His Work Newsletter

1Corinthians 1:10 (KJV) �Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.�

We first came in contact with RANDRIANTSOAVANA Jules back in February of 2007. At the time we were making preparations to open the Betikara School in September of 2007. We were in the process of trying to fulfill all of the Malagasy government requirements so that the school could be officially certified and start to take in students. We needed someone with an educational background that had the necessary qualifications to be the director the Betikara school. We had already interviewed a few candidates for the directors position. In fact, we had already come to an agreement with a Christian woman from one of the congregations in Antananarivo. We found out that she changed her mind and we were back at �square one� as the expression goes.

The Betikara board convened again, and we started to discuss possibilities. We had already determined that there wasn�t another Christian member from the Antananarivo congregations that had an educational background that was not already employed to fill the position. It was at this meeting that Dinand thought we should approach his older brother about the possibility of becoming the director of the school at Betikara. We called Jules and arranged a meeting. After the meeting the board met to discuss Jules as the possible director. The board agreed to give Jules a three month trial period. Jules was informed of the Betikara board decision and the Betikara School officially opened in September of 2007.

In September of 2007 I was in the United States reporting on His church and the Betikara Orphanage. When I returned to Madagascar in January of 2008 teachers were already hired and the school was teaching students. I met Jules and we talked some about the school, the Ambohimarina congregation that meets at the Betikara Orphanage, and the children of the Betikara Orphanage that are now students of the Betikara school.

For more than a year after the start of the Betikara school things went along well. We saw Jules during each week as he directed the school, but come Sunday, he was never around. We often talked about the church, and faith during the week. We even invited Jules to come and worship with us on Sundays. However, Jules seemed to have other priorities. Then in January of this year Jules stated that he wanted to learn more about the church that meets at the Betikara Orphanage. He asked that I start picking him up each Sunday and take him to worship.

A seed had been planted in Jules� heart. As he came to worship each Sunday I could see that he was eager to learn about God�s word. I could see that Jules was growing in faith. I also soon saw that Jules was different from many of the other Malagasy men. Maybe this is because of his training to be a teacher and the responsibility that he carries with directing the Betikara school. Whatever, it was good to see a Malagasy man that was willing to step forward and search out new things instead of him just sitting in the pews week after week and not taking part in the bible class discussions.

It was not long before Jules approached the men of the congregation and stated that he wanted to be immersed and become an active part of His church at Ambohimarina. Jules was united with his Savior in baptism on May 31, 2009. In the short time that Jules has been a member of the Ambohimarina congregation he is already starting to make a difference. Jules is eager to learn and has asked that a time of teaching be set up weekly, either at the building, or at his home for further study in God�s word. This last Sunday, Jules led the worship service for the Ambohimarina congregation. It was great to see his eagerness and his �first step� after baptism towards becoming a strong and faithful member of Christ�s body.

We ask that you lift Jules up to the Savior. Pray that he can become a vital member of His kingdom. Pray that we can reach out to Jules� wife and children and let them see and feel the love of the Savior that Jules has recently embraced. Pray that the enthusiasm that Jules is experiencing right now can sweep through the Ambohimarina congregation and rekindle the flames of the Christian men who often take our Lord for granted and who seldom have the enthusiasm of a new child in Christ.

. . . that even though daily life seems to be quiet and orderly on the surface in Madagascar there are a lot of under currents that continue to destabilize the country? We continue to hear that the president will return to Madagascar. We also continue to hear that plans are going ahead for new elections that are to take place sometime in the first half of next year. In the meantime the Malagasy people continue to suffer. Supplies of commodities are getting sparse. Food items are getting harder to find or are non-existent. We are now seeing that there is no more flour in the country. At least flour that is not very expensive. Malagasy people can no longer afford to buy cakes, bread or other items that are made with flour.

Things seem to have calmed down in Madagascar on the surface. At least there is not as much news that is �worthy� of the international press. These days there is a lot of political posturing taking place. The ex-mayor, Andry Rajoelina, stated that there needs to be a final decision to the political crisis talks before Malagasy Independence which takes place on June 26, 2009. However, Mr. Rajoelina has already absented himself from the talks on at least one occasion. Mr. Rajoelina also states that there can be political amnesty for all past political prisoners up to December 31, 2008. Those that are considered becoming political prisoners on January 1, 2009 and onward (Marc Ravalomanana and his followers) are not to be given amnesty. This is not sitting well with the international community or many of the Malagasy people that are seeking the return of their former president, Marc Ravalomanana.

Mr. Rajoelina is spending a lot of his time traveling around Madagascar putting out �brush fires�. There was a strike at the port in Tamatave that did not end until Mr. Rajoelina visited the scene and talked with the disgruntled people. Now there is a strike taking place in the port city of Mahajunga. A couple of weeks ago it was the national school board (CISCO) and workers that were striking because they were seeking the return of their former boss that was replaced recently by Mr. Rajoelina. This scenario is taking place more and more these days.

It seems that all of Africa as well as other organizations are behind the return of president Marc Ravalomanana to Madagascar. The COMESA, SADC, AU, EU and the United Nations seem to be one minded in this effort. The COMESA even went as far as to say that they would not rule out the use of military force to bring about the return of president Marc Ravalomanana, constitutional rule, and order to the island nation of Madagascar.

Mr. Ravalomanana, being temporarily exiled by Mr. Rajoelina, is situated in South Africa and continues to pull the strings of his faithful flock here in Madagascar. One of Mr. Ravalomanana�s stipulations is that the political talks cannot go forward unless he is permitted to return to Madagascar and take part in the talks personally. Right now this is a big point of contention. Mr. Rajoelina has stated that under no circumstances is Mr. Ravalomanana to be allowed to set foot on Malagasy soil. Mr. Rajoelina (as well as many others) fears that if Mr. Ravalomanana returns to Madagascar it will be the spark that ignites the faithful followers of the former president into action. This may be the catalyst that is lacking right now to re-energize the Malagasy people and bring about an attempt by the people to retake power from Mr. Rajoelina.

The followers of Mr. Ravalomanana still meet daily. They number in the thousands each day. Just this last week they were repelled by military forces using tear gas as they attempted to enter a certain area of the capital city. The situation in Madagascar is far from stable. We continue to seek your prayers on behalf of this nation that is going through a political crisis. Please pray that the Malagasy people can seek God and His strength instead of worldly power.

EXPENDITURES MAY
Diesel	$ 297.41
Vehicle maintenance	532.68
Rent and Utilities	1,039.10
Office	1,117.51
Travel	0.00
Misc.	8.82

Total expenses	$ 2,995.52

� Pray for Jules and the congregation at Ambohimarina. Pray that we can all work together and reach out to the lost Malagasy souls that are seeking the Lord.

� Pray that we can continue to serve Him in Madagascar. Pray that this political crisis will end soon, and that the island nation of Madagascar can turn to Christ for their answers instead of to a physical being.

� Pray that Havilah can concentrate on her studies and prepare herself for the coming days that she will be spending in university, wherever that may be in the world. Pray that Kit will remain safe and that he will be able to complete his course of studies while we are separated.