet some incredible people along the way. One lady even did the rest of the journey with me from London, to Chicago and then arriving in Denver. You know who you are and that you are special to me! I am thanking GOD for putting you in my life, as random as it may have seemed at the time.

This picture here is of my dresser, as you can see I have tried to put up cards, pictures and letters from friends and family both in Madagascar and here in the States so that I feel surrounded by those that I love and love me back. People that are invested in me and I in them. This road feels daunting, yet with the Love of our Heavenly Father and earthly friends, family and supporters I know that this journey will be one of strength, wisdom, challenges and VICTORY.

It snowed here on the first day, and I don't have many clothes that fit, partly due to the fact that I packed light, and that the clothes that I wear in Madagascar on a daily basis don't have anything to do with SNOW.

I was able to walk down to the local Big Lots and purchase a few pairs of socks a scarf and mittens - those are all helping me so much for now... and just last night a new friend loaned me some tennis shoes. So my feet should stay a bit warmer...

I treasure your prayers... I have posted a letter to friends and supporters on my facebook account in the notes tab. Feel free to read and respond if GOD leads...

Birthdays

2010-11-12T21:49:00.002+03:00

My Birthday has come around once again and this year I find myself more and more blessed.

I have a group of friends from a bible study from my home church back in CA that sent me two boxes and they arrived this week. I am enjoying the pillows, the socks, the wonderful corn tortillas and all the other wonderful goodies that they put inside..

I have had a tough week with the death of my dog yet I can feel the presence of GOD and I know that HE will lead me, guide me and shine his wonderful face on me.

A group of 9 people came to my house to play games, so that we could all leave the baggage of life out on the porch and just enjoy each other, have a great time of fellowship and really just get into the games at hand.

This time it was Mexican train dominoes! Reminded me of so many fun times that I had before with the girls that I had used to live with at 306 Bagnall Ave in Placentia. We played dominoes, cards, board games, computer games, and ping pong, dutch shuffleboard and many other games. You can learn so much about someone when you are playing games with them, you learn great group dynamics, and you learn about conflict resolution, about caring for others and about who is just plain out of control competitive.

Even here in Madagascar this is a great time of fun, fellowship and great understanding! I am so blessed to have friends here that will take time out of their night to come to my house and play, celebrate my birthday and just "be" in community with me. GOD is amazing!

shad-RACK

2010-11-07T18:01:00.002+03:00

My dog Rack was an incredible companion for the 6 short weeks that I had him. He was one of three dogs that would try to sit on my lap, lay across my legs or just follow me in the yard as much as possible. He was the only boy out of the three and got in the least amount of trouble. He was adorable and easy to teach.

This last week he had a tough one, first with getting worms and having to have 4 shots, and oral medicine - his doggie body was weak and could not stand up against the next infection. I had a very hard week taking all three dogs to the vet one at a time for medication and check ups along with hospitalization for all three at different times.

Rack went into the hospital on Saturday because he was expending a lot of blood and died at midnight on Sunday after what had to be intense pain and agony. He had been bleeding for over 48 hours and his limp body just could not fight or show signs of life anymore.

On Monday when I received the phone call to let me know that he was infact dead, I sank to the floor in the kitchen where I was cooking the other two dogs rice and working on getting ready for my long day out in the countryside trying to find people that were good at what they did so we could export their work to the states...

This death hit me very hard because the main reason that I got the three dogs was because I had been so lonely over the last year and the loyalty and ability for dogs to sustain and stick with their master is a great one. It is a proven fact that playing with your dog for about 20 minutes a day brings great joy and peace to the owner. I was not even anticipating loosing one so soon, and the one that was the most attached to me. This was a very difficult time.

I can tell you that in loosing this particular dog, GOD reminded me that this home that we live in is temporary, that the things of this earth will pass away and that HIS timing is above all else. People will pass through, animals will live their life and die, things or comforts will one day not be comforts anymore - YET one REMAINS CONSTANT and that is GOD. Our relationship with GOD is critical to our ability to get through the tough times in life. Our ability to hand over the tough times, people in relationships, experiences and circumstances is what makes our RELATIONSHIP with GOD so incredible. HE wants to carry us, HE wants to support us, HE wants us to ABIDE in HIM and talk to HIM, rest in HIM, and count on HIM.

I know that I am constantly working through that in my life, what about you? God is telling me to focus on my relationship with HIM. HE MUST be my one and only, the one that excites me about life, opportunities and adventure.

Where do you see your relationship with GOD?

Only in Madagascar - flights

2010-11-04T17:06:00.002+03:00

Well, I am starting to never be amazed at what goes on here both in the streets, within businesses and who knows where else.

Today a friend and I went to the airport to pick up an intern that was just here for 6 weeks. She was flying from Mahajanga to Tana and it should have only been about an hour or just a bit more to arrive here.

When she arrived at the airport last night for the flight she was told that the flight did not exist anymore, something about it being a new month and that flight was no longer an option. Then today she arrived early for a 7:30 am flight and it actually left the tar-mack at 7 am - good thing she arrived early. Then the flight ended up going further North to Nosy Be and was there for 4 hours... just when she thought that she was coming to Tana finally after a very long day - the flight was diverted back to Mahajanga where she had started this morning at 7 am, now it is 5 pm and we are hopeful that she will arrive by 6:30 so that we KNOW she will make her international flight out of Tana and back to the United States...

What an experience for her, and yes ONLY IN Madagascar!

Shack

2010-11-04T10:37:00.005+03:00

One of my dogs, SHACK, a female Neapolitian Mastiff has had a bit of a rough week.

I came back from the wonderful weekend retreat and found that she had not eaten for over 4 days. She would eat it would just come back up. She was very sick and I was very concerned.

Monday was a holiday here so the local Malagasy vet was no longer an option so I had to take her into the city to an emergency vet clinic started by South Africans.

We arrived early in the morning, much before many people were up and about. It was quiet and Shack stayed by my side at all times trembeling as to what was to come, I am sure. I did not have a leash and did not need one because she was so sick and afraid. She was weighed in at about 18 kilos which is just under 40 lbs if I have figured it out right? (that is something that I struggle with here but am getting better the more I have to do it)

Immediately the people at the clinic took all the doggy information that I had with me and took her into a small room and sat her on the sterile table, pushing on her belly and sticking their finger in her bum to get a sample to run tests on. She yelped only once and the rest of the time was just sticking close to the table and close to me. After about 10 minutes they came back to report that she had at least two types of worms and would need to be put on an IV drip immediately along with an agressive set of other medications in shot format, directly into her skin. And they suggested that she stay overnight for at least 3 nights to make sure that she had the best care and treatment.

I immediately started crying, not sobbing, just tiny streams of wetness gliding down my cheeks. I really wanted her to be ok, and take her home but the best thing for her needed to be considered and it was to leave her there in the care of professional people that do this for a living.

I have gone back each day since then for visits, I am given a cushion so that I can get into her cage with her and sit with her, talk to her and just LOVE on her. It is really hard to see her like this, and it just breaks my heart but I am so blessed that she is getting good care.

Today I realized that sometimes in our lives we have to go through something like this, that we get sick, emotionally, physically or spiritually and we need to see a professional so that we can really be loved on and cared for in all areas.

It has been hard to watch, to go through this, and leave her each day at the clinic, yet on the other side I am rejoicing in the examples that GOD is leaving very carefully for me even through my pets. Praising GOD for today and each day that I get to Grow in HIM.

LOVING WELL - Retreat

2010-11-02T10:02:00.001+03:00

Over the weekend I was blessed with a great opportunity to walk through the scriptures with a group of 19 other women on the topic of Loving Well, a Beth Moore study.

I had signed up for this retreat as a last push to break into a group of friends that had been established over the years. This group of women share reciepies, talk about the challenges of raising kids and kid events because that is what their life heavily revolves around. In the states God had surrounded me with these same type of people so why is it so hard to break in to this group here? There were events about once a month over the last year where I would attend and try to have a goal of two deep conversations, getting to know the other women. Well it seemed that my efforts were slamming against castle walls that were in no way ready to break down.

As you can imagine, I went on this retreat with a lot of fear of rejection, of the 20 total there were only 3 singles and I already know both of them very well because we have grabbed hold of each other on different occasions over the last 14 months.

I AM VERY HAPPY TO REPORT that the weekend was a huge success for me personally and for many others from what I heard and witnessed. I was able to have quite a few deep conversations, asking forgiveness and giving it, listening to hurts, walls that were up that were desperately trying to be taken down and all that has accompanied the journey.

SOME EXERPTS OUT OF MY JOURNAL ~

One thing that was very clear was HE will not give THROUGH us until we allow HIM to give TO us. In other words we will not be able to love effectively unless we allow GOD to love on us. We have to receive in order to give. We will not love well until we feel well loved.

Loving people will always involve risk and always mean they have access to hurt us. - this is part of the process and what makes our love in the image of GOD.

In this culture of connections, internet and all the accessories, we have ceased to relate on a HEART level and we are relating on a TALK level.

Perfect LOVE refers to love that is mature, not lacking boldness or confidence, not hampered by insecurity or anxiety characteristic of immature love. (1 John 4:18)

Have a smart heart and love with insight (Philippians 1:9-10)

Dip into GOD and pour HIM out on others... (Isaiah 58: 6-12) We are not healed until we can pour out our lives into others.

Four confessions of love:

1.) GOD is perfect love.

2.) Nothing can separate me from GOD's perfect love.

3.) God pours HIS perfect love int0 my imperfect heart. (Romans 5:5)

4.) Accessed, I can love anyone through anything.

I left this weekend retreat looking at how I allow GOD to love on me, and evaluating how I love on others. How do you love? Are you growing in how you love, who you love and becoming more and more open with vulnerability? Have you been so hurt that you tried to hide your heart away from others, building an impeneatratable wall around yourself?

I am really seeking GOD to show me how to receive LOVE from HIM and from others so that I don't carry around barriers as tall as the great wall of CHINA.

In this final picture - these women cooked for us ladies and heated up water for us to shower each day. What a great opportunity for them to serve us with glad hearts, out of their abundance we were blessed.

I just pray that I can be that blessing to others... GOD and I have a long way to go but I am going to hunker down and work on those parts of me that need mending. Do everything as if unto the Lord, without grumbling and complaining and with a GLAD HEART!

Dogs and Bunnies

2010-10-29T12:39:00.003+03:00

Today, I experienced a first... I was in the kitchen getting my lunch ready before leaving on a 3 hour drive for a woman's retreat that I am attending this weekend... (hopefully another post will come from the weekend)

I heard this screeching coming from the back yard. I looked fast enough to see my two girl dogs (Shack and Bennie) fighting over who was going to get to eat my mommie (SnowWhite) bunny. She just had 7 babies one week ago so she is still needed around here. Well, they knew they were wrong because I came flying out of the kitchen with one of my shoes in my hand and ready to smack the dogs if they would not give me the bunny. Since they saw me and knew they were doing something wrong, they gently put down Snow White and headed for the front yard with their tails in-between their legs.

Funny how even dogs have an instinct when it comes to wright and wrong... Yet they wanted that bunny so badly... they were willing to suffer whatever the risk. I know that I am the same way and sometimes I know what is wrong yet I do it - Like Paul mentions in the scriptures - I don't do what I should and I do what I shouldn't.

Do you have a bunny in your jaw, closed down tightly upon it and ready to partake in something that GOD doesn't intend for you to have? What does your bunny look like? I am going to be asking GOD to show me if I have any bunny's that I have been eyeballing, that I haven't clamped down on yet but might be right on the outer edge...

So, tell me about this Jesus...

2010-10-28T18:55:00.002+03:00

Today, I went to the post, like I do many times to pick up parcels of care and love sent to me from many of you back in the States. There might be a few more coming my way these days as my birthday approaches, not that I expect them. I am humbled and honored that people still think of me and care to send things that will open doors for sharing about GOD, Jesus and the HOLY Spirit.

Because I am there so often, I find that I have started many great conversations with the controllers...

First I have to say that going to the post is a very different experience than in the states... THere are no lines to get into, you just shove your way to the counter and get your paperwork in front of the person that you think will help you as fast as you can. Sometimes you find the clerks sleeping on the counter, watching a favorite TV program in the back room or even chain smoking right there at the counter.

You go to the first counter and give your paperwork to someone who in-turn writes it into a large book, with your address, your passport number and your parcel paperwork number. Then you are sent to another long counter where you give the then stamped paperwork to another person, they find your corresponding paperwork and make you sign two more items, then you pay for the package usually about 6-12$ depending on the size and declared value of the parts in the package...

You finally receive your package and then have to take it back to the first desk to open it in-front of the clerks. They they take things out, ask "what is this for", "can I have this" or "who is this from" and "why are they sending it to you."

Todays encounter was a little bit different because when I received my package and went to open it in-front of the clerk at the first desk, they asked me to sit down with them and one of them said "tell me about this Jesus". WOW! An open door...

I am excited because this is only the start of many more conversations about Jesus, why I follow HIM and who HE is, what HE does and how HE reveals himself to me every day.

Thanks for sending packages as this seems to have become a ministry as well and I am excited to see where it will go.

Only in Madagascar - walking containers

2010-10-28T18:44:00.005+03:00

Well, just when you think you have seen it all living here in Madagascar something reminds you that each day is it's very own, unique day and will not be repeated again in the near future.

A couple of weeks ago I was traveling down my very narrow, cobblestone, market street in my oversized 4 x 4 when coming toward me was a 20 foot shipping container being carried by 4-5 men and being balanced on a broken down cart with wheels that look like they were stolen from Laura Ingles Pa off Little House on the Prairie...

Today while traveling through town, around a large traffic circle, I came across another incredible sight. The shell or body of a small 4 door vehicle, totally gutted, no doors, seats or extras... on top of a sirete (a cart with oversized tonka tires on it).

Wishing both times that I was good at driving and getting out my camera to take these shots yet knowing, only in Madagascar could you see something so amazing, creative and funny going down the street.

10 years old and in 2nd grade

2010-10-19T11:24:00.002+03:00

I have a couple of neighbors that live in my compound yet work for my landlord and one of them is a 10 yr old girl named Madaline, or Mada for short...

Yesterday, I was crushed because out of my bedroom window I witnessed this young girl being beaten with a wire hanger by her older sibling and then by her mother. They were trying to force her up the hill and out of our compound gate. Since I don't know enough Malagasy I asked a friend that was visiting what they were saying and she said it was something about not leaving with her friends. We went back to our time with each other and the screaming and beating soon stopped.

Today, the same scene happened, and I was very concerned. This young girl was doing everything she could do to not leave with the older boy that came for her. I found out later that the boy is her older sibling and he just came to walk her to school. You see school just started last week for them both but because of crowding he is going to school in the mornings and Mada is scheduled to go in the afternoons.

The scene got ugly fast and after Mada finished kicking and screaming and laying down on the road so that she did not have to leave with her brother, the father came out with his belt and started giving her a flogging of a lifetime. I could not watch anymore, asked my house helper what was going on and she replied "she doesn't want to go to school". As I made sure that the family could see me watching from my yard I was praying that GOD would allow something to happen so that this would stop.

I contacted a friend that used to be the principal of a large school here and asked her what I should do, or if I should just stay out of the mess because I was after all a foreigner and she is a young Malagasy girl. I could be crossing the culture boundary and do more harm than good. After about an hour of the beating and the crying I asked my friend to come over and see if the parents would talk with us. It was arranged with my limited Malagasy through my house helper talking to the parents. They agreed and were very happy to have someone help from the outside.

After a meeting with the parents in my home, with my friend the former principal we asked all the probing questions that we thought to ask and then asked the child to come in to meet with us without the parents (we had the parents permission to do this). Come to find out Mada has been tormented by other children at the school, teased and bullied. She would rather have many lashes of a belt and wire hanger than go and face the other children again. This was tugging at my heart. It was a very hard dynamic for me because I wanted to just meet with the family and make changes, yet the wisdom of my friend who was not only the former principal of a different school but a Malagasy herself was incredible. When I asked ridiculous things she did not translate, or if I asked something that was going to get me into a position of commitment to something financially then she guided my words and carefully helped me see what the family would see because of us getting involved.

The day was a success, Mada agreed with a thumb to thumb pact with both me and the principal to attend school the next day. If the children were still giving her a hard time, my friend the principal would go to the school herself and talk with the teachers and the students if she needed to. We were also blessed with time to sit with the parents and let them know that there are other ways to get to the root of issues. Listening to a child and understanding that it is important to hear what they have to say. Especially a child that really has a history of obeying through all situations, this one being new to them, they resorted to beating way to quickly.

I am praising the Lord for this opportunity to get down on Madaline's level, listen to her heart, ask the right questions and see where we could meet her need. Not meeting a financial need, or placing her higher on a social level, yet just listening to her, validating her feelings and helping her and her parents see that there are other ways to work through tough issues.

Looking forward to what GOD will do in this relationship that has just been forged and after one year of living on this property and trying to get to know that family - now GOD has allowed an in, a very special way into their lives.

FANTA

2010-10-18T16:55:00.004+03:00

OK - Just have to put up a post about my new favorite soda! Being overseas you get some strange things, or flavors as soda, and you only live once so you just have to try it. Filtered water gets to taste strange and when you are out it is even harder to just order a glass of water so I have sometimes been known to venture out and try something new.

In this instance I was so glad that I did. I found a new wonderful soda - Black Currant Fanta... It is even better with a scoop or two of Vanilla ice

cream... I hear that they only make it in Kenya so my heart will be forever excited about Black currant Fanta and visits to Kenya.

One can hope, right?

Yummm, is your mouth watering yet? Well, mine is just reading this... Here is a picture, I hope that your mouth waters like mine is..

Could you join me in praying that Fanta which I think is owned by Coca-cola... would have the great idea to market this fantastic drink in Madagascar? One can hope, right?

KENYA: Spiritual conference and retreat

2010-10-15T10:26:00.003+03:00

I would not have ever thought that October 2010 would find me sitting in Kenya at a spiritual retreat and conference with other missionaries from all over Africa but it did and what an event it was.

First of all the culture shocks that I experienced on the way there and once we were there were incredible. There was an anomonyous donor that paid for 3 of us single gals to travel and stay at the conference. This was a huge blessing because none of us could have ever afforded to do

that on our own and asking our supporters for money was not something that we really wanted to do, even knowing the need of this time away to regroup, meet with other missionaries that had experienced troubles and trials just like us so that we would not feel so alone.

This time was for me very emotional as I needed to meet with leadership and discuss some very difficult situations but HUGE blessings to have people to walk with through this journey and people that have delt with the very things I was experiencing. Their wisdom and understanding was both profound and difficult but cause for incredible JOY because GOD is in the process, working through us all.

A new volunteer

2010-09-29T17:47:00.003+03:00

Our team received a new volunteer this week from Colorado. She is working on graduating from Moody Bible College and needed to do some "field work" so she became interested in Madagascar. She is going to be here for 6 weeks total and just spent 5 days with me in the city, getting over jet lag and getting aclamated to life here.

I am praying that her time here is an incredible time that will shape and change her heart. It was great to host someone in my house, make breakfast for her, most days and have someone to talk with, read with and just do life with.

I know that she is just passing through but hosting someone in my overly large house was a great gift to me. Looking forward to more and more people coming through...

Rack, Shack and Bennie

2010-09-26T07:13:00.006+03:00

This week I have become the proud owner of 3 dogs. They are going to be big dogs and I have my hands full with them but I am so excited to spend time with them every day, talking with them, watching them, feeding them and playing with them. Some day soon I hope to take them on walks, through the rice fields but I need a leash for that adventure and I will have to be strong because they could drag me through the fields as they chase animals, and smell new smells. Looking forward to that adventure.

I know that 3 is a hand full and they each have such different personalities but last night I was able to sit on my front step and pet them, yes all three with just the two hands that GOD gave me. It was a good place for me to sit, rest and reflect. I am working on 20 minutes a day or more and excited to see how this helps in life matters.

Rack is the boy, (BLUE bowl) he is the silver one and the biggest of the three. He is fun, sensitive and the leader of the trouble that they get into, I think? He has a very soft coat and

is afraid of water. He has light brown eyes with a dark brown outline that remind me of a recent friend that I can't spend time with anymore. There is a sadness in his eyes.

Shack (Red BOWL) is the one with the almost solid black face, the rest of her body has a tiger stripe look to her - she is the most scared of the bunch. She tries to be tough but the couple of times that they have tried to escape the yard she is the one that yelps the most and gets stuck in very funny positions. She is the most afraid at meal time, and is the last to come for attention when I am sitting in the yard petting them. She eats the fastest and gets in the most trouble...

Bennie is the one with the most mix from mother (mutt) and father (pure breed Mastiff). She is the smallest and possible runt of the pack. She is a loner, as most of the time she will not be running with the other two. She eats the least amount of

food and is easily offended or put off by the other two. She already knows how to fetch and bring back a tennis ball, so she is the most fun for the guard's 2 yr old son. It is fun to watch. She is the first to come for affection and since she is the smallest she can get out of any sticky situation quickly and gets under the fence for escape first... Almost like Rack tells her to make the way and then the other two are not far behind...

Their names come from the bible story about shadRACK, meSHACK and aBEdNEgo. This is a precious story to me because they went through the FIRE and GOD was there with them, protecting them. They were wise, listened to GOD and submitted to those above them so that GOD could be honored and praised. I need to be more like all of them and Daniel!

What about you? Could you use some wisdom and discernment under submission to those in authority over you here on this earth? Would you like for GOD to stand in the fire with you, I sure would!

September happenings and Praises 2010

2010-09-20T20:52:00.001+03:00

I find myself needing to ask forgiveness for not posting for so long. This has been a very busy month for me, actually the last two months have been busy and full of reflection.

This month alone I went to the airport over 8 times, picking up and dropping off individuals and groups. This has kept me very busy because most of them were staying at my house for short stays each time. It was great to be busy with ministry after so long of only working on language but I was reminded when I was in town with a group that were buying souvineers how important speaking the local language is in communicating.

I have a long way to go but I am very blessed to know what I have learned already and will be changing things up in the coming month to see if I can get into more of a practicing situation with a friends mother that owns a local shop.

Praises for this month:

GOD provided dogs for me, I have been praying for this for the last 6 months and it just happened this week! I will do a separate post about the dogs and hopefully add pictures.

I had the opportunity to travel to the North to stay with some of my Malagasy friends, we had a great time praying with each other, sharing and doing life with one another. I am very blessed to be able to have friends that I trust here even if they are 10 hours north.

Finances have been tight but it was a special blessing to drive for a group and earn some money that way. I was learning about the island and was able to bless the group with transportation for a week.

BLESSED beyond measure to connect with 3 friends back in the states that will be and have been committed to praying for me and this ministry here. We are going to be talking more each week for accountability and a much needed connection while I go through some difficult things here.

LOOKING AHEAD - I am assured of the things that GOD wants to do here, and assured of the battle that will come with the great things that GOD wants to do. Praying that Satan doesn't steal the joy or purpose but that I can press on, focus on HIM and learn to trust those around me even when it is hard and I have been hurt so many times.

Thanks so much for walking this journey with me. I could not do it without your prayers, support and LOVE.

Letting Go and Letting GOD

2010-09-19T20:58:00.001+03:00

I have been reading about our pursuit for love, acceptance and community in the scriptures. I have read about the HOPE that we have in HIM, the peace, LOVE, forgiveness and so much more.

"The greatest mystery of life is who we truly are." -the man in the iron mask

I find myself in a hard place in the last few weeks needing to give up someone that I have become quite fond of here in Madagascar. It has been very hard on my heart to let go of this friendship that I thought was true. To find that someone that I trusted with my life and my heart is not worthy of this charge.

Do you know of people that you love, that you trust that have let you down? Always find ways to lie to you and steal the Joy that GOD gives so freely? How do we trust again, how do we love and how do we embrace GOD allowing Him to use those painful times to train us in how we should go. Teach us how to stand tall and firm and righteous?

We have boundaries, the opportunity to show those that live around us what it truly means to love Christ and live out a life showing others what Trust, Love and Faith look like in real life. It is a difficult journey and sometimes includes a lot of tears, sadness and a repentant heart.

I choose to press on to see what GOD has in-store for me and looking forward still to all the growth that will be happening for the rest of my life. I am learning that growth means pain, and that is not so much of what I was praying for before but now that I am in this process, the pain is necessary to refine me, sharpen me and mold me.

Do you have someone or something that you are having a hard time living without? Do you allow GOD to have that struggle or do you hold it so close to your heart that you will not allow GOD to move as only he can? Where are you in your journey of growth? ...

Living life "GASY" style

2010-09-17T12:54:00.003+03:00

For the last week I have been living with two "sisters" here in Mahajanga in a very simple house. We each have our own mattress, a mosquito net and live quite compactly in a small tin house. The dinner table and another small cabinet are the only other furniture items in the house. Maybe, just a bit more than a 9x9 area...

Outside and down a path there is what we adoringly deem the "long drop" with a drop that is not as long as it once was. Next to that is a small room with a wooden door about 4x3 and that is where we take our cold bucket shower. I have to be careful not to stand up straight as there are nails sticking down from the roof that have scratched my head many times. Just blessed to have water close by that we can have to take our wonderful "bucket showers" with. I am learning how to use less than 1/2 of a 2 gallon bucket of water for my entire shower... from lather to rinse. That is a challenge but fun adventure!

It has been an adventure that I love, learning from each time!

Looking forward to taking exerpts out of my journal some time in the next week as I get my thoughts and pictures together!

Praise the Lord for the simple life, what a great reminder that we don't really NEED all the things that ensnare us, no matter where we live.

I pray you find the Lord in your life, simple or complex, he is waiting for you to acknowledge HIM, spend time with HIM and allow him to change, grow and mold you...

The face of a waterfall

2010-09-06T11:22:00.000+03:00

There is something very relaxing about looking into the face of a waterfall, examining all the cracks and crevices that are created because of the great pressure and force of the water and hearing the crash of the water upon the resting pond below.

I had the opportunity today to drive two visitors, one missionary and a malagasy friend out to an area, just outside of the city to one of GOD's amazing wonders.

I found myself lost in contemplation about life, why each of us were created and how we all work together for a final result, all giving life to something else near by. Sometimes we don't know our part, and might get lost in the vastness but GOD has a very intricate purpose and reason for each one of us, just as he has for each creature, fungus and algie that find life at this waterfall.

Thanking the Lord for this day, to reflect, ponder and rest in HIS creation.

Old computer parts

2010-09-04T11:14:00.000+03:00

Yesterday, I found myself helping some other missionaries get their school ready to open by driving them around the city looking for old computer parts (for their computer lab).

We, went into one building with lots of little shops all selling computers, cameras and more but the prices were out of this world as the merchandise was much new new to go with the other parts that they have back at the school in the North. Up the stairs and down the stairs and then up again and down again, looking for the best deal and the parts that would make the computer class complete...

Wishing and praying that there were people in the states that wanted to send over their old and donated parts - They are still short about 10 computers but will make do with what they have until GOD provides something else.

Eventually our day took us to a street in town that looked like houses, and in-fact it might have been but we were able to find monitors that would help in the lab or classroom and were able to make a deal with the seller... Praying that they all work and this will help that school be as efficient and available to the students as it needs to be.

What a long day of driving and being stuck in the Truck. Blessed to have a truck to be stuck in and blessed even more to have wheels to drive around this large city. Thanking GOD for how HE provides...

the loss of something great

2010-09-03T06:52:00.002+03:00

Have you ever found yourself so ensnared in something that when it is gone from your life, you did not realize what a hold it had on you?

Sometimes it could be a thing - like a car, a piece of furniture, a house, a movie collection, money, ipod or many other THINGS... Then other times it is a PERSON in your life - the desire for a future with someone, children, someone that you really enjoy spending time with but that eventually drags you away from purpose, following GOD and much more?

Living here this last year, I have seen this in others and experienced it myself... The pursuit for more than what you have already is the same in a 3rd world country it just looks different. Maybe the desire for a job, to be liked, to have a home, children, status, money and possibly even the desire for "friends." It may look different than in the States but the motives, pursuit and challenges are the same.

I am so very blessed to have the word of GOD and pastors, other Believers and time to just SOAK in the word. Allowing this to help me not conform to this world... Romans 12: 1-2 and 1 Peter 1: 13-16 In many ways conforming to this world looks the same here in Madagascar as it does in the States, the road may be different, the people different and the things different but the desire and determination for more of what one doesn't have is still overpowering.

I am praying to be set apart, focused on GOD and the greater purpose set ahead of me. Praying that I would not desire to CONFORM to this world but that I would desire more and more daily to be TRANSFORMED by the reading of scripture and allowing GOD to wash me of all impurities, allowing me to see with HIS eyes, hear with HIS ears, speak with HIS tongue and love with HIS heart those around me. Always remembering to give GRACE, HOPE and FORGIVENESS to everyone around me because we are all fallen people on a journey.

Where are you on your journey with HIM? What are you holding on to? How are you conforming to the world that you live in? HOW will you allow GOD to refine you today?

Walking on this journey of growth...

Proper celebration of one year with friends

2010-09-01T12:51:00.001+03:00

Three of my close friends helped me really celebrate my one year here in Madagascar! I am so very excited because the 4 of us went out to a nice dinner, toasted to Madagascar and life and really enjoyed each others company.

I am very blessed to be here! Living this life of obedience to Christ! Thank you to all who see HIM in me and support my life, my decision and my love for HIM in this way.

Pictures to follow... (my camera broke so I have to wait for copies from another friend) :) Patience! I am learning this every day!

Shoes and their recipients

2010-08-25T12:29:00.008+03:00

Recently I received a package from a sister back in the States that had cleaned out her closets at home finding some SHOE treasures to send my way...

These are some of the pictures of the shoes donated and I hope to post some of the recipients of those shoes and the smiles, and joy that they brought all the way from Texas... It was such a blessing to be able to give to so many different people and the

smiles that they gave in return were incredible blessings! Praising GOD for how he works.

Thank you so much for sharing your shoes with us here!

technically held hostage

2010-08-22T23:12:00.001+03:00

For the last two weeks I have not had access at all to my gmail or my blog because someone hacked into my account and changed the passwords...

Just today I have been able to access these and catch up on emails and just now will start to write about my amazing last couple of weeks traveling around Madagascar. Cultural experiences were at an all time high with language learning falling into slot number two.

Please be patient with me and I will try to get it all out to you in the coming days... GOD is good, protected me over many miles of driving from the south to the north and back again. Small winding roads with drunk drivers, and people walking in front of us all the time, not to mention the ox carts going to market and people taking from their fields into larger towns.

I am blessed beyond measure at the great fruits that are being shared with me all over this blessed land. Opportunities abound, everywhere I look and I pray that people will join me in helping Malagasy achieve their dreams in business all while sharing CHIRST with them. His great LOVE for them, Peace in living a life glorify HIM and blessing HIM with everything that we are blessed with from family, to friends to success in business to how we love on others.

Prison

2010-08-08T10:26:00.002+03:00

One day I had the opportunity to drive a car full of adults to a near by Prison to feed and encourage the prisoners. There was a group of about 400+ including 23 women and one 3 yr old child... It was difficult to understand everything but it was so very moving the parts that I did comprehend.

At the start of our time with them all the prisoners broke out in song about how sorry they were, how they were pleading for forgiveness for the wrongs they had done and wanted GOD to lead them in their future. I cried as the words were translated to me quietly as we stood there in awe.

Something about Prisons here in Madagascar is - if you are accused of a crime, weather you did it or not you are sent to prison. While you are there, family has to come to feed you, clothe you and provide toiletries, blankets and bedding for you. Most sleep on the concrete floor, few if blessed have a straw mat to sleep on and even a cloth to cover themselves with. Many did not have shoes, and not even long pants or long sleeved shirts. If you don't have family here or near by then you just don't eat, don't have proper clothes or sundries and you go without. It was very evident to us who had family or visitors caring for them and who did not.

Amazing as well was that it started to rain while the pastor was giving a message, we stayed as a group standing in the rain, the pastor continued preaching and most of the inmates did not move for cover. If they had a jacket, or blanket they were already wearing it and they just sat, fixed on the group of us, and hopefully the message that was shared both in French and Malagasy.

I was allowed to take some pictures but only without faces of the inmates... I pray that when they are posted to this blog that you will take the time to pray for the men and women here in the prison awaiting a judgement. 44 have already been sentenced to life in the prison - they will die there... The youngest being held is 16 and the 3 yr old is just there for the winter break visiting his mother.

Time in Finarantsoa

2010-08-06T10:01:00.002+03:00

An opportunity came my way to join about 800 Malagasy believers at what they called their "congress" this month.

It is something that happens every 5 years where churches from Spain, France and all over the island of Madagascar are represented, to rejoice over the great things that GOD has done and the people that HE has brought to himself through this association of believers.

Since I am not fluent in Malagasy yet this time was more of a cultural experience for me. I lived in a room of a school building with 20 other women and children for 5 days. It was crowded, and reminded me a lot of junior high. The women stayed up late chatting about life, family and responsibilities, then woke up VERY early to start making themselves presentable for the men in their lives. Most days they were dressed up in beautiful executive style skirt outfits, and many of them even wore their best fur coats (imitation of course and many of those were not in the greatest of condition either).

We slept like sardines on rice bags filled with hay, that I think I was having an allergic reaction to each night. We experienced late night excursions into the dark to relieve ourselves, being stepped on, rolled over and laughed at. The community shower was a spectacle, or we were a spectacle and sleep was few hours each night.

The blessings were playing and leading the

children while the adults were challenged spiritually to keep pressing forward. I was quickly named Auntie Nicole in French by one little girl and quickly about 8 others followed suit. I knew enough Malagasy to help them get into their bible class, sing some songs, go to the bathroom, get fed, go to sleep and have good play time. I even caught one child hitting another with a tree branch and I could tell them in Malagasy that "I saw you hit" this child.

It was an experience of a lifetime and I survived it all! I did not have to bail out and stay with the local missionaries in their home with electricity, a private shower and more of the food that I have come to know and love here.

Praise the LORD for all that HE did and is still doing!

AUGUST 2010 ONE YEAR anniversary -

2010-08-01T15:23:00.005+03:00

It has been one year since I first moved to this amazing country, can you believe it?

A long time ago I was reading a passage in Samuel about Ebenezer stones, and placing a stone to remember all the greatness that GOD did for them during the battle. Life here is not a constant battle but it is sometimes and there have been many answers to prayer along the way and I want to remember all the amazing times that HE has provided even when it was not the answer that I was looking for.

I thought that it would only be fitting that I share the Ebenezer Stones here with you from this first year...

Finances coming in last year so that I could actually leave for Madagascar.

God has provided a church and a mid week group here for me to grow with

Opportunities to check out ministries and other parts of the island. Finaransoa, Manambolo, Ampefi, Montasoa, to many areas here locally.

I have made many new friends and feel loved by the incredible Malagasy people.

The provision of a house large enough to host others, to be safe and well protected.

I have met and been taught by many amazing people here and just love it.

The contact with friends and family back in the States has been incredibly welcomed, I am blessed to have the ability to connect through the internet and not just through the mail.

Care packages keep arriving - such a huge blessing and reminder of GOD working in all of us together to help stretch, grow and encourage each other.

Being able to help three people work toward starting a new businesses

Most of the finances to purchase an amazing truck for ministry use.

Others that value me, even if everyone does'nt

Family that have been incredibly understanding and helpful since I moved here

Ability to laugh at my mistakes and this happens often

Learned to drive a different type of car

LIVING BY FAITH EVERY DAY. Just this week I had to buy 4 mattresses and I don't know where the money will come from but that is a wonderful part of the journey. I was woken up in the night, 3 different nights - sensing that GOD was telling me "your house will be full in the coming days".

I am really looking forward to all that HE will do, all that HE is doing and all that HE will do.

A Malagasy Wedding

2010-07-31T14:42:00.000+03:00

This last weekend I found myself invited to my first Malagasy wedding since I have moved here. It was filled with fun, excitement and a bit of the unknown...

A few things that I noticed while I was at the event.

It is very important to dress up - matching jacket/skirt or jacket/pants outfit. Most people have custom made clothes because they can't afford store bought clothes... YOUR very best are necessary to save face in attendance.

It is very important to do a receiving line and greet all of the visitors, giving words of wisdom and Malagasy proverbs. Three times this happened. When people were leaving the church, as we entered the reception and the couple went around to every table.

Any gifts of money are presented in an envelope and then received with two hands out of respect for the giver... Older tradition states that if you receive money with two hands then you won't pull out a gun to shoot your giver with the other hand.

Some Malagasy love the oldies in American music - first dance for the couple was "my endless love" a song that I remember from my early childhood years...

The cake is a critical part of the ceremony... One large cake is for the parents of the groom, one for the parents of the bride and it's presented to them ceremonially, through the wedding. Then the smallest cake at the top is given to the groom and he is to travel the room looking for the one woman that he would like to "give his cake to". The Bride received it here of course...

They don't tend to smile during picture taking.

Music is played at a very high level throughout the entire time and Kareoke is something that families practice and have ready to present as part of the entertainment at the reception.

Food and cake was made entirely by the brothers of the bride.

The entire day people were served by the family of the bride and groom. The family gets very involved and love the opportunity to serve others at the joyous event.

It is a huge honor to have a "vahaza" foreigner - attend your event. In this case it was me and I was the only one.

wedding cake

2010-07-31T11:47:00.005+03:00

Food at the wedding is very important here along with the wedding cake.

The food at the wedding is prepared by the family of the bride and groom, at least at this wedding. It was very important for them to have starters or snacks (chips and soft drinks) while everyone filed through the receiving line into the reception hall.

Then once the food started arriving I noticed how they went to great detail to make everything special for everyone. First the plate of the salads. Pictured here... Lots of color and lots to offer. I was thinking that this was the meal until someone told me that I needed to save room for the next course.

The main course was RICE, of course and then there was

CHICKEN, all parts of the chicken, Rice water was available and then there was also pork or beef, it was hard to tell in the juices that flowed around the meat.

One of the children there wanted the chickens foot to chew on. This reminded me of my first missionary journey overseas to Hungary when we were often

offered the "claw" as we had named it. Here you eat what meat you can find and then you gnaw on the bones until they are all gone... oh and if you get to some of the marrow then sucking that out of the bones is also a treat.

Don't worry I have not gone native, I just observe on this one, I don't partake.

So, the cake - the amazing cake... NOW when I talk about amazing cake, I am not talking about the taste (they all taste of egg, flour and water) of it at all, just talking about all the meaning behind the cakes.

The top cake, smallest on the tiered cakes - the Groom takes this cake and travels around the room

with it until he finds the single woman that he would like to give the cake to. It went to the new wife... I am still curious about this tradition and will have to ask more later.

The next two tiers are of equal size because one goes to the family of the groom and one to the family of the bride. This cake they keep at their home for the week after the wedding and if someone stops by their home they are able to offer

the cake, proudly, as an announcement that their child was just married. This is also an honor to give to people who missed the wedding.

The flat sheet cakes are for all the people in attendance to eat with each other there and not one person doesn't take cake and a large slice of it at that. CAKE is always eaten, it is like a great honor or something...

The last picture here is of the actual person who made all the cakes. He is a

friend of mine, married into a family that I spend time with. Frank, woke up that morning about 4 to make all the cakes and set up for this fantastic day.

His sister was getting married and he would do his best on the cakes. What a great design and creativity.

OOPS! I forgot...

2010-07-28T11:45:00.001+03:00

I just made a boo boo. I called my mother in the States and forgot just for a minute how to tell what time it was there when I was calling - so it was in the middle of her night.

So sorry MOM but it was great to talk with you and I am so very blessed to hear your voice!

I will try not to do that very often!

Playing CHICKEN

2010-07-24T12:30:00.002+03:00

Do any of you remember that movie, came out in the 80's or early 90's called FOOTLOOSE... There is a scene at the start of that movie where some teenagers and the pastors daughter play chicken with another car. Two cars driving directly at each other in hopes that the other will get chicken and swerve to miss them first..

This seems to be an every day happening here. The roads are small and even on small roads with only enough room for one car to drive down cautiousously along with people, scooters, ox carts and any other strange sight for that day, You have two cars going in different directions trying to pass each other without running over the local veggies that are marketed on the ground...

Every day that I get into a vehicle, if I am driving or not, riding the bus or not or even walking - I am praying that this will not be the day that I become the CHICKEN, or road kill because someone took playing chicken a little to long and did not swerve out of the way in time.

I think that if anyone can drive here they can drive anywhere... Have you read about how I caused a sigalert in my area. Backed up traffic in 4 directions for over 45 minutes... This is a land of firsts for me and I am loving it more each day!

Support is JUMPING

2010-07-23T12:05:00.006+03:00

I just found out today that my support jumped from 84% to 87% and now it is at 91%... For some those are just percentages!

For me those are direct answers to prayer. This last month I found myself praying that GOD would reveal himself to me by bringing new supporters to TEAM MADAGASCAR and stirring the hearts of those that already give to possibly, if they can, raise their support.... Well, it is with great JOY that I share this news here...

Would you join me in Praising GOD that during this very difficult period of time for most people that HE is still victorious and in Charge of all the finances... Nothing to worry about or stress about... It is all FAITH and TRUST...

FAITH & TRUST are two things that GOD has been working on in me, restoring and refilling from deep within...

What has GOD been working on in you? I would love to hear!

Local recognition

2010-07-22T13:37:00.003+03:00

At the local souviner market they are starting to remember me when I arrive as the "girl who lives in Ambohibo" Funny because I don't live there but close by in another area... Two of my German friends and I took the bus into swa son cet (67 hectars) and it was market day so you can be assured that it was very crowded, but that is my favorite day to go because of all the people...

GOD is good and as I accompanied my friends in the market looking for unique things of Madagascar I was reminded of the creativity of GOD... Some things looked similar but they were infact different and that is exactly how we are. I love that! GOD is good in all HIS ways, Creativity being my favorite one!

When you look around you - do you feel superior because you are a one and only edition, or do you feel special because GOD made you, just the way you are, to be a blessing to others!

I am feeling very special today, glad to be the woman that HE is making me to be day, by day!

Hugs to you all - I am blessed by the creativity that GOD shows in YOU.

Saying Good-byes

2010-07-21T09:51:00.009+03:00

I have been off to the airport 9 times since the first week of March this year... So in the last 4 months or 181 days I have had to say Good-byes to some great new friends and encourager's, 14 people in total.

I don't know about you, wherever you are right now... I just know from when I lived in California that this was not a regular occurrence and if someone went to the airport they were just going somewhere for a week or a couple of weeks. Every so often would someone would be gone for a month but nothing like this.

It has been great to get to know all the different people that GOD has put here. Some have made public confessions of their inward faith. Most work in very different ministries and jobs. Yet God has allowed us this season in life to connect, to pray with or for eachother and to walk this life "together".

I have been blessed to make life long connections with some of these people and look forward to when, if I get to see them again while I am still here on this earth. Some of them talk with me or try to communicate with me (if the Internet allows) on a very regular basis. That is a HUGE blessing.

SO, instead of being sad or down... I am choosing to live on the extravagant side and REJOICE because I was blessed for a time with these people in my life, my immediate daily routines and experiences. We each have the memories and the pictures and in some cases the video (Chicken Dance) that will always bring a smile to our faces.

ON the happy side of thoughts - I will be blessed with the arrival of 4 of my friends some time in the next 60 + days - people that left either for vacation time, ministry or visits with supporters. It is lonely here without you but I am excited for all that GOD is doing in and through each of those 4. Looking forward to new prayer times, ministry opportunities and the exciting road or adventure that GOD has out there for us.

Things that make you go hummmm...

2010-07-21T09:36:00.005+03:00

Since I have been reflecting this week to the differences to living in the states and living here I have come across some things that have made me go hummmmm...

Light switches are outside the bathroom and shower area but inside of bedrooms and other large community rooms.

Living without a microwave or Television..

Having to search out the news on the internet instead of just turning on the TV and having it on all channels like back in the states...

Streets are empty after 9 and life is closed down for the night... Most places

People here love karoke. It is at weddings, local hangouts and most peoples homes if they are wealthy or not.

I have to use my brights when driving just to see people walking in the road. Brings a new meaning to avoiding "ROAD KILL"

Fungus - diagnosis

2010-07-20T16:53:00.005+03:00

Here in Madagascar I have been treated recently for allowing myself to attach to a fungus. It was growing rapidly on my face and neck and yet I was on antibiotics for something else, so I thought that it would just go down or take care of itself.

I was not correct! After 10 days of trying different topical creams, ointments and care it was there and brighter than ever. I went to see the Dr and then went again to see him 2 more times in the following days.

I had received a fungus and I was told that it is very common here in the conditions that we live in. People living in very small quarters, sharing shoes and clothes are bound to contract something like this and it is very contaigeous.

I have two friends that are in a large Malagasy family that I spend time with... Here are the pictures of one of their funguses... Three of the people in this family that are infected have children and two of them have children under one year old... I am praying for someone to help with this. Help diagnose this correctly and then be able to give the correct medications to the family so that they can all be rid of this itchy irritant.

I know it is difficult to get rid of it, and that it itches all the time, it is ugly and really a pain to treat but making sure to not get it on others and spreading it around is a huge thing and it mostly happens due to ignorance...

my word and my oath

2010-07-19T23:54:00.004+03:00

When you make a promise a word or an oath to someone is it really your word tried and true or just a guideline (like the pirates mention in Pirates of the Caribbean)

I know that I am a person that doesn't make an appointment or promise to attend a function, give money to some event, commit to a certain amount of money to tithe unless I have made a promise, from my lips, in my heart or to another person. A promise in my heart, a word given that crosses my lips or even something in my heart that no one else hears except for GOD.

In this last year I have tried to keep my mouth shut and not over commit to things. Commit to things besides my language learning... I have been asked to teach English to different groups of people, to commit to weekly meetings with different groups of young people. I have been asked to join this church, or this orphanage, or this study group. I have had to weigh my words and commitments very heavily. If I do one thing then they will all want me to do things. Can I afford to do this every week.

I think that we as americans, or I - used to make commitments to easily and not think of the outcome down the road. If I offer to give in tithes to GOD, weekly or monthly and do it for some weeks and then stop then there is possibly a pastor somewhere that will not eat this week or his wife will have to work, maybe a ministry that counts on that money will suffer or be under financial strain?

What about the group of people that are working toward becoming fluent in a language and I offer to meet with them - weekly and things keep coming up... Does that reflect well on who I say that I am and who I say that I represent?

Here in Madagascar if you say YES to meeting this week, it quickly turns into meeting every week, for hours at a time even if you did not commit to that. Clarity and commitment are so critically important here and all over the globe. When you commit to someone, something - you are placing value on that thing, person or place. You are saying that "I believe in what you are doing, what this place represents and what this person stands for. When you fall through on your promise, word or oath it has a ripple effect that you might not ever feel, see, taste or touch but it is there. Impacting people far and wide.

I have learned to let my "YES" be "YES" and my NO, be a simple no or not right now... I want ot be better at this, and am praying that the challenge, all be it very large will be one that I can accomplish all while building my character in HIM.

helping with a wedding

2010-07-19T11:58:00.002+03:00

I received a phone call today from a Malagasy friend. Her sister in law is getting married and she wants me to help her with ideas and decorating the place for the reception.

I have a LOT of experience with this in the states but not here and I don't want to take over.

Please pray for me to be quiet and a great help, although not financially but just in an extra pair of hands and possibly making things work once I have a better idea of how this really works.

I have only been to one wedding here in Madagascar and that was back in 2006. This has to come together quickly as the wedding is at the end of the month...

I could use all the prayers you could muster~!

This is a great opportunity to show love though helping and the time that I will be spending with the bride and the others that will be helping in putting this event on...

grease burn

2010-07-17T12:12:00.002+03:00

I have been wanting pop corn for days now and yesterday a friend gave me some Malagasy corn. I asked if I could pop it and she said that I would have to try and see if it worked.

Well, with all the cooking that happens around here it is inevatable that something would happen and today was the day..

As I was checking on the pop corn the lid started to fall off and since I am not as quick with my left hand as my right, and my right hand was occupied... I missed catching the lid and a nice burst of oil came out and landed on the top of my thumb and the palm of my thumb...

I am now nursing it and praying that it will not scar nor turn into a huge bubble either...

Please pray for me and for GOD to keep me out of much pain and have a speedy recover of my left palm and thumb... It is already tingling warmth from within...

BUMMER

woman's breakfast at church

2010-07-17T12:05:00.004+03:00

What a blessing this morning to attend a breakfast set up for the women of Tana City Church here in Madagascar! There were roughly 30 Malagasy women and about 4 foreigners, just the odds I love. I met 4 new wonderful Malagasy women and spoke with them a tiny bit in Malagasy... Then they told me, "we can speak in English if that is better for you". I stayed up for the challenge of trying to speak to them in their native tongue but the limited words and sentences that I have so far did not assist me in this and my new friends were gracious.

I am blessed to be here and have these opportunities~

The Pastors wife shared about the woman who took the alabaster jar and anointed Jesus' feet with oil... How she was bold enough to want to give the best she had to her Savior no matter what others thought of her.

THIS will sit with me - I desire to give my best to HIM daily, do I? Well, that is another story. I can strive to give HIM the best and in the process be blessed with the amazing love that HE gives to me so freely.

What do you have to give? Do you give it or do you keep it to yourself?

Send off's

2010-07-17T00:34:00.001+03:00

Tonight marks the 6th time I have been to the airport to take people that are leaving the island since May. That is a lot and my heart is hurting...

I am getting really familiar with the flight schedules, late night pick up's and drop offs and all the details that are involved.

I am praying for each person that departs here and goes on such long travels to get where they are going... May the Lord blesses each one and may we all see HIS reasons, provisions and light through each circumstance.

Saving Face

2010-07-16T01:36:00.003+03:00

What does this really mean?

Do people lie to keep a disgrace, dishonor or shame from the light of their family or from others so that their family will not be disgraced? Do they lie because they know what they are doing is wrong? Do they lie to get something they want or to please the listener even if they really don't know what the listener wants to hear?

Is telling a partial truth the same as lieing? Is there ever a time that it is ok to lie?

As I spend time here in Madagascar I am faced with my biggest challenge, being able to see past the face of a person, listen past the words and see into the heart and soul of them. When they say one thing what do they really mean. I am used to straight shooting, maybe because lies have hurt me so much in the past? Maybe because it is difficult to know what someone is feeling or wanting unless they tell you directly, right?

*****Please don't misunderstand me, I know that ONLY GOD can really see that deep into someone and with enough practice even the nicest person can turn out to have made a life out of lies. ONLY GOD will ever know any one persons motives or thoughts and for that I am ETERNALLY GRATEFUL!

Funny thing, which is really not so funny at all is that one lie, usually leads to another and another until it is spinning it'self out of control and it is so far from the truth that one wonders weather there was ever any truth involved at all or if what they were telling fibs for was ever really that important to begin with.

In this culture it is common to lie, really I think that in America it is common to lie as well it is just very different here. Most of the time I think that people lie here because they want something and they are not ashamed to lie because it is a custom from the generations past. What makes that any different than lieing in the states... It happens most of the time so that people can get what they want. They will even lie over something so simple as "did you understand what I just said?" This making communication VERRY DIFFICULT at times.

Do any of us really ever know what we want and what is best for us? Could it be that our human nature is trying to control the game of life on automatic pilot, without the soverignty of GOD to rule over us... I am more convinced than ever that WE NEED THAT DIVINE INTERVENTION. WE NEED A DIRECT LINE of communication with GOD to change, to work on ourselves and to "SAVE FACE" without hurting those around us.

THE TRUTH WILL COME OUT, WHEN IT DOES WILL YOU BE READY for the consequences, for the wake of bodies that you will have hurt, injured or devestated?

I think about this often here - what do you think about this?

Do Secrets count as bold faced lies and do they carry the same weights with them?

There is a new wind

2010-07-15T01:14:00.001+03:00

I am feeling a new wind here in Madagascar. I have been praying about up coming changes and I know that they are on the horizon. A good friend just shared a picture she received about me and it was so encouraging, I am looking forward to how it comes to light in GOD's timing.

This is the second time in just 12 days that my large 5 bedroom house has been filled with visitors. It is so good to have others around even as I am busy with language learning.

Language is coming along nicely.

Women are getting motivated by GOD to draw each other into deeper relationships.

Opportunities to help people start working toward business and bettering their families futures.

Spending time with Malagasy people and learning a LOT about TRADITIONS, CUSTOMS, COMMUNICATION, EXPECTATION, DISAPOINTMENT, SAVING FACE and SUPER HOSPITALITY.

My Belly's a jumpin!

2010-07-14T22:34:00.002+03:00

At least the legs that I ate tonight used to be jumping!

I was blessed tonight to eat frog legs. They were so very good! I wish that my camera had not broken because I wanted to take a picture of them so badly.

So, close your eyes and try to picture a very well fed Frog, jumping through mid air with his lil' legs extended --- Poof - he just jumped through the fire and is now cooked and sitting on my plate!

YUMMMM...

Has to be on the list of fun things that I have eaten...

Just this week I had tongue, duck and Frog Legs! What an adventurous week!

Are you being adventurous in your eating?

TOP 10 CULTURAL DIFFERENCES

2010-07-13T15:31:00.003+03:00

In Madagascar I have been learning so much as I watch, listen and wait to ask questions.

This last week a group of people that have been meeting with me regularly to practice English and Malagasy were asking me some of the things that are common in my culture back in California. It was a fun and funny time as we struggled in trying to find the right words to help each other understand what we are used to.

This is the list that we came up with for what is the "NORM" here in Madagascar. You might enjoy comparing it with your "NORM" in whatever part of the world you live.

10. family eats together sometimes 3 times a day. All together, in one room, one meal.

9. Children sleep with Mom and Dad in the same bed until they are almost 7 years old.

8. At the age of 5 most Malagasy children are responsible for another person (younger sibling) or have another responsibility - like walking the cows or goats, collecting water from the local spout, doing dishes or the family wash.

7. Most Malagasy live with their family until they are married, and even then some still live with their husbands families.

6. Rice should be eaten at least twice a day if not three times a day. NOT just a cup full but a plate piled high.

5. Families share clothes and shoes (with this comes the bonus of funguses and diseases)- depending on what they can afford, even if the clothes are way to big! More than one pair of shoes is a luxury!

4. The money that they make working will buy the food for the family to eat... Day to day or month to month. CASH ONLY no credit cards. If they don't have money they don't eat.

3. In some areas here (not in the capital) it is a sign of wealth to have more than one wife. For every 7 cattle you own, you may have another wife and children... This is mostly in the south...

2. Children around the age of 13-15 are getting married and having children of their own - because it is the culture and expected of them

1. Malagasy people are generally very happy people, even with the very little that they have... They have LOVE.

Missing...

2010-07-04T15:35:00.001+03:00

For almost 10 years I knew that God was asking something enormous from me and the time finally came for me to actually “DO” what HE was leading me to “DO.” July 2009, I packed up my remaining worldly possessions and got on an airplane into the wild and unknown of MADAGASCAR. I had been there twice before for adventures but I knew that this time would be VERY different, African living for me was going to become reality, and soon a life that I could never imagine NOT living.

I lived in California my whole life, from San Clemente to just across the Los Angeles border. I was aware of the dangerous spots and the friendly spots, had friends and family in many nooks and craneys along any route and knew this to be “HOME”.

So far I have lived in Madagascar just under one year now and have learned a LOT! For one thing, you can’t believe what you read! That is for sure! There are over 19 million people living in Madagascar and roughly 3 million of them around me in the Capital city. The books produced strange and crazy or even mystical creatures, stories and wonder. As I have lived here for this year I am noticing that much of what I studied and read is good information but for the areas outside of the very city that I live in day in and day out.

As I have spent time with Malagasy people I have come across jems… I love a good bargain and living as cheaply as I can so when someone mentioned that there was large outdoor market for veggies, meats and just about anything else you could imagine, I had to go there. I quickly found that I was spending about half the money for three times the quantity of foods, almost the Costco of markets here. Now you have to be very careful because there are many people that watch you very carefully to see if they can steal something from you and I have not ventured into this market without Malagasy friends as of yet just to make sure that I have my bearings. Yet on the other side of things it costs a LOT to have Electricity, or peanut butter or meat of any kind. This is where the cheaper outdoor market will help off set costs a little.

Should you live or ever travel, abroad, you’ll possibly get the chance to dispel a few myths yourself, probably even the one about all Americans being loud and obnoxious. There are some that are very easy to spot and then there are some that you wonder about for days, weeks and months only to find out that they are infact Americans that have taken to blending in well in this host culture.

The universal truths will rise to the top. Lines for ladies rooms (when there is a ladies room), men showing off to win the favor of women, Men are most of the time stronger and women feel or are more emotionally intune with their feelings. Traffic is traffic no matter what country you live in and the desire to be plugged in on the internet is just as strong here, just most travel to internet café’s and don’t stay online all day to play games or afraid that they will miss something.

There is always the appreciation for all the things that you have left behind. I miss my friends and family, to be sure, my old routines, the local shops and being able to get what I want at the drop of a hat, but I expected that. The truth is that I miss things about California that I did not think I would miss. I miss the smooth pavement when driving and not having to swerve to miss, people, ox carts, bicycles and market stands that crowd the road. The smell of the ocean or the crisp air in the fall. The way people decorate their homes for the holidays, some more than others. I might even be challenged enough to say that I miss the neighbors barking dog because that is nothing to the noises I face here. Heaters, carpeting, and my hairstylist for sure. Mindless television shows and the Never ending Hot water coming from the tap for a long shower.

Convenient things, like Wal-Mart and the local Albertsons where you can walk in and get just about anything you needed. I never thought that I would say this or admit it but I miss the conveniences of FAST FOOD places and the ability to be eating in 10 minutes or less once you have a craving or large hunger pain. I miss hamburgers, hot dogs and subway sandwiches. Taco places of every shape and size.

Please don’t misunderstand! I love it here in Madagascar and have come to love the differences, the fact that what you buy in the local street market is infact fresh vegetables, without pesticides or hormones. I love the different veggies that I come across and get to try. I love that most every meal is FRESH, from market to sink for a good washing to stove. I love driving in the traffic here because I only remember to well the traffic in CA and this is really nothing even when it seems like eternity. I love how close families are and how they eat together almost 3 times a day when possible. I have been blessed to be able to feed wild lemurs, and see all the creativity of God with the different types of Star fish in the ocean.

I have been blessed with many new friends and some very special here that rise above any I have ever met. Never a dull moment and always filled with so much passion. People here are creative and unified to a common purpose or goal.

I do have a better perspective on home now – knowing that HOME is going to be where I rest my head, either here in Madagascar or there in the States somewhere, even all the places in-between. The strong desire to know and be known still fills my heart and propels me into each day. Wondering and then knowing the struggles in life are the same: the need for jobs, to have money to buy food to provide for your family. Above all of that will rest LOVE. In the states we just take it overboard and sometimes need to see how the other part of the world lives.

The Simple things have become more obvious and more cherished might be just where we are supposed to live. I am enjoying and sometimes struggling to find the simple life that I should live. What about you?

JULY 2010 PRAISES and Requests

2010-07-01T22:47:00.001+03:00

This last month has escaped me, with the internet not working consistentally and so much going on here it is oftentimes difficult to connect to the outside world. Thank you so much for your love and patience!

I recently went to look something up in my Malagasy dictionary and found the word "Jireo" so while making my sentences I started to use that word. My teacher had a great laugh because "jireo" means look - the dictionary was trying to tell me to LOOK at another word for the definition...

I has been great to connect with so many Malagasy friends but it is also my greatest sorrow because my relationships are only at the surface level with many of them. I am longing for the deeper relationships where nothing is expected, along with no judgement. Glad to have so many of you, your prayers and such an amazing Heavenly Father! He knows what I need. That is the best!

There were a few weeks where I was Crying all the time... missing family and friends back in the states and across the globe. GOD has faithfully brought me through it and I am doing well in language study. Forming sentences and talking with the locals more and more.

Thanks so much for your prayers and support. Even though my financial support is under by $400 a month I am living the life of a fully supported missionary overseas... GOD is good!

MALAGASY Independence Day

2010-06-25T15:57:00.000+03:00

Running through the streets

2010-06-22T15:39:00.005+03:00

Toady was quite a day. My Malagasy friend and I spent over an hour sitting in two lane traffic trying to get into town, to try for the second time to start the process in getting a small car registered. We were stopped about 5 miles from where we wanted or NEEDED to be because of ROAD BLOCKS and did not, could not figure out what was going on.

We turned around, found a parking place and ran/walked as fast as we could to get into the office before they decided not to receive paperwork for the day anymore (this particular office only receives registration paperwork from 8:30 am until 9:30 am Monday through Thursday and if your paperwork is wrong or insufficient then you have to try again the next day.

We had about 15 minutes to get there, get inside, get inline, turn in our paperwork and then rest as we waited to hear back from the processor on the other side of the plastic window. We made it and were able to place the papers inside the window, turn around, sit down, then noticing the CLOSED sign being put up, even earlier than usual... Thanks be to GOD that we were there in time.

Oh, the reason that the streets were blocked is that the Malagasy military are all getting ready for Saturday. You see that is Madagascar's independence day and it is a very big deal here. For over a week now things have been going on that resemble getting ready for Christmas Holidays. There are special things being sold in the streets that resemble paper lanterns in all shapes, designs and sizes. More vendors are out in the streets trying to sell you anything that they can get their hands on.

We actually were able to walk and run through the street circling the lake in the center of town and it is usually filled with traffic as far as you can see so it was a sort of errie feeling. Then we walked past Mounted police all carrying Malagasy flags about 10 of them. As far as I could see down the street were the military personell all dressed to the best and standing in formation... I am not sure if this was a practice for Saturday but from what I am hearing everyone will be out in the city that night celebrating independance. I am praying about going out as well and will be smart. Don't worry...

Have a blessed day and when you have to wait in line or turn in government paperwork, or go online to fill out an application for something, remember how very blessed that you are to live where you live and to live with the freedoms that you have. May you be blessed today!

2 C V

2010-06-16T12:49:00.002+03:00

This last week I was blessed with the opportunity to purchase for my personal use a small and very compact 2 CV. It is a very common car here in Madagascar as it is mostly used as a taxi and painted some terrible off white/yellow color.

This particular car was purchased by a family that was working with the American Embassy here locally and they used it for fun outings as a family, they had bought it at a great price originally and then had it fixed up inside and out. They had allowed their two children to help paint it after they had it fixed up with their own hand prints all over the vehicle but in order to sell it they had painted over it in a nice brick red color.

It still needs a lot of work but being that it is all over the place here the parts are very reasonably priced and very attainable. The other plus is that most Malagasy know how to work on it so getting things fixed will not be an issue, I am assured of!

My challenge is learning how to drive it being that it is a manual transmission but the stick shift is located in the dash and is a pull out and push in type that I have not ever used before or even seen for that matter. I am looking forward to the challenge and praising GOD for finding the very affordable, under $700 (I bought with my own money), reliable transportation for around my local area.

For those of you confused the TRUCK that I had written about and prayed about and announced to the world is a WORLDVENTURE truck and is only used when going into town or dangerous areas, late night driving and long trips until I get more and more teams coming that I need to use it with. The Truck was paid for by many of the generous supporters in my life and for that I am truly blessed. It has already been used in numerous occasions to get me home safely at night and keep me out of danger as well as allowing me to use it to pick up other people for outings and opportunities to experience GOD.

WIth the small red 2 C V - I have been asked if I would consider giving it to a family so that they could register it and use it as a taxi for income in their family, they have two people that could drive it... I am going to pray over this and see where GOD leads... Seems like a great way to help start a business? If I can find supporters that are willing to help with this project then when I find another small car at a very reasonable price then WE can help these Malagasy by loaning them the start up money and creating a contract so that they have time in which to pay it back... I am very excited to see where this goes and who will be able to come alongside and help with this need.

Collecting Firewood

2010-06-08T14:32:00.002+03:00

When I moved into this great house I was excited about using the fireplace for the winter as I could vaguely remember how cold it got when I had just arrived last year! There was one small drawback - the Fireplace had a very large hole in it, just where you are suposed to make your fire. After weeks of searching with some of my Malagasy friends we found something that just might work for this purpose. I had to pay almost 50 american dollars for it but being warm was well worth the cost.

The next step is finding some place to gather wood that is not only inexpensive but a place where the wood is not already wet. Here are some pictures of the collection of the wood and the scene... It took 3 of us about 2 hours to collect, load and then unload the wood. I am blessed because of the process because now I can try to stay warmer in my house!

I hope that you enjoy the pictures...

Business Plans

2010-06-07T22:30:00.002+03:00

I spent about 4 long hours on Sunday explaining the use of a business plan and the sections that were necessary to have on a business plan here in Madagascar. Two Malagasy family men that I know would like to start businesses and don't know exactly what to do next. They know and are very passionate about what they want to do. One wants to provide a service (A Mechanical Garage) and the other wants to create a product (A bakery, restaurant and cafe).

I don't know much about business but I have a cousin that has always told me that "if someone is serious about a business then they should come to me with a business plan in hand and I will treat them like they are serious."

I did some research and downloaded what I thought could help each of them, a simple template for each one with specific sections that they now have to research and fill out. The road ahead is long and full of exciting and frustrating moments but I am so very excited to see where this goes for each of them.

I am so sure that there are resources here on the island and possibly in other areas that they just need to learn how share with and make the needs known. They are both looking for help not handouts, each needing loans and wanting to pay them back so that others can use the same resources. They need to learn that having a business is not an easy process and that if they can put the time into their plan then they could possibly put the time necessary into a business and make it really work while providing a great car service for one and a restaurant with delicious treats for the other one.

MY PLEA AND PRAYER REQUEST is simple: ANY suggestions are welcomed... is someone willing to come to Madagascar to walk alongside of some of the people here to assist where needed? I would love to learn in the process as well. Praying for people to give small micro business LOANS ($2,000 - $5,000) and for these businesses to get off the ground.

I am praying that GOD would be glorified and that each business would provide the necessary means for each family.

Shoes

2010-06-06T22:05:00.002+03:00

Did you know that I know a family where 5 people share the same shoes. How many of you could do that very thing? How many of you actually own (only you wear) more than 5 pairs of shoes, just for yourself? There are not enough tennis shoes to keep them all warm at the same time, enough socks to have on the feet of those in the shoes and there is certainly not enough of the every day shoes to get around town for each of them. The brothers steal the shoes from the sister (she has a paying job right now) and they will have the shoes for months at a time.

I was visiting with a friend today, it was a very cold and rainy day here, so we were changing out of our nicest church clothes and putting on what we could for the rest of the day. You see when it rains there is mud everywhere since where they live is off of a dirt road that leads to a dirt trail, dirt steps carved into a hillside and so on. For me I have many choices, for my friend she did not.

I reached in my basket and pulled out a nice warm pair of socks and then my tennies and she grabbed her husbands flip flops from the ground below. She commented on how warm and fuzzy my socks looked and then also about how warm my feet must be in those shoes. She said that she is used to having very cold feet.

After a few questions I realized that she, her husband, her two brothers and her father all share the same shoes. Their shoe sized vary about one size in either direction so sometimes they are squished into a shoe and other times they are swimming in a size or so bigger than they really should be wearing. Now, I don't think that there is anything wrong with sharing things with those that you love, nothing at all.. It just impacted me that she was used to wearing what ever shoes were available and if her feet were sore or cold then that was just to bad.

It clicked in my head when I got home because the guard at my house has been wearing his wife's nice sandals. Something with jewels, for sure a woman's dressy sandal. At first I thought that she must have worn his as she had to hurry out of the house but I had been noticing him wearing her shoes for over a week now and did not want to ask about it in fear that I might cause great embarrassment.

This small moment of understanding for me has caused me to think twice before I dig through the 12 pair of used shoes that I brought, to match an outfit or trying to find that exact pair for the walking that I will be doing for the day. I am tempted to give all that I have away. Is that the answer, I am not sure...

How many pairs of shoes do you have? When you wear them can you wiggle your toes or are you squished into a size to small? Do you have to walk over 5 miles to take your children to school and then get to work yourself? How would your feet feel in the shoes you are wearing right now if you had to wear them every day for the next 4 months, walking everywhere? How many pairs of shoes do you really need?

Can you think of someone that could use your shoes? It might change a life, or at least the life of someone's feet.

Camera

2010-06-04T12:33:00.001+03:00

Since the end of May I have been out of a camera to take wonderful pictures!

I sent it out of Madagascar with a friend that is going to London. When she arrives home there then she will send it to CA where my sister-n-law will take it to get it fixed. What a long process. Hopefully I will be able to get it back when a fellow missionary comes back to Madagascar in September.

Please be patient with me as I have not had internet very much. I will post things when I canI am trying to get that fixed and communicate with you more and more...

I love it here and have so much to share with you!

Blessings and hugs to you all!

Nicole

JUNE 2010 Praises!

2010-06-02T15:54:00.005+03:00

James 2:2

****Praises! ****

This past month of MAY found me in many new situations. First off I was really sick for over 14 days, come to find out that a severe ear infection was dripping into my stomach and causing all sorts of other uncomfortable issues. Not to mention the Bronchitis that has been holding on and will not let up.

****Praising the Lord that I can breathe, I am getting better and that I could find someone here to diagnose me correctly and put me on the right medicines.

Internet has been less than favorable for the last month. NOW it is better!?! We can pray that it stays this way.

****Praise GOD that my connection to the internet is better and better every day.

My house mate and great friend left the island this week, along with two other friends. I am so very blessed because of the time that we had with each other. Time to learn, grow and push ahead with each other. I am Sad, so I need prayers for healing in my heart. I have found that people are in our lives for a season and then they are not and we should not spend all our time thinking of when they are not but we should be thinking of the moments that we had with each other.

****Praising GOD that I have been blessed with quality friends, for a time, a season and I am a better person for each of those relationships. Thank you Lord for allowing me such treasured friends to be a great part of my life and build into who I really am.

I am starting with two new language helpers this coming week. Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday are language all day long!

****Praising GOD for more and more people that are willing to help me along the language learning road. Praying that we will be able to communicate well and that I will be able to use more and more malagasy in the right ways.

At the half year point in this year - I have been living here in Madagascar for 10 months now. Support is steadily increasing from the low 84% range and I am excited to see where this goes in the coming months.

****Praising the Lord for the people in my life that have been able to support financially, prayerfully and with great encouragement. Please pray: I am looking forward and praying for more supporters to join our team, this great opportunity to change lives for Christ here in Madagascar.

There have been many opportunities to use the TRUCK that GOD Blessed me with. I am so grateful and blessed to have so many people invest in me, in Madagascar, in the future here and my Safety.

****Praising the Lord for the Truck that I have been blessed with. Every time I get into a sticky situation in traffic, town, the local market or at night getting from place to place I remember how GOD BLESSED me, through many of you, with such an amazing TRUCK.

Care Packages

2010-05-05T23:48:00.004+03:00

I am coming to understand why parcels that are sent from one area to another have been deemed "care" packages.

Over the last 9 months I have been the very grateful recipient of many of these "care" packages and let me tell you, it is weird the mood and the excitement that comes from a parcel slip arriving at ones home, then the journey into town and the expense of paying for it again just to see what random and beloved treasures lay inside.

I have been blessed most times to be able to pick up a parcel soon after it arrives and be in a great mood or have a wonderful experience doing it. However the longer that I am here the more the packages mean to me when they arrive. It is so much more than the contents inside, it is the thought that someone way back in the states, took the time, collected the items, went through the hassle at the post office/and pocket book to send said parcel and lastly waiting so very long for a response or thank you from me.
I am more than blessed, more than grateful and humbled at the great generosity that people all over are showing me, by sending little reminders that I have not been forgotten, that they still remember and think not only of me but some of the needs or luxuries that I could be missing out on.

I thought I would share here a few of the catagories and things that have come to mind while writing this note. This is in NO way inclusive of each thing that has been sent. Everything that has arrived so far has been used, enjoyed and loved. Thanks for sharing with me.

Most practical: Flea spray, bug/mosquito spray, bible studies, sermon tapes, coffee mug, medicated hair shampoo, malaria tablets, itching ointments, vitamins and toilet paper. OXI CLEAN!!!

Most luxurious: Tub pillow and bath bubbles, Mary K perfumes & makeup, honey and lemon stirring sticks, over the door hooks. Cake/ muffin and cookie mixes... OXI CLEAN

Most memorable so far: Notes and CARDS with personal sentiments (from nieces and nephews too!). Flea spray (meant that people were reading my blogs)

Most aromatic: Moldy Banana bread, thanks Mom! Plumeria packets OXI CLEAN

Most treasured food items: ALL FOOD ITEMS refried beans, black olives (mexican foods) anything lemon! French Vanilla coffee creamer Powder, spices

Best gifts for others: Bibles, calendars, coloring books, crayons, chocolates, small hard candies and pens. (Most of the time when I collect my parcel, I have to open it there at the post and show the contents, then the worker either takes what they want or asks kindly. This last week he took and tried to make it look like it was HIS - sorry man, the writing on the pen gave you away! )

BEST oops: Nutmeg that broke in transit and was all over the other items. I think that my friends car smelled of Nutmeg for weeks.

LONGEST in TRANSIT: 8 months! My mom is the winner on this... Sent sept 11, 2009 / arrived May 26, 2010
Shortest in transit: 10 days thanks to my friend April (loved the gingerbread Tshirt, book and movie!)

Thanks to all the great friends, family, supporters and generous participants of TEAM MADAGASCAR that reach out through the sending of care packages filled with all sorts of things. What blessings these packages are! I know that I am loved not only by the arrival of a package but by the thoughts and time that went into making that package happen,,, even when it takes weeks to arrive.

Making the treasures last that are inside of the boxes is a little more of a journey but one that I love all the same. Sometimes rationing out dessert mixes or spices or finding someone to bless with my abundance! God is so good and through that I must share!

Thanks for the CARE you share with me!

Traffic Jam

2010-05-02T23:43:00.004+03:00

Well, I have officially caused a crazy traffic Jam here in Madagascar. YES, it was all completely my fault and the people in my truck with me were a bit horrified. They actually sank down in their seats so that the people on the outside and in the street would not see them.

Looking back it was quite the funny day or experience but while it was happening and while I was causing the back up it was horrifying and such an incredibly terrible situation to sit through.

Traffic Jam (One Way)

Clogged the streets in 4 directions because I missed a one way sign. You see the one way streets are in abundance here. Even two way streets should really be one way streets many times. Well, I missed the sign and we were traveling during high traffic time down a very narrow street in the wrong direction. At first I asked the others that were with me if I had gone the wrong way and should turn around. They hesitated and told me to keep going in the same direction, so I did. The issue was down the road, it became very narrow, so narrow that my large and magnificiant truck would scratch on the walls around me when I tried to get over so that the oncoming cars could pass me. This worked for a little bit, only until a truck my size tried to pass me and started digging into the crude brick wall to his right side. He was less than a 1/2 inch from my fender and from there I could only imagine that we would become one Truck in a matter of seconds and then NO ONE would be getting around either of us.

Finally with much pleading, I was able to get the Malagasy friend that was with me get into the drivers seat by climbing over the seat to get me out of this crazy mess. So, when this happened some of the Malagasy people on the road started yelling at him in Malagasy. I kept telling everyone that I was so very sorry but that was not going very far. After some talking, apologizing and some great driving on my friends part we were out of the narrow opening and moving toward the junction.

Traffic in 4 directions was backed up, horns were honking and people were shouting and gesturing all in Malagasy. I guess this is one of the times that I have to be very glad that I don't fully understand the language.

I know for a fact that I will not miss that junction again! I am still timid when I drive on that street and from now on I know that there is another sign to look for when it comes to a one way street. If I can't laugh at myself then I guess I should just go back to the States!

out of contact and will be updating

2010-04-25T22:21:00.001+03:00

Most of April I have been in remote areas where internet was not available. I will do my best in the coming week to give you updates out of my journal of those times, people I met, how I spent my time and some of the growth challenges that came my way.

I am growing so much! Love this life! thanks for following me on this journey!

Manambolo: Thursday, Day Four

2010-04-22T13:37:00.004+03:00

Today I planned lunch and dinner, more pasta - since rice is hard to grow out here in this countryside. I talked with Vivian (the only other woman on the trip) about relationships and that was a very insightful time, many insights into the Malagasy life and style.

I carried water on my head again today. It is a very hard job, I had to use my hands to keep it balanced on the top, did not slosh it at all but I cheated this time I used a lid and really tried to only use one hand for balance. Not such an easy thing to do but accomplished it for the distance that I needed to for that day. HUGE admiration for those that carry it for miles on their heads, without lids and don't slosh any over the edges.

Todays plan - be strategic and survey the surrounding villages to see what the needs are spiritually and how God can use all of us there in the future. A group of 5 set out in the helicopter to follow up from the sky. I loved to see how GOD was using HIS people to be intentional for the future. Like in the scriptures when the spies went out to see if the land was good, some came back stating that it was not but two saw all that GOD could do there. Awesome.

Later in the day part of our group went on a longer walk to another village in a different direction today to check up on others that had been baptized in the past through this ministry. Amazing times, I stayed back to help cook the dinner and wash up the young girls that were there with us. Reports came back that 6 more people had made decisions for Christ. Now we are praying for discipleship, encouragement and the ability to read the written word (literacy is a huge issue in this area).

There were elders that were invested in this whole week and that was a large blessing also.

Cattle thieves have made this a hard life here in the Monambolo region so there were groups of men passing by in sets of 3 all week that were armed. It never bothered us because they never stopped by and were mostly friendly. Today a group stopped when I was at the camp with the 3 young girls. Two other men were near by but it appeared that I was alone with the girls. The girls colored and I cooked. The men were soon making themselves very comfortable around the girls and I had an instant alert or "red flag". I made my way very easily to one of the men and let them know what was going on and asked that he make himself known. Soon he was talking two the three men but that was not really going well. I then made my way to alert the other man that was left behind with me, who was at the time trying to take a bucket shower behind our brick shelter. He is a missionary kid and easily made his way to the three dangerous men and befriended them. It was great because the three men were really there for bad intentions. They wanted to get with the women there at the camp and were going to use force to get what they wanted. Praise the Lord for allowing us to be protected in just the right way.

Manambolo: Wednesday, Day Three

2010-04-21T17:54:00.003+03:00

Rolled over at 7:30 after a terrible night of no sleep and hot weather also felt that people were watching everything and that was a bit creepy. Good to have a few pictures with me of friends and family to help bring me back into a calm reality. Really enjoying reading James and talking about the trials that we will face and what they will create within us.

Cleaning dishes and making lunch and dinner were the main projects for the day again for me.

Challenge: I carried a 5 gallon bucket of water on my head and only sloshed once! This is a very tough task and one that really compressed my spine. How do these people do this every day and not end up two inches tall?

We visited with Ravezo again today in his village, took pictures and shared more about Christ. Many people sat with us and listened for over an hour and a half and the HIGHLIGHT during this time was that 4 men accepted Christ! Ravezo is the only one with a bible so he was asked if he could read to them every day in the late afternoon and when they had questions if they would talk about them and then ask us that would be great. As an elder in his village, this is an honor and we are so looking forward to all that GOD will do in and through these people and their true conversions into a life with Christ.

I noticed many children and women with home made bracelets and necklaces, worn tightly around their necks and woven into their hair. These are worn to ward off the bad spirits and many times come with bondage and evil of their own.

Community was working on the foundation again this afternoon now that it is not the heat of the day. The women even pitched in and helped roll the huge water drum from a closer well to the work site to mix our own concrete and make it here.

One of the other Men on our outreach team from South Africa shared how this trip, his first into a remote area, was so eye opening. He was really seeing God at work and was so glad that he was able to be here to see first hand what GOD was doing in people that had not ever heard before. Great to see this time through the eyes of someone new to service in this capacity.

After dinner I saw the shadow of something moving quickly toward one of the smaller children that we had brought with us. After hesitating I decided to shine my light on the thing and was so glad that I did! It was a scorpion and headed for the open and vulnerable toes of a child. I quickly shouted “Scorpion” grabbed the child and held her until the threat was killed by the others standing around. Praise the Lord for his still small voice and following that so quickly!

Gatoraide, Game, Tang are important drink mixes when going to somewhere remote when your body is loosing such important nutrients out sweat glands.

Some of the village kids came over to sing and dance with us after dinner. They really know how to move and it was a great time to laugh and experience time with all of them. Asleep by 8 pm! WOW this climate takes it out of a person!

Manambolo: Tuesday, Day Two

2010-04-20T16:13:00.004+03:00

"Up about 7 because the sun has been up for hours now and it is getting really HOT and steamy in my tent. Enjoyed reading in James this morning because when I woke up there was an older Malagasy man staring at me sleeping in my tent. That was a bit on the creepy side but when reading James 2 about the rich and the poor and treating them the same there was a great peace within me!"

"Just after Breakfast I started preparations for Lunch and Dinner. I collected water from the watering hole today but walked about a mile in search for a cleaner water source and ended back at the original one filled with algie. I have a new respect for those that carry water back to their home from a watering hole. It is heavy!"

"Grateful for the gift of a switchblade because I used it all day today! Cutting food, cutting wood to make tools and much more. Just cooking food is an all day process here."

"I dug poop holes for the children that were with us because everyone else was busy working on the foundation, collecting water and moving mounds of sand and rocks. The dirt here is very hard and not so easy to break through. I got blisters quickly but enjoyed helping when I could no matter the job."

"We were off to the local villages to encourage through the word today. We actually sat with a man, Veholita and 20 local children that were interested in listening and then once we moved on to the next gathering of homes we were so encouraged ourselves. You see, a man that was baptized on the last trip in October last year was sitting in the shade, leaning up against his mud home, reading the bible that was given to him on that very special day. We sat with him, Ravezo for a long time, asking questions about how he is doing, how his crops and village and family are doing and if he had any questions about what he was reading in the word."

"The physical work project is moving along quickly because some of the men from the local villages are coming out to help. What a great picture of community!"

"All day we had to make trips to the pond to draw water so that we could filter it and then drink it. It is VERY HOT here, water is consumed quickly by all, all day long. THe filters are not working as they should and have to be cleaned almost twice a day, this is getting annoying. Keeping my perspective on Christ, and remembering that everything that I do, I do it as unto the Lord."

"I actually took a quick pond water rinse to my head tonight in lieu of a shower, I was cooking and needed to stay close to camp at that time of night. It was great to see the sunset though! Tonight BED by 7:30 I am exhausted!"

Manambolo: Monday - Day one

2010-04-19T14:11:00.005+03:00

Because I was out of touch for some time I will be entering exerpt's from my journal here to tell the story of my time in the "countryside" or "bush" area of Madagascar that I was just able to visit.

"Today started very early - arriving at a bus stop around 5:45 am so that a group of us could drive 4 hours out of town to meet the helicopter that would take us to the remote area we are going today. Along the way at a checkpoint, some police decided that they wanted to ride with us, they told us that two would join us, yet four men joined us for about an hour or more of our ride. At least one was armed with some sort of shot gun. That was strange."

"I helped three young girls (6, 5, 3) learn to pee on the side of the road, since we were very far from public toilets. It was a fun experience that is for sure. Searched my brain for new words to explain "squat" to little girls."

"Heli arrived, we weighed everything and loaded it up. Arrived in the Manambolo area just after lunch and were very hungry from traveling all morning. Set up camp, held a friends baby because she was tired and would not sleep, until I rocked her to sleep! Glad that I still have the touch with babies"

"We walked to a river about 4 miles from camp, through brush taller than 6 and 8 feet. We could hardly see the walking path, many times stumbling and almost tripping! We walked past snakes, lizzards and crazy bugs. It was very itchy and some of the tall grass gently cut our arms and legs as we walked through the various obstacles."

"Met up with many Malagasy in this remote area as we walked back to camp. People stare at us all day long and never talk - strange... I feel like I am the caged animal in the ZOO and the Malagasy that live here are the ones that are spectators. Sunset amazing! Bed by 9 pm"

Gifts in the mail - Glasses

2010-04-15T23:36:00.002+03:00

Sometimes in these wonderful packages that I receive in the mail something spurs some fun and laughter, lightheartedness and creativity comes out of it.

This particular day and parcel there were some great sunglasses included. Some of my Malagasy friends and I had a great time trying them on and taking pictures. What a great way to break the ice and have a tiny bit of fun in the process.

I pray that you enjoy the pictures here as much as we did for the day wearing them and posing for the pictures.

Mahajanga - Security

2010-04-14T16:43:00.003+03:00

Some local missionaries in Mahajanga had someone break into their home on Easter and steal about 400,000 AR ($200 american dollars). The money was stolen out of a locked up house, then a locked room and inside of a locked firesafe box. SO, it has to be an inside job and someone somewhere has keys, and plenty of them to get that far.

One night while I was there staying with my Malagasy friends, close by, in the Tin Box I got a call in the middle of the night. Literally about 15 minutes to midnight from two single missionary gals that live on the outskirts of town. They had a visitor again, the burglar was there again, in the house with them, hiding under one of the girl’s beds. One of them saw a hand and yelled out to the others that they were not alone in the house. They were able to chase him out of the house without harm but they were very frightened as I am sure many people would be if they found someone hiding under their bed, in their room.

The group I was with was asked to stay another day to make sure that the proper things were taken care of. Police reports typed up, copied and signed, names stated, local officials signing off on them and stamping them to make them official, locks changed, security hired, help fired and given time to move off property, people crying, more lighting added, doors boarded up, the yard cleaned out… As you can tell there are many things to look after when you find someone in your home that doesn’t belong there. Safety first!

We had a meeting with the house help and had to let them all go because they had been warned recently that if something else had gone missing then they would all have to find new jobs and places to live. It was one of the hardest conversations that I had to sit through as an observer. The women were so upset because the dishonor that it brought to the missionaries that they had grown to love over the years, previously. There was one that said she was sorry she gave birth to a corpse than a spirit (it was her 14 yr old that was found to have been the one in the house, hiding under the bed) She is a broken woman but very much loving the Lord and glad that her son was found out and glad to know that there is hope of meeting up in the future and greeting each other as friends.

Mahajanga - Living in a tin box!

2010-04-12T16:12:00.003+03:00

My time in Mahajanga...

What a few days! WHEW! I took a group of people to Mahajanga (a town 8-9 hours north). I had a great time staying with some Malagasy friends in a tin house about 12 x12 in size.

I used their local outhouse (long drop as we call it here) and the bucket shower system that they all use every day all day long. When we went to sleep at night it was very HOT inside. You see, you can’t leave the doors or the windows open at night because you never know when people will be walking around your house, looking for things to steal or even people to inflict damage to. It is much safer to just stay in the well locked up home and sweat off those inches, try to breathe, and try to get some sleep where you can.

Easter Monday

2010-04-05T22:50:00.003+03:00

Earlier this week I was invited to join a Malagasy family to celebrate Easter Monday. I was very curious as to how they really celebrated this day since I had

not ever experienced that in the States all the years that I lived there.

Since they decided to drive to a location about 2 hours/ 60 km out of town this was a day that would start early and go late. We planned on packing up and leaving their home about 5 am. With this in mind I was invited to sleep over at their Malagasy home.

The room that I stayed in was an addition to the main home and used to be a store or “hotely” as they call them here, A place where one could stop for a bite to eat and refreshment. Often times there are limited plates, bowls and cups to use so you are using the same one that the person before you would have used. Don’t worry they clean them before you get to use them the point is that they don’t have an inventory of plates, cups and bowls or even spoons to take up space and cut into their bottom line. Because it was an addition there was a separate entrance above the rest of the house, up a flight of steep steps.

The night proved to be a bit restless, sleeping in a bed that was less that comfortable, a very light sponge on top of a wooden frame, but was generously given up for me to have the best in the house. Each time I tried to get comfy I could feel wood from something making it hard to really drift into a deep sleep.

In the early morning hours the house was bustling as people did what they could to get ready, packed up and cleaned up for the day. We were soon on our way but about an hour later than we had originally planned and that is ok by Malagasy standards depending on who you are with. We loaded up the borrowed mini bus with family and extended family and then were on our way. The bunch included 3 Grandmothers, 3 married couples and their children and then 6 singles from the teen years to my age! What a loaded bus! When we talked about going on a picnic I did not know that it would include taking a small brick/metal oven and all the other items needed to properly cook our food on there at the lake. Sort of like camping but with the things that you would use in your home every day. No specific "camping or day out" items here. We stopped at a local market and bought all our food fresh right down to the chicken and then finally we were again on our way.

Most of the day I was surrounded by Malagasy speakers, taking in the sights of people enjoying the day, enjoying each other’s company and relaxing (as much as one can when not knowing the language that is surrounding you).We took walks, played dominoes, prepared a wonderful full meal, ate food, took pictures and went out on the lake in a medium sized row boat twice as a group. We even sang songs on the boat! What an enjoyable time. This one thing of going out on a boat is scarry for so many Malagasy because they can’t swim. Enjoyable day all around and an adventure to remember for years to come.

It was a lot of work, a long day, packing up, loading the car, picking up people, cooking, preparing and lots of driving in traffic (most Malagasy go out of town to enjoy the day so you can imagine that many people are going to the same place…) Over all it was something that I hope that I get to enjoy each year from now on!

What a great way to celebrate the stone being rolled away and the opportunity to live a life in fellowship with God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit!

2010 April - Praise, Praise and Praise!

2010-04-01T01:02:00.002+03:00

...not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; perseverance, character; character, hope.... (Romans 5: 3-4) Thank you for persevering with me through this amazing, life changing process!

Praises:
1.) YAHOO, GOD has led me to the perfect truck for transportation. What an incredible answer to prayer. (See blog on the truck) It was much more than I was expecting or that I had been able to collect money to purchase but I know that it was the only option for me. The more I looked at cars the more this stood out as the perfect truck for ministry. The Malagasy man that was selling it is trusting me and in the Lord for the money to come in by April 8th.

2.) WorldVenture in Madagascar has just completed their prayer/ team meetings (thanks to a donor for paying my way to this, YOU and GOD know who you are!) It was a very tough but encouraging time! I have to be honest, I cried, and struggled to communicate well, but they were tears of growth, encouragement and working out of character in both me and others that needed to happen. I am HONORED and BLESSED to have been able to attend and grow so much in such a short time.

3.) I have been invited to spend Easter Monday with a Malagasy family. I have never experienced Easter Monday before (we have not celebrated this in the States before) so I am excited and yet feeling very reserved as I will be spending one night over with this family and really experiencing the day long traditions. I should be able to share more in a later post.

4.) The Large home that I have been living in has been a great blessing in the last month. For over 3 weeks I have had guests coming and going! Can you believe it? Already working toward the ministry of hosting people over here. GOD has been saying "WAIT" to me when it comes to housing and seems that all along HE has been working me toward this goal. I was able to collect overnight fees for room occupancy, meals served, transportation and internet service... I love hosting and LOVE how GOD has been in the midst of all the details.

5.) Incredible times of encouragement happened between the leadership and myself. GOD really used them each to share with me what they see in me for growth, and for the ministry ahead and they dynamics of the team that has been forming. I have been moving into this role of team and individual coordinator much as many others have that have gone before me in other parts of Africa. ALL as GOD has led because I had no idea! Isn't that incredible?

6.) Monthly support continues to climb back slowly. (85% now) I am moved to praise the Lord for how HE provides even amongst the fallen economy. I don't lack in food, in safety, in transportation, or in community! HE is my ultimate provider.

I am honored that you are reading, praying and following this incredible journey of growth in me and through me. May you be encouraged through all the tiny details,

Nicole

Paying the electric and water

2010-03-29T23:10:00.002+03:00

The days of electronic billing are a thing of the past for me. Here in Madagascar each month I have to collect the cash for my bill in an envelope and go to JIRAMA, the electric and water place to pay my bill.

If I am able to pay the bill early then I don't have to wait in incredible lines with over 50 to 100 people. I have found myself in the last couple of months there on one of the last days of the month, out in the rain, standing in a line that wrapped around the building and into the dirt yard.

Funny thing is that you can't pay with big bills or they keep all the change. You must have exact change so this payment must be planned out and executed well. I have to go and stand in line tomorrow and am praying that I get there early enough that I will not have to stand in line for long, will not get rained on and will not sink into the wonderful dirt/mudd yard that the line wraps through.

Through all of this - YES, I LOVE IT HERE. TIKO NY MADAGASKARA!

Cooking and Dishes

2010-03-29T08:08:00.001+03:00

I have to be honest, I really miss the connivance of a dish washer. The piping hot water that comes in and not only cleans off but sanitizes the dishes for the next use.

Here we use two basins, one gets the hot water to wash with limited soap and the other gets filled with hot water to rinse. Even though I use HOT water in both basins it seems that at times things don't ever get really clean as they did back in the states. The soap here doesn't seem to hold and really cut grease like it does in the states and you get an oily film that seems to reside on every dish you own after a while.

Maybe my washing standards were to HIGH, expectations to limited?

Oh, how I miss the days when I could load to the brim an incredible washer and it would do all the hard work, only to have me come behind it later to unload it and place all the items where they belonged in the kitchen. Not only that but the time those amazing machines save out of my day... Those were the days, really, those were the days!

House mate BAPTISED

2010-03-28T18:13:00.005+03:00

I was so excited to walk an incredible journey with my friend and house mate.

Great to see someone make a public confession of the inward beating of her heart for GOD.

Enjoy the pictures and rejoice with us in the process!

House mate arrives home

2010-03-26T15:08:00.005+03:00

I have a temporary house mate in this large home here in Madagascar, she works for a non-profit agency here in Madagascar and from time to time she goes out on excursions into the "bush" areas. She has been gone for a little over two weeks and last night she arrived home, unexpectedly to me. (doing a dance of rejoicing inside :) )

It is interesting the emotions, thoughts and feelings that came to me when she arrived home, as I heard her keys in the door and her voice upon the threshold. A great friend to confide in, someone to pray with and share some of the crazy moments of life with.

I am so thankful to the Lord for providing someone to share this house with me and yet - she will only be living with me here in Madagascar until June of this year. Praying and waiting on the Lord for the next chapters, the next house mate and the next adventures.

For now enjoying BEX!

Prayer, ministry focus and more prayer

2010-03-22T08:49:00.004+03:00

Due to a very generous contribution from a thoughtful donor I was able to join in a ministry retreat here in Madagascar, a FOCUSED Prayer time, check up time and a forum to dream for the future. I am currently part of a team of 4 missionaries here that are also very well connected with other missionaries from all over the globe, doing just about anything that you could imagine. Two of my direct team live in Mahajunga, (up North 10 ours by bus). Then I am here in the city with Sandi, making 4 single women looking forward and involved in amazing ministry opportunities. Our Madagascar field facilitator, Rich, was here for a month to assess and help facilitate where he could. Finally, Glenn and Kathy Kendall the African directors were here for 10 days to join us in these meetings, led us in a day of prayer and joined in on the focused conversations of ministry now and in the future.

This was a great time of encouragement for all. I struggled, to be honest with where I fit in because I am heavily focused on language study and the other three women, since they are committed for shorter times are tossed into ministry directly and quickly. I keep hearing, "language study, Nicole, focus ONLY on language study". This is very hard for me when I feel that others on my direct team are thrust into direct contact with Malagasy and able to start ministries. I was reminded however that getting a deeper and more intense grasp of the language would be what made my future ministry all that more viable and effective in the future. Still working toward the future and living very much, daily in the present.

Overall it was an incredible time of growing pains, prayer, tears, encouragement, more prayer, individual meetings and focus on the future. A very necessary part of this amazing process.

Thank you for following along with me in this amazing journey, your prayers, encouragement, your CARE packages, gathering for prayer there in the states, financial support and amazing connectedness via the internet allow me to know that I am not in this alone. I am not only honored to represent so many on this journey here in Madagascar but am blessed to see how GOD takes individual focus in all the details of each of our lives.

Excited about the future!

Amazed at the things that I see

2010-03-17T23:53:00.003+03:00

Pouring rain on a beautiful blue skyed day!

Children playing on a TOMB.

People wearing clothes 2-4 sizes to big. It might be all they have.

The amount of trash everywhere.

Brushing and sweeping of the dirt.

Dumpster people.

places people dry their washing.

How many banks in really poor looking low class neighborhoods.

Mixture of common and Educated.

Umbrellas and the universal uses.

How many people don't have shoes.

How many people eat and drink out of the same cup/bowl.

What the water looks like that they wash their clothes in. YUCK!

Creativity in making things out of trash: kids toys, novelty bags, rice sifters...

People scrounge to find $ just to buy their daily bread.

Children playing with old cigarette butts like building blocks.

An empty box used for a soccer ball.

Boys in girls clothes just to stay warm.

18 months to 2 years old - start of an occupation: Begging.

I see a GOD that cares for each of these people, each of the needs, each of the situations. He wants to meet each person, have that personal relationship with them all and desires to use us to start that process. I am praying to be open to be emptied, to wait and to be used, however HE will use me! Thank you GOD for giving me EYES TO SEE.

TRUCK on loan

2010-03-16T16:23:00.002+03:00

There are many things in life that I consider blessings and the newest one is of no difference.

Meet Blessings, the Truck that I have been granted on loan from a very trustworthy Malagasy friend of a friend of mine.

About two months ago I started looking into purchasing a small vehicle to get around town, something small that would get me safely from point A to point B when I needed to and especially for all the night time traveling that has been coming up. I was looking small because I wanted to save on fuel, and wanted something compact, easy to park and that would not take up much room. I looked high and low for days, walked miles upon miles and went to some very amazing places checking into cars that were for sale on a second hand basis.

Long story short, as I prayed, sought out cars and prayed some more the options were more and more discouraging than they were encouraging, until one day when we were looking at 4 cars up close at a garage. Two of those "cars" were trucks but they were sort of on the I would like but it will never happen list. This particular 4x4 rose to the top of the list, quickly. Being a 2004, one would think that it would have to many miles on it and not be in very good shape anymore? NOT the case. With only 88,000 Km on it, Brand new tires, a fantastic diesel engine, extra cab (room for up to 6 people), and a shell on the bed part, along with an amazing price - it became "the TRUCK" and the ONE that quickly made all others look like scrap from a junk yard.

This particular "BLESSING" quickly became a great matter of prayer. How could GOD allow such a great Truck to rise to the top without the money to pay for it? God had graciously allowed over $12,000 in american dollars to collect for this very need but it would not be enough. The final cost for the Truck alone will be $17,500 and with insurance, taxes, registration and transfer of title it is quickly adding up to about $19,000. There is a balance of $7,500 needed to finalize the transfer of this BLESSING to me. Nervous and yet excited to see HOW GOD WILL PROVIDE.

CONFIDENT that this TRUCK, is infact a BLESSING from GOD, I am trusting that GOD will move in the hearts of HIS PEOPLE. Please join me in praying that GOD will provide another miracle in this journey that I am on, in a very practical way. I am praying specifically that the finances will be donated, graciously and anonymously so that GOD may have ALL THE GLORY. KNOWING that this is from HIM, I am excited to see how this all works out. The Malagasy man selling the truck is willing to LOAN the truck to me as I pray and wait for the final amount to come in.

Deadline for money to be in his hands in cash is Thursday, April 8, 2010.

PRAYING FOR THIS MIRACLE on such an incredible BLESSING.

Amazing Malagasy sermon today!

2010-03-14T22:17:00.006+03:00

I attended a Malagasy church today with another missionary visiting from up North here in Madagascar. We were both blessed beyond measure because of what was shared.

Thanking GOD for the great perspective on the scriptures shared and the challenge to live a life according to those words. To rise above peer pressure and to look to GOD as the lead in our lives. What a blessed day!

YES, I was able to glean all of that without a translator at a Malagasy service! YAHOO! Loving it!

Still searching for a reliable CAR

2010-03-09T07:10:00.005+03:00

Most people would laugh or give up or both at the day that I had MONDAY and yet I was so proud of myself, may I share with you why?

It was pouring rain and I did not let that stop me or two of my guy friends that decided to help me in this journey. We got wet on the bus {the doors and windows collect rain instead of stopping it}, then we had to walk through enormous puddles, many times getting our legs wet, not to mention our shoes. It was cold and we were all wet. I could have stopped and turned back home and done this another time but this weather is around all the time as we approach the wet season. We were there and I forged ahead.

As we found the place with all the cars for sale, I mentioned that I would go out in the rain, get the phone numbers and the basic info on each car available and come back to the "wet free ZONE" to confer with them and then we could make a plan from there. The two Men agreed a little to easily for my liking but I did offer so I got myself ready and made a way through the first puddles to get to the line of cars. JUST then a bus drove through a puddle and soaked my whole lower half. INCREDIBLE timing.

I took down info on Peugeot, Renault, VW, Toyota and Mitsubishi. All in all there were over 12 cars to look over with more inspection and to ask more detail. Many of the owners or people selling the cars were just sitting inside of the vehicles and I did not see them earlier because there was so much RAIN coming down. It must have been a site to see. Some foreigner with an umbrella, pant legs rolled up, getting all wet, as she (me) stood behind their automobiles, writing things down.

Out of the 12 we funneled it down to 4, two volkswagens and two 4x4 trucks. After thinking long and hard and spending lots of time walking and riding the bus I have come to the conclusion that a 4x4 truck is going to get me out of more sticky situations than the other cars would put me into. Originally I thought that I could just buy a transportation car for two years and when teams started to arrive I could then buy a car with more room. This is proving to be a silly idea and one that I am sure God was scoffing at! With the political situation still not resolved here I have to look to the future, mindful of what would give more protection, be a bit more intimidating, serve more useful purposes and be travel worthy in ALL situations here in Madagascar.

One has risen to the top of the list and I am praying that once we check it out at the local missionary garage this week we will know more. It is out of my price range, I was able to raise

money for a regular tiny car but not able to raise enough money for a TRUCK yet. YES, I am trusting in GOD to do one of those TODAY miracles by providing the rest of the money, laying this need at the feet of HIS people all over the globe and praying that HE MOVES in the hearts of people to give! I treasure any prayers on this matter that anyone can muster. GOD is bigger than the tallest mountain, deeper than the deepest sea, HE sure can raise up people to contribute the last $6,000 needed to buy and insure this amazing TRUCK. REALLY a gift from HEAVEN in itself.

Will you join me in praying for this to happen so that we can all give HIM the praise, glory and blessings!