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His Work Go ... and make disciples of all nations Matthew 28:19 |
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Volume
22, Number 8 |
August 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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Mahajanga
Trip Part of the time this last month Havilah and I went with three other people to Mahajanga. Mahajanga is the second most important port city (after Tamatave) in Madagascar and is located on the northwest coast of Madagascar. Currently the population of Mahajanga is more than 154,000 people. ( This number was found after searching several different websites that all give differing population numbers. However, I feel that the above population is close due to what I saw in Mahajanga during our trip.) Valdy Eichman (Retired professor from Abilene Christian University) has visited Madagascar several times over the years. Each visit Valdy spends time teaching bible to Malagasy Christians using his knowledge of the French language. Last year and this year Valdy, Romain, and Nivo went to Mahajanga to help teach the seven congregations that are in the area.
Valdy Eichman - Romain
and Nivo Rakotomalala I asked Valdy, Romain, and Nivo if Havilah and I could tag along and be of some help. We were interested in going for two reasons. First, I wanted to help with the Bible teaching. Second, when the medical mission group came to Madagascar they shipped a container from the United States. In this container were many different items including clothing and school supplies. We were asked by the some of the medical mission people to take some of the clothes and school supplies to Mahajanga and distribute them to the congregations of the Lords church in that area of Madagascar.
Each day of teaching had a set format. Mornings were spent teaching
about some of the books of the New Testament. Afternoons until 4:00 p.m.
were spent teaching on church leadership. Each day Valdy would teach and
Romain would translate. Often times we all got involved in the discussions
that came up and in the answering of various questions. At 4:00 each
afternoon Valdy, Romain, Nivo, and Havilah would go back to the
hotel.
It was decided before we went to Mahajanga that I would teach
concerning marriage and family life. I had the opportunity to teach
everyone present for one and one half or two hours every afternoon. By
5:30 each day it was already starting to get dark, however, this did not
stop the enthusiasm of those present. Several times we finished at 6:00
p.m. due to all of the questions concerning God’s plan for
marriage.
We had a great time one afternoon when I asked for a married couple
to volunteer to help me with the teaching. It just so happened that the
oldest married couple of the group volunteered not knowing what they were
going to be doing. Once I had the couple, I then asked for a short rope
and proceeded to tie this couple together at the wrists. Well, this
brought the house down, as the expression goes. It also caused me to have
everyone’s undivided attention for the duration of the time we spent
together.
I started by telling everyone that marriage was a plan from God and
that it was a covenant that bound a husband and wife together for the
duration of their lives. I told them that even though they could not see
the rope every day of their married lives it was still present. Soon after
I said these things I told them they could sit down. They thought I was
through with them and that they could remove the rope that bound them
together. I quickly stopped their efforts and this caused another wave of
uncontrolled laughing. I used this couple several times during the next
two hours to show just what it meant to be married.
You see, Malagasy men often leave their wives and children for
extended periods of time. Often the men will go and find work in some
distant city and not return home for several months. Or, Malagasy men will
spend a lot of time with their male friends and not be at home with their
families. So, when I once again asked this married couple to stand up I
asked them a preliminary question. “Where is the place of the wife?”
Immediately I was told, “at home with the children”. I then asked the wife
to stay at home and for the husband to go off to find work or to be with
his friends. Of course, the couple were still tied together physically so
it was impossible for him to leave the side of his wife. He tried to leave
only to find out that his wife was firmly staying at home with her
children. Once again everyone thought this was worth a good laugh. Lord
willing this time of teaching will stay with our brothers and sisters in
Christ.
All of the teaching throughout the time we were in Mahajanga was
beneficial. I was invited to return at the end of July and beginning of
August 2008, when once again, Valdy, Romain, and Nivo will return to
Mahajanga to continue their plan for teaching the congregations in the
Mahajanga area. “So that they are no more two, but one flesh. What
therefore God hath joined together, let not man put
asunder.”
(Matthew 19:6
ASV) |
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Did You Know. . .
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. . that there are seven congregations of the Lord’s church in the
vicinity of Mahajanga? While at the bible teaching in Mahajanga we asked
all of the congregations to report on their sizes.
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Medical Mission People Help Fund Trip to
Mahajanga Not only did the Medical Mission group make it
possible for us to take clothing and school supplies to Mahajanga, but
they also provided a large sum of money for us to be able to help cover
the fuel and hotel costs for the Mahajanga trip. We want to take this time
to say a special thank you for all of the serving they did during their
time in Madagascar. Whitney Walle
Whitney has corresponded with us about coming to
Madagascar for some time now. Due to some changes in her initial schedule
she finally arrived in Madagascar on August 9th. However, this only
allowed her three days and nights at the Betikara Orphanage with the
Lambs. We tried to tell her this would not be enough time. When looking
back Whitney quickly realized that she needed more time. She wishes she
had planned for at least an additional week at Betikara. However, even
though Whitney’s time was short, she made some lasting friendships.
Whitney even taught one of the Sunday morning bible classes on a minutes
notice. What a trooper! Lord willing Whitney will be able to return in the
future and stay for a longer period of time. Rivo Rivo is still searching in his life. For this we
thank God and pray that he will eventually return to Him and His church.
This last month I received a phone call from Rivo, “out of the blue” as
the expression goes. Rivo asked to be able to talk with me the following
day after morning worship. Rivo showed up at our house and got a ride with
Stacy to the Ambohimarina building. However, he did not enter the Betikara
property. Instead, he had Stacy stop the vehicle on the road and got out,
stating that he needed to go and see his wife and son. That was the last
we saw or heard from Rivo. Please continue to pray for Rivo and his need
to come back to the Lord. He is trying, but things continue to get in his
way. Mahajanga Trip Next
Year Plans are already being made for another trip to Mahajanga next July - August. Lord willing, we will continue teaching where we all left off this year. Vlady Eichman was able to teach through the book of 1 Thessalonians during the morning hours so he will be starting with 2 Thessalonians next year. I will continue to teach on marriage and the family. Please pray fervently for the seven congregations that are in the Mahajanga area. These congregations are relatively new. If I remember correctly the first congregation was started back in 2004. |
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Miniature Missionaries
This past month has gone by quickly. We do not hear much from Kit
these days. He seems to be settled in and busy with his summer job. I just
looked at the Faulkner 2008 - 2009 calendar and found out that classes
start for the fall semester on Monday, August 18th. So, Kit will have to
be hitting the books once again for his sophomore year.
Havilah, on the other hand, does not start classes until August 28th. Havilah has kept busy with the trip to Mahajanga as well as the medical mission. While the visitors were here Havilah went with them each day and helped translate and organize all of the needed items for the medical mission and the clothes and school supplies for our trip to Mahajanga. |
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What can you do?
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Pray for the hearts of
the Malagasy people that were involved in receiving treatment from the
medical mission group. Pray that they can see that there is also a
spiritual need in each of their lives. ¨
Pray for the seven
congregations in the Mahajanga area that received bible teaching and
leadership training this last month. Pray that they can commit themselves
totally to His will and serve Him only. ¨
Pray for the many works
that we are involved in these days. Pray that the Lords will be done in
everything. ¨ Pray especially for Rivo. He is struggling. We see that he is wanting to discuss his needs, but he does not know what to do. |
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 |