Update // Song Fest Friday =)

Greetings one and all!!  I just want to give a brief update before sharing a few songs for SFF (you didn't think I would remember didja?Oh ya, I'm full of surprises!) =) 

Things are going very well here in Mada. I had my last ESL class for this term on Thursday. But the next several days will be very busy. I am grading student papers this weekend and preparing their exam for next week. As well as proofreading speeches for Adv 2 students. Sun, Mon, Tues, and Wed night I have choir rehearsal from 6-10pm, in preparation for our concert! =) As well as volunteering at CFCA, and then the concert on Friday night! As well as just the things of daily life, going to the market, (sometimes) cleaning the house, chasing my mouse, etc. =) 

Today, as many of you know, we filmed a music videoesque clip. Thank you all for your prayers. It went very well. Took 6 hours! Which perhaps is not all that long but it felt long (although very fun)! Great time of bonding with the group! It turns out we will have a guest singer at our concert Delan (sp) who is very famous in Madagascar. So for the clip they had him sing the solo (which I usually do) as it is better publicity for our concert. I was more than okay with it! Took all the pressure off and was able to fully enjoy the day with the choir! I should have asked prayer for my rhythm instead of my throat! As we had to do alot of swaying/impromptu dancing. =) I felt totally out of my element being put in front of a camera, lip syncing to our choir's recording and swancing (sway/dancing). But apparently they really liked my stuff. :) All in all a great (exhausting day!) 

Prayer Requests:

*For our concert on Friday. We will be performing at a place where apparently you are not allowed to evangelize, but it is okay if your songs are Christian (which all of ours are) So hopefully it will be a good witness! 

*Amy and Ryan Dupuis the short-term couple who have been serving here in Antsirabe (and been good friends to me) for the last 9 months are returning to Canada. Pray for safe travels and smooth transition back to life in North America for them. 

*Bailey Benson is a short-term missionary who will be joining us (Karin and I) in Antsirabe in January. If you think of be praying that God will be preparing her for what he wants to do through her and to or for her. 

*Pray for health. I haven't had anything terrible, just lots of different symptoms (some weird), Yesterday during class all of the sudden I heard like a whooshing in my ears as if I was holding a shell to my ear. And then later I heard a piercing whistle but inside my head. Been very tired, sore throat etc. So ya, just pray that I would be healthy, energetic etc. 

*Pray for consistent meaningful times in the Word. 

*Praise God for His wonderful mercies to me. Especially in bringing me friends my age to be with (in the choir) I have really missed that fellowship. 

*Praise God for sending me to Mada. It has not always been easy to be here or clear why. But I can now say with absolute assurance this is where he wanted me. And now that I am resting in His plan  I have found so much joy! 

Thank you for you prayers and support! Here are some songs! No captions because I can't type anymore right now (headache!!)

OK just one quick caption, this song is from the album Music Inspired By The Story. I really recommend this album! I love it! Incidentally the song from two weeks ago "How Love Wins" is also from this album. Enjoy!

~Your Heart~

Chris Tomlin

~Whom Shall I Fear~

Chris Tomlin

~To Live Is Christ~

Trip Lee

Song Fest Friday!

So after listening to a lot of great worship music today, I decided to begin a new tradition on my blog... Song Fest Friday :) Didn't see that coming did ya....? Oh... did the post title give it away...oh well. Anyways every Friday I am gonna post 3 songs that have impacted me during the week...perhaps there will be small accompanying captions...but who are we kidding most likely not. :) So enjoy and go worship God! He's awesome!

I love this song. Especially one line near the end. Make me tear up every time. "For all my sorrows and regret nothing could compare to just this one. That in the presence of my king I cannot fall upon my knees, I cannot carry You up to your throne; You instead, will carry me back home." I just how it illustrates our total dependence and need for Christ...we are completely unable to save ourselves. Only He can save us.

As some of you know "Be still and know that I am God" is one of my favorite Scriptures, and this song is so beautiful and I love how he repeats over and over "be still and know....be still and know....." I listened to it on repeat today like 10 times. Really helps focus your mind on God and his glory!

one last song... :) I love this song! It is a song of praising and extolling God and acknowledging His presence. I especially like to sing it on those days where I'm not feeling His love or when I feel distant. Such a good reminder that now matter what my circumstances or feelings may be the truth is that God is always there and always worthy of praise!

Hope you enjoy these and they speak to you somehow! See ya soon :)

Livin' The Good Life In Mada =)

Hello one and all! Just wanted to give you an update on things here in Madagascar! Since my last post things have gotten better and better. I am really starting to get into a rhythm here. =) My classes (against all odds) have actually been going very well! Shocking I know. It's weird because I have always said I am not a good teacher etc...but I am finding that actually when I have a good lesson plan I am really thriving. I love interacting with my students etc. So that has been a huge blessing. All praise to God for pulling off this minor miracle of turning me (slowly but surely into a teacher).

Another praise is a singing opportunity that has come my way! Super excited about this one. One of the young women who works at the CFCA (where I assist with ESL training) has become a very good friend. Her name is Odile. She has a fabulous voice and is currently recording an album. A couple months ago she asked if I would be willing to record a song with her on her album. I of course agreed!! =) This week we learned the words (it's in Malagasy) and the melody. It is great! It is called Fitia Tsy Manam-Petra which means love without limit. It is about God's love for us. Really neat! So that is super exciting. She would like to also, if she gets the necessary funds to do a short music video to the song.

And then this week She and Toki (the musician slash song writer for the album) who are in a Malagasy/Norweigian Choir "NorMal Gospel" invited me to join their group. They sing in many different venues all around. My first time singing with them will be this coming Saturday...so I have to learn six Malagasy songs tomorrow when Odile come to teach me. Please be praying that I can pick it up quick! =)

Another praise would be my growing friendship with Odile. She is such a sweetheart! A huge heart for the Lord and for people. And funny as can be! She is really a blessing to me.

So many great things happening. I am loving life here in Mada. God is faithful!

Oh and this morning we had English Church (meeting at Amy and Ryan's house with Karin and listening to a sermon podcast). The sermon really touched me. It spoke about how God showed how he loves us in the story of Hosea and Gomer. Wow! What an unbelievable image! It really made me want to study the book of Hosea in my quiet times...and so I'm gonna :)
         
God is gracious! God is faithful! God is love! What an Awesome God!

Thank you for your prayers! Please continue them! =)

Please be praying for my friend Nina's young son who was in a very bad accident and injured his leg pretty severely. Be praying against infection, for a speedy recovery and for energy and peace for Nina and her family!

Pray that I will continue to find new ways to serve here.

Pray that my passion for God will intensify!

Praise God for all He has done!

"Don't Waste Your Madagascar"

Lately I have wondered why God chose to send me to Madagascar. I know it was His will and I feel He made my path very clear. But when I am struggling to create a ESL lesson plan, fumbling my way through a class, or sitting on my couch on a days I have nothing planned, I just feel so useless and wonder what difference, if any, my being here is making in these peoples lives.

I read other missionary's blogs and see all the amazing things they are doing and I feel so inadequate. Which is partially why I have not been blogging recently. Feeling as though I had nothing noteworthy to share. I know that is just my pride flaring up and throwing a major pity party. The party usually goes something like this...”I am such a loser missionary ...if there was a prize for worst missionary they'd be pinning the blue ribbon on me” or I offer up excuses “If I was in a country where they spoke more English I would be doing so many great things” or “if only my assignment wasn't teaching then I would be excelling more”. You get the idea. I know that sounds pretty pathetic...but sin is rarely never pretty.

The feeling of 'why am I here' has been intensified this last month or so by all the things that make life here difficult. Missing my family, missing regular fellowship with believers, being harassed constantly on the streets, things that should be simple made unnecessarily complex.

However I was skyping with my dad the other day (who btw is awesome!) telling him about some of my struggles etc and he said (paraphrasing John Piper) “Don't waste your Madagascar”. Wow... I love that. So simple but so good. He went on to say that God is not limited by my situation, lack of fellowship etc, and if I am faithful to seek His face He can and will fill me and uplift me. And on that same train of thought, God is not shocked by my lack of teaching skill, He knew that before sending me here. It is incredibly encouraging and empowering knowing that God, knowing all my flaws, my strengths, my weaknesses, my tendencies etc, decided that Madagascar 2012 was the best place for me to be. He wants me here. He wants to use me. He wants to teach me things. He wants to reveal more of himself to me. And I think these last two months I have been missing out because I have been so focused on ME. How I was doing, what I was doing, what I wanted etc.

So whats the plan going forward? I'm taking my cue from The Avengers. “We need a plan of attack...”

                                                       

                    “I have a plan...attack!!”

So thats the plan. I am going to bury myself in the word. Listen to sermons, podcasts etc.Cry out to God for wisdom and guidance. I am going throw myself at God's feet and see where He takes me. Maybe this year isn't about changing the world. Maybe it's about learning to treasure and trust God above all else. Maybe if I stop concentrating on all the ways I fall short here, God will end up using me in ways I never imagined. 

You may be thinking...hmmmm this sounds familiar...where have I read something like this before...oh yea two blog posts ago. What can I say? I did my best....which was precisely the problem. I tried to fix everything and put my sin to death etc on my on power. So this time I am relying on God to change and mold me. Which is harder than it sounds. Change requires action, but action without changing power from God is futile. The legalist in me so badly wants there to be a way for me to solve it all on my own. But I have proved over and again that that is not happening anytime soon ever.  So I have to activley pursue change, whilst relying totally and fully on Jesus Christ. I don't have it all figured out but one thing I do know is that by God's grace... I am not "going to waste my Madagascar"!

"There once was a woman who killed a spider"

Last night I engaged in a battle to the death with an S.O.U.S. (spider of unusual size). It wasn't pretty....[yes I know Princess Bride references in the last two posts...what can I say).

Allow me to set the scene.

The events described here are accurate and true.

Act 1
Scene 1: A nondescript bedroom in Antsirabe, Madagascar/ A young woman lays sleeping peacefully. Suddenly and without reason she awakens with a start. Fearing she has over slept and missed an important engagement, she lunges at her computer, and anxiously waits for the the display to load. After achingly long seconds, she learns that it is but 3 in the morning and she has been sleeping for a mere 2 and a half hours. Irritated and groggy the young woman decides to utilize the little girls room so as to avoid any further interruptions of her precious slumber. If only she knew what this seemingly little decision would lead to.

Scene 2: But alas not being privy to details of the terrifying events to come, she climbs out of bed, trips over the rug and stumbles into the hall. She then approaches the bathroom without fear or apprehension. If only there had been a sign!

Act 2
Scene 1: An equally nondescript bathroom in Antsirabe, Madagascar/ A young woman washes her delicate long fingers (okay fine...short stubby fingers...just doesn't flow as nicely) in lukewarm soapy water, and as she turns to dry her hands she spots.... "It" on her wall.

S.O.U.S!!
(And no I did not add the creepy red splatter )

Scene 2: Several moments pass, and neither the woman nor the beast move a muscle. Then the woman springs into action! And by springs I mean...carefully, cautiously, and painstakingly-slowly she creeps out of the bathroom. But now what is she to do? As much as she longs to simply deny this creatures existence and return once more to the safety of her bed, she knows this is not an option. The possibilities of what might happen, what "it" might do whilst she is snoozing are too terrifying to consider. This monster has to be dealt with here and now.

Scene 3:Command central (the kitchen table)/ Suddenly a plan of action pops into her head. But she is going to need a few supplies first. Rubber gloves - check. Blunt force object - check. Paper towels - check. And last but not least armor. What to use for armor? She can't risk going in unprotected...this monstrosities skills are unknown. Then her eyes lit upon it from the hall. The floor length blue bath towel. Perfect! She gingerly retrieves it from bathroom desperate to avoid disturbing the spider in its lair. Success! Now she has only to put together her ensemble.

                 

Act 3
Scene 1: The belly of the beast...(the bathroom)/  She once more enters the bathroom, but this time with determination, iron in her heart and a glint in her eye. She spends several moments staring at the creature. Unable to will herself to initiate the conflict. How would "it" react. What would "it" do?? Finally she musters up the courage and deals a powerful blow to the S.O.U.S. with her weapon of choice...a large Tupperware. This blow would have completely obliterated ordinary vermin but to her horror he seems unfazed...and possibly a bit annoyed. She swallows a scream and blindly reaches for a more effectual weapon...a boot. She then attacks "it" wildly. Blow, after blow, after blow, after blow...till finally the beast lies dead. She then retrieves the paper towels from her arsenal and quickly (but carefully) grabs the carcass and tosses it unceremoniously down to its watery grave!

Final Scene:  Dimly lit bedroom/ as the adrenaline quickly leaves her body she finds herself shaky and exhausted from her long ordeal and the lateness of the hour. She lets out a nervous laugh, that she barely recognizes as her own, and collapses into her bed satisfied that order has been restored.

And thus ends my tale. I thank you for your attention.

Learning Humility

Sometimes it's hard to live in Madagascar. It's hard to see destitute children digging through garbage and not be able to do anything to alleviate their poverty. It's hard not to be able to walk down the street without men constantly hissing at you, staring at you, and calling out to you. It's hard to be away from all of your family and friends, to feel so alone. It's hard when everyone expects you to teach and yet you feel completely inadequate to do so. It's hard to live in a country where so few people speak English. Which makes it hard to share your faith. It's hard when you wonder if you are really making any difference at all.

Right now, life is slow. ECA is on holiday which frees up my schedule quite a bit. Which also gives me quite a bit of time on my own. Not the best thing. I am really struggling to figure out what God wants to do with me in Madagascar. I know He wants me here. I just don't know for what purpose.

I think part of what He is teaching me (or trying...I need to be a better student!) is humility. "Let me 'splain"....."No there is to much let me sum up" (sorry had to)  I always envisioned my first year of missions doing something extraordinary for God. Working with war-torn orphans, or sharing the gospel with an unreached people group, or counselling vulnerable women in a dangerous country...you get the idea. And here I am teaching English. First off just let me say that teaching English is a wonderful ministry and by no means do I want to lesson its value. But it wasn't something I ever pictured myself doing. Sometimes it just feels so meaningless. My students are the only ones I can really share my faith with because of the language barrier and yet most of them are professing Christians.

The people who seem to really need to hear the truth of the Gospel are the little old lady beggar who sits on the side of the road everyday wrapped in a white sheet. Who smiles so brightly (albeit toothlessly) when I greet her in Malagasy and affectionately shake her hand. Does she know Christ? The pouse-pouse men who tirelessly pull people back and forth on their rickshaws to provide for their families. Do they know Christ? The children who relentlessly beg for my spare change day after day...do they know Christ? Sadly my Malagasy is not advanced enough to engage in deep conversation with these people. And that is where I have to realize, that is not my ministry here. I am short-term...and my main ministry area is speaking/teaching English. So I have pray for these people, pray that God would reveal Himself to them. Pray that he would use people like Karin who has been here 11 years and speaks fluent Malagasy to minister to them.

Back to my students, how would God like to use me in their lives. Perhaps just encouraging them in their faith, mentoring them, and showing them new things about our Savior. Which as I mentioned in a previous post, please be praying for my possible Bible-Study that would start hopefully at the end of Sept (beginning of term). Going through the book "Jesus With Dirty Feet". I want to call the study "And who do you say that I am?" Basically a time of learning what the girls know about Christ and what significance He has in their life. And just spend time in the Gospels digging into who Christ is and how that should shape our lives.

 It's not glamorous, or flashy...and I think that may be the point. Perhaps God would like to see me faithful with a little before entrusting me with a lot. Willing to serve regardless of the reward, or acclaim it accords me. Jesus did many amazing miracles, but he also washed his disciples feet. Hmmm...wow I am kinda answering my opening question as I write and think.

I have been feeling discouraged these past few weeks, feeling like a failure as a missionary, as a Christian etc and now I wonder if that all was simply pride. Pride telling me I should be doing something more grand, more inspiring, more difficult etc. Fear of man telling me people expect more from me. Instead of humbly and graciously accepting the tasks God has given me and being faithful and content in that mission.

I know that change in my heart is not going to happen overnight, but I think I might just be heading in the right direction.  Thanks for bearing with me as I work out my sin and confusion by the grace of God. I am not a perfect Christian, and I am not a perfect missionary. I make mistakes, I stand up only to fall, I make plans and fail to follow through, I worry and I fret... and yet in Christ I am perfect, and through Christ I am perfect for this year of ministry he has planned for me.

"God doesn't call the equipped, he equips the called!"  (not sure who said that, sorry)

Please pray for continued growth in humility, a vision for what God wants to do 'in' and 'through' me this year.  Pray for comfort during times of loneliness. Pray that God would equip me to be a more effectual teacher. Pray for consistent and deep times in the Word of God and richer fellowship with Him.

Thank you all so much! I am so grateful to have people in my life who lift me up in prayer! Please feel free (hint hint) to send me an email, fb me, or leave a comment with verses or prayers or encouragements! I definitely need them! =)

Mandrapihaona!

Jesosy Kristy!

Friday night.... 4:30 pm... train station in Antsirabe... over two thousand people...no place to sit...hearing the truth of the Word of God spoken to them on loud speakers...does it get better than that? I suggest that it does not! What an amazing experience!

God's hand of blessing was really over this evangelistic event! In Madagascar there is a distinct tension between the different denominations Lutheran, Presbyterian, Catholic, Baptist and so on. But tonight the pastor started by saying...we gather together tonight in the name of no denomination, but in the name of Jesus Christ! Well actually he said a lot of Malagasy that I have yet to learn but my fellow AIM'er who has been here for 11 years was there to translate for me! 

It was amazing! The entire focus was on Jesus! The pastor would say a few words..or rather shout and exhort the people to come to Jesus to return to Jesus to give Jesus our lives! And we would sing songs to Jesus praising him, asking for his blessing and offering him our lives! Then there were prayers and then more preaching and more songs! It was awesome! The speakers were so loud I am sure half the town could hear these truths being proclaimed! This kinda of teaching is so needed here. Mormonism and Jehovah's Witness have been growing like wildfire here! The Malagasy are very quick to believe what they hear without going to the Word of God and sadly many have been led astray! It was wonderful to see so many gathered. Rich, poor, men, women and children.

One man in particular really touched my heart. He was clearly extremely poor, elderly and most likely homeless. He looked tired and  perhaps felt a bit out of place. He started by sitting in the street, then he moved closer and closer till he was standing just about next to me. I began praying that God would speak to him and encourage him. And a little while later he raised his hands in worship and I saw him wiping away a few tears. I don't know if Jesus found him for the first time that night or if he merely reminded this weary old man that he was still with him, either way  it was a beautiful thing to see! 

I have included a short little video of the event...the camera work is very poor and the light is  not great, but thought you might enjoy it anyway! =)

Okay...so it wouldn't let me upload it here but I was able to upload to YouTube...so here is the link

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YxaHmkjLsxY&feature=youtu.be

The magical powers of Justin Bieber

Wow...I never thought the day would come when I would do a post with Justin Bieber in the title, but here we are. Today I had my first English lessons with the older children at the orphanage I am volunteering at on Tues and Wed and the day turned out to be quite different than I had anticipated! =)

You see yesterday one of the teachers who speaks  a little English told me that the children would be gone today so would I mind teaching English to the teachers who all speak some English. I said that would be fine. Upon arriving I discover that there is only one teacher there today who speaks very little english and about 13 children ranging from 13-18 who all speak very very little English. My plan had been to just assess the English leval of the teachers and spend today getting to know them a bit. That went out the window. So using my little bit of Malagasy I invited the children to sit down and introduced myself and learned their names and ages. 

Then we spent a good hour learning the following. Picture me..if you can standing at a blackboard with a piece of chalk...writing out these sentances....so weird thinking of myself as a teacher...lol..anyways...

Hello my name is ...nice to meet you. How are you? I am fine thank you. How old are you. I am .... years old. See you later, goodbye. Basically I taught them (some) of what I have learned in Malagasy, that way I could tell them what I was teaching them. So I would say "Salama, Lauren No anarako (hello my name is Lauren), "faly mahalala anao" (nice to meet you). "Manahoana ianao?" (how are you) "salama fa misaotra" (I am fine thank you) "firy taona ianao?" (how old are you) "23 taona aho" (I am 23 years old) etc. Veloma (goodbye) Mandra-pihaona (see you).  We did many different drills and they all did very well..but it was a tad dry. Seeing as I had no lesson plan prepared. Flexibility is key in Africa! =)

 So just as they were all staring at me with blank faces probably thinking about dinner, Eva the oldest girl there who spoke a little more English asked me if I was a singer? I told her I was and they said... sing!! I had no idea what to sing when one of the younger girls yelled out BIEBER! Ugggggh! "Bieber...why did it have to Bieber" (Raiders of the lost Ark...modified). But they all seemed quite keen so I let out an "wohoohohoh//wohohohhohohhoh" "you know you love me, you know you care...etc" and they went crazy laughing and smiling, one boy in the back started accompaning me with makeshift drums while another boy beatboxed along. A little girl in the front gave two enthsusiastic thumbs up...repeatedly! =) And in that moment we all really started to bond. And then what do you think they wanted next....if you said Miley Cyrus...then you would be right...if it is possible I like her even less than Bieber...but you gotta do what you gotta do. "I can almost see it that dream I'm dreamin...." =) they didnt know the words to the song...but they knew the tune and were all humming along! They seemed very excited for me to come back next week! So thank you...Miley and Justin... =) 

Countryside Pictures!

Just pictures today of my visit to a friend in the countryside. =) They be a bit boring but in person it was very beautiful!

One month in...

Wow, I just realized that today marks the end of my first month in Madagascar. I have to say this month really flew by!

I am very excited about some new developments in my schedule here. There is an NGO here called Christian Foundation for Children and Aging (CFCA), and Karin, my facilitator, is good friends with the women who runs the offices for all of Madagascar. It is an American organization run by Malagasy people. There is a great need for all of the staff to speak English. Liva (Karin's friend) speaks wonderful English with a fabulous British accent, but most of the staff are in need of some additional training as they are required to do numerous translations of sponsers letters, and speak with sponsers etc who visit.. There are 5 sites in Antsirabe and so I will visit all the sites on a cycle, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday morning from 8-10. Practicing conversational English and assisting with any translation needs they have. It is a really neat organization that I am thriled to be able to help in a small way!

And also starting this week I will be going to a local orphanage Tuesday and Wednesday from 2-4. On Tuesdays my agenda is simply to play with the kids and have fun and on Wednesday...you guessed it....teaching English. Everywhere I go people want me to teach English. Which is somewhat amusing to me because I am the farthest thing from a teacher. However I have purchased some books on TESOL and am applying myself to become a more effective teacher. =) This particular orphanage is rather small with 13 girls and 9 boys. With ages ranging from 7-16.

I had really hoped to work with children 5 and under at the orphanage, so Domoina (a teacher @ ECA) is helping me find an orphanage in Antsirabe for young children that I can volunteer at on Thursday afternoons.

So with all of that my schedule is really starting to fill up. On Mondays and Fridays I work at ECA's Library from 9-12. On Tuesdays and Thursday I have conversation class in the evening from 6:15-7:45. On Tuesday and Fridays I have Malagasy lessons for an hour both days. Fridays are also the day when the missionaries in Antsirabe (Ryan, Amy, Karin, and myself) get together for fellowship and prayer. And keep in mind I walk everywhere so that takes up a good chunk of time as well. =)

Oh, and please be praying as I am hoping to speak with Madame Zanoa (the head of the ECA) about announcing a Bible Study for girls (with advanced 1 English and higher) on Saturdays at my house. I am thinking about going through 'Jesus With Dirty Feet' with them. This probably wont happen till Sept though since we are coming to the end of term next week.

I am also super excited that in August I get to join a medical team from the States and some of the local physicians in travelling to villages surrounding Antsirabe for a week providing much needed medical care. As I understand it we leave very early each morning, drive several hours to a remote village and spend the day caring for their medical needs and return to Antsirabe in the evening. And then head to a new village the next day. Obviousley with my limited medical skills I will most likely just take blood pressures, temperatures, weights, etc perhaps help with some bandaging....really not sure.  But it will be a great experience, I have really really been thinking and praying about getting my LPN upon returning to the states, and then pursuing medical missions.

Sorry that was kinda a dry monotonous post...but I thought it might be nice to give you a glimpse of what I am doing here. So anyways...God is awesome! Had a good week. Feeling excited and energized! Please continue to keep me in your prayers!

Misaotra Betsaka! <3

Good Day =)

So just a quick post about my day...kind of silly stuff but it made me very happy...

So this morning I had to go to Karin's (longtime AIM missionary in Antsirabe) house to pick up an important piece a paper...I am now legal in Madagascar...till Oct and by that time hopefully the rest of my papers will have gone through. :) And while that was good...it is not the impetus for this post. While on my walk back I had several opportunities to use my newly acquired Malagasy phrases. :) So encouraging when they actually understand you and you understand some of what they say! :)

Scenario 1:
 I walked past a group of women who called out 'Manao ahoana' (hello)
to which I replied 'Salama' (also hello)
"inona no vao vao" (any news..or what up) she inquired
"Tsy misy" (nothing much), "manao ahoana ienao" (how are you?) I answered
'salama fa misaotra' (I am fine thank you) she replied beaming :)
we then exchanged "veloma's" (goodbyes) and parted ways.

Scenario 2:
these are not so much scenarios as they are a daily occurrence now.
- Beggar children swarm or street vendors haggle me and I have now gotten quite proficient at saying "Tsy misy omena zaho azafady" (I have nothing to give, sorry.) -Azafady can mean please, excuse me or sorry depending on context.
-Pouse-Pouse drivers try to get me to take a ride in their rickshaws (which I do use occasionally) but when I do not wish to I say "Aaan, tsy mandeha pouse pouse, zaho fa mandeha tongotra" (No, I do not go by pouse pouse I go on foot...loosely translated).. or simply "Aaan misaotra" (no thank you)
-I also use "Tsy azoko" (I don't understand) and "Izay ihany no haiko" (thats all I know) quite a bit. Because as soon as I say Salama or misaotra or something they assume I know Malagasy and start attempting to engage me in conversation.

Scenario 3:
Okay this is the one I am most excited about! I tried my hand at bartering today for the first time. And I won!! :) So far the 3 rickshaw rides I have taken cost me $2000 Ariary each which is basically $1 American but a  vazah (foreignor) price here. So today I went up to a pouse-pouse driver on my way home and asked him

"Ohatrinona Ampiavina Galana" (basically how much to take me to the gas station in my neighborhood)
He replied "roa arivo" (2000)
to which I said "Aaan, lafo be" (no very expensive) "dimy-un-zato" (500 ariary) to which he countered, I think "arivo" (1000) I said "aaan misaotra" and started to walk away then one of his buddies (another pouse-pouse driver) tried to get me on his and I said "dimy un zato?" he shook his head but I just stared at him and he finally said okay "enar" (not sure how to spell that one). And one of the men watching gave me a thumbs up and said "tsara be" (very good).

That all probably seems very inconsequential but it was very exciting for me! :)

Oh an a quick update on my puppy Max. So I have decided to try an find  a new home for him...I absolutely love him to bits, but I simply do not have the time and energy for him. And once I begin taking trips with the school etc finding someone to care for him will be quite difficult. So please be praying that we (Madam Zanoa, Nina, and I) can find him a good home soon! I am going to miss him like crazy but I think it for the best.

Thats all for today have to get ready to head to class in a bit :)

Eyes fixed on Christ!

Greetings from Madagascar! I have now been living here for almost two weeks. There are so many stories I could tell you about all I have experienced so far; pouse-pouse drivers, my lovely flat, tsensa-sabotsy (saterday market), my crazy puppy Maximus, bed-bugs, my new-found celebrity status, food-poisoning, english conversation classes, delicious sambos (sp) a fried flour and meat concoction my wonderful landlady (and friend) Nina made for me...sooo good :), a picnic at a beautiful lake with a ghostly legend, and so much more but for this post I want to focus solely on Jesus!

In these two weeks I have experienced so many emotions; sadness, excitement, fear, exhaustion, joy, loneliness, and discouragement. And yesterday the Lord gave me a wake up call. I have not been relying and pressing into Him. Finding myself outside of my comfort zone and all alone I turned to entertainment as my crutch, my way to unwind and to be refreshed. For those of you have been following my blog or know me, know this is classic Lauren. :( Last night as the Lord made me aware I cried for the first time since being here...ashamed of how quickly I forget who is my Sustainer, my Comfort, and the only One who satisfies me. But then I remembered that the Lord is not surprised by my failure, He knows my weakness and when I recognize my sin and confess it He welcomes me back with open arms. There is no condemnation with Him.

So today I have spent my time listening to worship songs, reading the Bible, and listening to sermons, (as well as teaching at the school, buying groceries, attempting to cook lunch, walking Max [and then napping with Max], attempting some Malagasy convo on the street, getting papers certified at the court house etc). And although I am still exhausted and working through a myriad of emotions it is amazing how much my spirit is lifted and my heart encouraged! I am determined to keep my gaze fixed on Him! I know I will fall again...but I also know my Savior will always be there to pick me up! What a gracious Lord! I am so so thankful that my salvation is not dependent on my perfect obedience, but on Christ who lived a perfect, holy life and then died in my place! Amazing!

 "In Christ alone my hope is found"! 

Before I say veloma (Malagasy for goodbye) I want to share a few prayer requests with you.

• Praise for good health...pray for that to continue :)
• Pray for deeper fellowship with the Lord and consistent times in His Word
• Please pray that I would find opportunities to share my faith, these are not easily discovered and will require creativity and the Lord's guidance!
• And more specifically that the Lord would lead me to one or two young women who I could mentor and encourage in their walk with the Lord. 

Misaotra betsaka

(Thank you very much!)

The year to come! =)

Well the day has finally arrived!! Tonight (in 21 hours...it's 1:00 in the morning....how do you say insomnia?) I start my journey to Madagascar with layovers in London and South Africa along the way. I have spent the last two days in Atlanta, Georgia at AIM's headquarters for my orientation! I have met so many amazing people! In particular my ladies; Allie, Lindsey, Lisa, and Racheal who are all headed to Uganda for the summer! Love you girls and praying for you all! I truly treasure your friendships!

These few days here have been such an encouragement to my soul and a deepening of my relationship with Jesus Christ and an anticipation for my mission!

 I am so excited to see what this year will have in store. I know there will be good days and bad, tears will be shed - happy and sad, laughter will abound, friendships formed, mistakes made, lessons learned, a new language acquired (hopefully :]), learning to teach and to be taught, loneliness, and joy,....and maybe, just maybe some cooking skills??? :)

 And through it all my prayer is that this year would be a year of drawing ever nearer to my Savior and Lord Jesus Christ! Oh, this is my desire!! A year of greater hunger for His word. A year where my ultimate goal is for His name to be made great, not my own! A year of a more intimate personal relationship through consistent and constant prayer! A year where His glory is on full display to the Malagasy people. A year of living life that shows the love of Christ to all I encounter! A year where I am used as a vessel by God to bring other sheep into His fold! This is my prayer! I would be so blessed if you would join me in these prayers!

Blessings to you all!

Lauren

A photo journey of the Red Island (Madagascar) =)

I though it might be kinda fun to take you on a photographic journey, if you will, of the island I will soon call home for the next year. I hope you enjoy the pictures I have included of the scenery, the animals, and the people. Soon I will be able to upload my own photos =)...however they most likely will not be quite as good.

A lot of people have asked me where Madagascar is....so here you go :)

The Malagasy's Flag 

Their currency is called Malagasy Ariary (MGA) $1.00 Us currency is equivalent to $2,105 MGA. 

This is a pouse-pouse the main form of transportation in Antsirabe (the city where I will be living)

Another pouse-pouse...

Rice fields....a common sight in Central Madagascar

Rice...morning noon and night...my new diet :)

a produce market in Antsirabe

Street scene in Antsirabe

Another snapshot of life in Antsirabe

Scenery in the Central Highlands 

A lake near Antsirabe

Baobab tree - common in Madagascar

Elephants foot plant

The Pitcher plant - a carnivorous plant that eats insects

The Fossa! Madagascar's largest carnivore.  The animated movie  has confused a few people, so lets set the record straight. There are no lions, hippos, or giraffes in Madagascar (also no penguins but I think that goes without saying)

Madagascar is famous for Lemurs! The only place they can be found! There are nearly 60 species of Lemur found on the island.

Lemurs at play

a zebu..."a humped cow" 

comet moth

a giraffe weevil

another shot of the fossa

the mantella frog

 Various gecko species

Chameleon! Over half of the worlds chameleons live in Madagascar! Here are some of my favorites!

 And most importantly - the reason for this trip! 

Sharing the Gospel with the Malagasy people!

Thats all folks!! =)