A Year In Mada - Bullet Point Style

Greetings one and all! I am currently working on a blog post that delves a little deeper into my year in Mada, but in the meantime I thought I would do a quick recap of some of the many adventures and experiences I have had this year. We will take a brief look at my; travels, illnesses, experiences, ministries and friendships. 

"Why tarry...let us off to the castle!" - Court Jester ....if you haven't seen it..go watch it! If you have...watch it again! :)

Travel

Madagascar is a truly beautiful and unique country! So blessed to have been able to see God's artistry on full display here, even if getting to these beautiful places was often torturous! In the case of traveling in Mada it is def the destination that makes it worthwhile...the journey is BRUTAL! (Sorry for that mini rant...taxi brouses have not been my friend.)

• I spent well over 100 hours in crowded taxi brouse's
• One taxi brouse trip that was supposed to be 12 hours turned out to be 24 hours due to multiple breakdowns, smoking tires, breaks falling off etc.
• I had the opportunity to travel to the east and west coast of Mada (west is best!)
• I hiked through several rainforests
• I swam in a secluded waterfall paradise in the rainforest in Ranomafana (which means hot water) (oh and btw this place is perfectly safe to swim in [I think] and was not where I contracted schistosomiasis)
• I spent two weeks sleeping on a cement floor, and eating rice morning noon and night in Foul(pronounced fool) Point (east coast of Mada) on the ECA annual trip.
• Swam in the Indian ocean
• Stood in the center-most part of the island. (very cool)
• Paid 1000 Ar (50 cents) to take a small boat to a beautiful secluded island (in Foul Point)
• Went on a 20 mile bike ride..all uphill dirt,rocky roads (huge deal for me!) to visit lake Tritriva near Antsirabe
• Hiked 8 miles through rice fields into the countryside with a teacher at ECA (and a good friend).

Illness/Accidents

Oh man! I have always prided myself on being a very healthy person. This year made me relinquish that title. From minor cuts and bruises to some severe bouts with sickness this year has had it all.

• Bit by chickens on several occasions while riding the bus. (never serious at all though)
• Hand slammed shut in a bus door
• Foot run over by a passing (very heavy cart) just bruised
• Woke up one morning with one eye swollen shut..fine by the evening
• Got a deep puncture wound (from a knife) on my index finger, couldn't bend it for a very long time
• Burns to numerous to list. I blame my new-found interest in cooking, and to be fair...my fascination with matches and candles may have accounted for quite a few.
• Several bouts of food poisoning, but nothing serious
• Flu
• Got an amoeba
• Had round or hook worms twice
• I got severe salmonella poisoning (one of the worst weeks of my life! So miserable) Word to the wise...do not consume copious amounts of raw cake batter (with eggs) in a developing country.
• I got schistosomiasis..twice. Which for those of you who aren’t familiar with this lovely disease. It is basically a parasitical worm that sets up shop in your body and lays thousands of eggs a day wreaking havoc on your body. Was really sick for two months before finally going to the doctor. Still working on completely eradicating the little buggers!

New Experiences

This year has been full of new and exciting experiences and adventures! To numerous to list them all but here are some highlights.

• I ate zebu tongue
• I ate chicken liver (thanks Nina)
• Ate a fried fish that still had on it's tail, fins, head, eyeballs etc... Crazy part...I actually enjoyed it!
• I decapitated, plucked, cleaned, cooked, and ate a chicken
• I rode in countless pouse-pouse
• I learned to barter
• Became an expert at killing cockroaches, (huge) spiders and other critters!
• I bludgeoned a mouse to death with a can of tomatoes
• Received numerous marriage proposals (so if I am still single after several years..I know where to go!) :)
• I learned how to cook! Craziness! (I can make awesome homemade tortillas!)
• Learned how to do without a washer and dryer, dishwasher, microwave, tv, and car
• I was peed on by a lemur in a rainforest, and by a boy while waiting in a line
• I learned (some) Malagasy

Ministry and Friendships!! =)

I saved the best for last! I have been so blessed by all the different ministries I was able to be a part of this year! This wont be a comprehensive list, but covers the main ones.

• Worked at the CFCA for almost ten months helping them with their English and getting to know some of the sponsored members. This is also where I made a wonderful friend in Odile, one of the CFCA staff.
• Taught an ADV 1 ESL class and conversation class at the English Cultural Center of Antsirabe.
• Taught 2 INT ESL classes at the ML school.
• Spent several months working at a local orphanage. Playing with the younger children and (attempting) to teach the older kids English!
• Joined the a small team consisting of Malagasy doctors and a med team from the States in a week long medical clinic to surrounding villages (this is one of the biggest highlights of my trip.)
• Became a member of the NorMal Gospel choir and participated in a Christmas concert with them! So fun worshiping God in Malagasy/Norwegian and English!
• Recorded a song in Malagasy with my good friend Odile for her album and made a corresponding music video
• Became an “honorary” founding member of the English Chapel of Antsirabe, got to record a radio ad for the chapel and was a part of the worship team.
• Sang Amazing Grace in front of over 2000 men women and children at the CFCA birthday celebration and was able to share my testimony (with translation)
• Made a music video with NorMal Gospel choir
• Joined the Antsirabe Youth For Christ team, specifically their prison ministry and was able to share my testimony as well as several devotionals over the course of many weeks.
• Had the opportunity to share my testimony and sing at a Youth For Christ conference.
• Led a small weekly Bible study with three young Malagasy women.
• I made friends with people from all over! England, Scotland (woohoo!!), Australia, Madagascar (obvs), Brazil, Canada, Germany, Switzerland, and France.
• I made a dear and lifelong friend in Nina! Nina filled so many roles in my life this year. My landlady, my sister, a mother figure, my tour guide, my chef (and what chef she is!!), my friend. Thank you so much Nina! I will always treasure your friendship. You have taught me so much! I love you friend! And am sincerely going to miss you!

So this was a pretty cursory overview of my year. I am hoping in the next week or so post in depth on what God has taught me this year, what I have learned, and what the future holds. Stay tuned :)