His Work
Among the Malagasy People of Madagascar

Go ... and make disciples of all nations

                                                                                                  Matthew 28:19
Volume 18, Number 8 August 2003
The Barry Rosie family have worked on the mission field in Africa for more than 17 years under the oversight of the:
Fraley’s Chapel 
Church of Christ
c/o Phillip Young
140 C.R. 170
Corinth, MS 38834
Elders
Don Farris - 662-287-2548
Eugene Holland - 662-287-1721
Leroy Reed - 662-287-2556

 
Six things we love about Africa.
          Last month we wrote to you about one of those possible reasons that missionaries oftentimes leave the field so quickly after arriving.  This month we were reminded of another of those possible reasons that missionaries don't survive the mission field.  A few weeks ago, we received an email message containing the above title and these six photos.  The email had taken the route of at least one hundred other African missionaries before it reached us, and I'm sure we laughed equally hard as every other missionary who received it.  It was so good that we just have to share it with you.  Enjoy!  These photos depict true Africa.
 
Overcrowded vehicles everywhere one goes
 Daily specials that are really no special at all
  
  
 Clear Road Signs
 Obstacle free roads
  
  
 Innovative methods to get the job done
 And, explanations that make perfect sense

BUT!  In all fairness to Africa, there are . . . 
Many many reasons we really love Africa.

Did You Know. . .
. . . that Barry and I celebrated our 24th wedding anniversary this month?  At 8:00 am we walked hand in hand up to the corner open market area with Havilah accompanying us on her bicycle.  We bought 6 lbs. of carrots, 2 lbs. of onions, 1 head of cabbage, half a pumpkin, 5 cups of peanuts, 20 eggs, 4 lbs. of tomatoes, 2 pineapples, and a mess of greens.  Havilah carried our vegies home in baskets while we walked back hand in hand, and the rest of day continued as usual.  That's how we celebrated!
this and that
Three Baptisms 
          Three more men have been baptized in the area of the new Ambohimarina congregation, and their wives and children are attending worship too.  (See the top three pictures on page 4 of this newsletter.) We welcome into the Lord's body in Madagascar with joy-filled hearts Rakotoarison Luis Richard, Razafindrakoto Paul, and Andriatsitohaina Mpanolitrinimanana Edmond.  Our numbers at worship have topped 60 this month.  Children's class is growing weekly.  We started with 7 children back when we were meeting in our own little neighborhood and now the children's group has grown to almost 30.  We've started a women's class that meets on Sunday mornings two Sundays each month and the women are planning to take turns in teaching what they have learned from His Word.  Beginning in August, Barry and Rivo begin a Sunday Afternoon Men's Leadership Class.  These new Christians are grappling with a break from tradition, struggling with families over their new found faith, striving to learn more of their Savior, and trying to share Him with others.

It's been one of those months
          We painted the fence wall around our house and had the walls inside and outside cleaned.  It's been three years since we have had time to do much needed cleaning and repairs, and just about as soon as we finished, we discovered that our septic tank also needed opened and cleaned.  Then the old Diahatsu bit the dust once again.  It failed to pass inspection and needed major repair of the steering mechanism before being cleared by government inspectors.  In the midst of house and car cleaning and repair, we discovered that the men delivering cement to the orphanage land were stealing 6-10 pounds of cement from each bag of the 1000 pounds they delivered.  We are still trying to get to the bottom of that fiasco.  And on top of it all, on two different consecutive days this month, Barry and both of our volunteers became victims of the ever successful 
pickpockets!  Barry lost three telephone cards of almost $50.00 in value and the spare keys to both of our vehicles, necessitating new locks all around.  Sandy had her purse picked and lost about $15.00.  Angela's backpack was slit open with a razor blade and she lost $8.00.  Yep, it's been one of those months.

Welcome Brandy
          Brandy Walker, a recent OCU graduate, is packing her bags, having a few more weeks of fun with her family and friends in eastern Pennsylvania, and on August 14th she leaves the States and heads for Madagascar to give one year to a small group of missionary children who need a teacher.  Brandy also hopes to give some of her time and talent to the Betikara lambs and to the church in Madagascar.  She'll be staying with our family and volunteers.  We are all ready to catch her off the plane.  Welcome to Madagascar, Brandy!
EXPENDITURES

JULY
Diesel
 $ 221.62
Vehicle Maintenance
 1,235.81
Rent and Utilities
 724.48
Office
 478.99
Travel
 0.00
Misc.
 116.13
_________________________ __________
Total expenses
 $ 2,777.03
What can you do?
You can pray!
  • Pray for the continued growth of the congregations in the Antananarivo area.  Especially pray for the new congregation that is meeting on the Betikara land in the new building even before it is finished and ready for the Betikara Lambs.
  • Pray for the 12 new Christians that have joined the Ambohimarina congregation since the beginning of this year, and pray for their families as the new Christians try to encourage and strengthen their families.
  • Pray for the safe arrival of Brandy Walker on the 16th of this month and for the safe return of Irma Friesen on the 9th of this month.  Irma is returning to work with the Lambs and Brandy will be teaching school.
Miniature Missionaries
          They feel like they have been set free, these miniature missionaries of ours . . . no more homework, no more books, no more teacher's dirty looks.  They are still getting up at 6:00 am.  They hop into the oldest clothes they have, eat a quick breakfast, and are ready to go with Poppa to work at the orphanage land.  They haul water, sand, rocks, or gravel for the workers, move wet cement in wheelbarrows to the masons, dig ditches, plant flowers, and water trees.   There is always something to do, and they work all day long doing as they are bid.  The most important part of their day, however, is devotional time.  The miniature missionaries sit with the workers for the Bible study break and those devotionals become the subject of our dinner conversation many evenings.  They field questions from the workers after devotional, encourage, and motivate the workers to learn more about God and His Word, sometimes they carry on a running debate in the hopes of convincing someone about their need for a Savior.  The miniature missionaries may be on school vacation, but they are not on a spiritual vacation.
Barry, Stacy, Kit and Havilah Rosie
B.P. 7554
Antananarivo 101
Madagascar

Tel. 011-261-32-02-081-14
 brosie@wanadoo.mg
http:\\www.madagascar-mission.org

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We welcome you to join us in this work for Him . . .

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