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His Work Go ... and make disciples of all nations Matthew 28:19 |
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Volume
22, Number 4 |
April 2008 |
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The Barry Rosie family
have worked on the mission field in Africa for more than 23 years under the
oversight of the: |
Fraley’s Chapel |
Elders Mike Whitehurst -
662-287-7631 |
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Tina and
Hianitra “Being confident of this very thing, that he which
hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of
Jesus Christ.”
Philippians
1:6
I first met Tina in February of 2001. At that time, Betikara was
getting ready to break ground. We were in the process of hiring people
that would work in various jobs. Tina was the one guard that we hired to
oversee the grounds, equipment, and supplies that we would need to
complete our building task. I did not know at the time, only assumed, that
Tina had a wife and family somewhere.
For about two years I was present at the Betikara land “day in and
day out”, as the expression goes. There was a lot that needed to be
accomplished. Tina proved to not only be capable of handling the job of
guarding, but he also proved to be diligent in always showing up no matter
what the weather was like on a given day. During the ongoing building
project I taught a bible lesson every morning during the workers break.
Everyone, including Tina would sit patiently and listen. However, I did
not notice that any of the workers were actually considering what I was
teaching. Eventually I had the privilege of meeting Hianitra, Tina’s wife. I soon found that while Tina was diligent in performing his work at Betikara, he was not as interested in His gospel as Hianitra. Soon Hianitra was attending service with us in the guard house every Sunday morning, but Tina was seldom present. Tina would spend his Sunday’s playing soccer with some of the neighborhood men and Betikara workers.
I was able to talk to Tina and Hianitra as a couple, and I was assured that they both wanted to become an active part of the then forming Ambohimarina congregation. What I saw was that Hianitra was serious about committing her life to Christ, while Tina continued to worship occasionally, and more often frequented the Sunday soccer games. Tina did come more often but was continuing to be pulled away from His church.
It was on January 12, 2003, that Tina and his wife Hianitra gave
themselves to Christ and were baptized in the lake at the foot of the
Betikara property. You can imagine how I felt upon witnessing this
glorious event. Hianitra started teaching children’s classes on Sundays
and their two boys started attending bible classes and worship. Tina
showed up more often, but was still absent more than present on Sunday
mornings, still preferring to spend his time involved in secular
activities instead of spiritual endeavors.
For a while it seemed that Tina regarded Saturday men’s meetings as
more important than Sunday morning worship. I often heard of the struggles
that Tina and Hianitra faced with their two boys that were growing into
teenagers. I tried to counsel them about what they should do, while
stressing to them that if their boys did not see changed lives and
dedication to the Lord from their parents (their father for the most part)
that the boys would not be as willing to follow their parents
lead.
Tina and Hianitra complained that their boys did not have good
friends and that they were constantly getting into trouble at school, in
the local community, and at home. The boys would go out of their way to
not respect the wishes of their parents. Due to the passing of time, new
friendships, the influence of the Betikara Orphanage, and a more dedicated
life on the part of their father this problem has almost completely
alleviated itself. A long time has passed since the last complaint was
voiced concerning their sons behavior.
It is now more that 5 years since their putting on Christ in
baptism. Both Tina and Hianitra are growing in Him daily. I am encouraged
as I look back over the years and see the journey that both of them have
made in the Savior. I am seeing constant struggles, but I am also seeing
strength and dedication that I was not seeing in the past.
Tina and Hianitra attended a marriage seminar last year and
continue to be involved in weekly marriage teaching on the grounds of the
Betikara Orphanage. More often than not, these days Tina is present for
Sunday worship. Tina has started teaching bible to the teenage boys, and
most recently Tina has preached two lessons during Sunday worship. We
continue to pray for Tina, Hianitra and their two
boys. Please pray for the continued spiritual growth of Tina, Hianitra and their boys, as well as the whole congregation at Ambohimarina. He has “begun a good work” in the lives of Tina and Hianitra, and we are confident that He will continue to “perform it until the day of Jesus Christ.” Philippians 1:6 “And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not. “ Galatians 6:9 |
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Did You Know. . . .
. . that while other embassies in Madagascar are scaling back or leaving
Madagascar completely, this is not the case of the United States Embassy.
The U.S. Embassy is currently located in the center of Antananarivo, the
capital city of Madagascar. The area for the most part is businesses, and
it is very difficult for the embassy security personnel to screen all of
the vehicles that need to pass by the embassy on a very narrow street with
little or no parking for any of the businesses or the U.S. Embassy that
operates on that street. About 2 years ago the embassy purchased and fenced some property that is outside of the city center. The property is less than 2 miles from our home. There was a ground breaking ceremony on the new embassy grounds on April 4, 2008. We are looking forward to the day that the project will finally be completed. |
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this and that Stacy Returns to
Madagascar
Stacy has successfully completed her stateside trip. She arrived
back home on March 28th after 18 days abroad. During Stacy’s trip to the
states she attended a one week course for her doctoral studies. Stacy also
had about 9 days to spend with her family in Pennsylvania. This was an
added bonus since Stacy and Havilah only had three weeks in the United
States last year and only 5 days of that time was spent with her
father. Hendrix Visit
It will not be long now and Eddie and Carol Hendrix will be
arriving for their one week visit to Madagascar. They are coming from the
Three Chopt Church of Christ in Richmond, Virginia. During their visit
they will spend some time talking with the various members of the Malagasy
team. They will also get to sit in on a marriage class and a Saturday
morning meeting of the men at the Ambohimarina
congregation. Container Coming to
Madagascar
A forty foot shipping container left the United States on its way
to Madagascar. In the container are several different items. There are
desks, chairs and cabinets for the Betikara school. There are also a lot
of supplies that Lord willing will be used for a medical campaign during
the month of July. Please pray that the container arrives by the end of
June 2008. Prayers have already started to be answered concerning this
particular container. The Malagasy government has agreed to allow the
container to enter the country with duty free status. Praise the
Lord. Group Coming for Classes, Medical
Mission
This coming July ( contingent on the timely arrival of the before
mentioned forty foot container ) we will be hosting a medical clinic at
the Betikara Orphanage. Many people will be invited to come for medical
treatments of various kinds as well as biblical teaching by some of the
volunteers that will be arriving in Madagascar late June and early July of
2008. Please start praying for these evangelistic efforts now. If the
container does not arrive in time, we will fall back to Plan B which will
be to host another meeting like the World Wide Youth Camp meeting that
took place in July of 2006. Malagasy Students from Abilene
University There is yet another reason for people coming to Madagascar this summer. Twenty four Malagasy students started their studies towards a bachelors degree at Abilene Christian University four years ago. This July representatives from Abilene University will be coming to Madagascar for a graduation ceremony. All twenty four students will be graduating with a degree in business. It is sure to be a big affair in Madagascar that will be presided over by the president of Madagascar, Mr. Marc Ravalomanana. It was President Ravalomanana who made it possible through the funding of the World Bank for these students to study at Abilene. |
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Miniature Missionaries
Kit and Stacy were able to see each other this past month. Stacy
was required by the University of Phoenix to attend an on campus course
for her doctoral studies in March. During the time Stacy was in the
states, Kit was out of classes at Faulkner University for spring break.
So, Kit drove our 1982 Honda Civic north to be able to spend time with his
mother and Stacy’s family. They had a good visit and Stacy said that Kit
is being very responsible in all that he is
undertaking. The trip north for Kit was not uneventful. While I was in the states from July 2007 till January 2008 I tried to get the car ready for Kit. I spent time changing out all of the parts that I thought should be replaced such as radiator and heater hoses, spark plugs, distributor rotor and cap, spark plug wires, etc. I think you get the idea. However, I failed to consider the clutch, pressure plate and throw out bearing on a car that has over 125,000 miles. The clutch was slipping a little while I was driving the car and I thought that an adjustment would suffice. Well, I was wrong. Kit almost did not make it from Montgomery to Pittsburgh, and upon putting the car in a garage we found that the clutch, and all related parts, needed to be changed. So, Kit got an extra two days with his mother, but returned back to classes at Faulkner University 2 days late. Kit was not fazed by the delay. He is just happy to have wheels, which is how most university students are these days. |
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What can you do?
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We welcome you to join us in this work for Him . . .
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Barry,
Stacy, Kit and Havilah Rosie Tel. 011-261-32-02-081-14 |