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 :)