How can I explain being back in Madagascar?
When I entered my house for the first tie after three months, it initially felt as if the paint on the walls were much darker than I remembered. Some other things seemed to be smaller or bigger than before.
But then I realized that it was me who has changed, and not the paint.
Somewhere in 2005 I went on a retreat at a beautiful Catholic centre in Ambositra. The centre is called Analabe, which means at the big forest.
Being surrounded by a huge pine-plantation it is a most apt name. And Father Andre, one of the priests who planted some of these trees 40 years ago is still working there.
In the tiny chapel there was a beautiful woodcarving that caught my attention.
A woman pounding rice in order to separate the rice from the husk with the words “Mitoto vary mahafotsy“
That roughly translates as: It is the pounding that cleans the rice.
Father Andre explained to me, that often God uses the knocks of life to purify us.
When I got home I commissioned a similar carving for myself.
Last night I “saw” it for the first time in ages. And I realized that during the last year I have fought God while he was trying to use the knocks of life to purify me. Instead of allowing Him to purify me I blamed him for many of these knocks.
(Just to be clear. Even though God is undoubtedly in control, everything that happens in our lives are not caused by him. If we claim that then we are negating free will in one brush stroke. Furthermore we are making Him the Author of every murder, rape, robbery and broken heart.)
So instead of allowing God to use somebody else’s lie, hurtful words etc. to purify my I blamed God. Not very missionary-like perhaps, but very human, nonetheless.
Now that I see that the changed occurred in me and that the paint has stayed the same, I am asking myself: How much would I not have changed if I embraced the pounding of life instead of blaming God.
Therefore I urge you to keep an eye on me so that I do not repeat this mistake!
I am sitting in my first English lecture of the year while I am typing this. The students are busy writing an assessment test. And the fact that I can sit here and type is a testimony to god’s goodness, grace and love.
He supplied me with a much needed laptop in spite of me.
Being back at the College is nice. Seeing the ‘Old Faces’ and meeting the ‘New Faces’ is good.
Ps. Julliette, our Acting Principal confirmed the need for a decent vegetable garden here at the College.
Allow me to sketch the background. The college is situated on a property of approximately 22 hectares. That means that we have a lot of unused land that can potentially be used for planting vegtables etc. However the College can not afford the water we need to do this. The College has a monthly budget of R5000 / £320 / $500 / €390 per month. From this the utility bills (electricity, water, phone), the salaries of the maintenance staff as well as incidentals must be payed.
This amount was last adjusted more than five years ago. The cost of electricity etc. have obviously increased quite a lot during the last five years. Electricity is approximately twice the price which one pays in South Africa.
She got quite excited when she spoke about the possible outcomes of such a garden. “No longer” she said, “will our students become ill because of the fact that they do not have enough to eat.”
Perhaps that sounds a bit far fetched to your ears, but, alas, it is accurate. Our students and their families as well as the staff employed by the college do often become ill because of their meagre diet.
Our plan and dream to address this problem is to have a borehole drilled and then equip it with a solar powered pump. This project will have quite an impact on the college as well as the community.
Here at the College the students and staff will be able to supplement their diet. This will mean that their bursary of R85 / £5.40 / $8.50 / € 6.60 per month will go a bit further. The salaries of the staff is also inadequate and this will help them as well.
Furthermore some jobs will be created. One, two or three gardeners will be employed. Moreover we can teach the students relevant methods for example drip irrigation which minimises the amount of water one needs. (More examples Malawi, Zimbabwe, India
)
Please pray with us that this project will be realized, and the sooner the better!
If you are interested in becoming involved please let me know.
Now it is time to mark the Assesment tests. I never like that bit! But at least I usually am priviledged to experience very innovative English, even if it is totally wrong!
God bless
J
Filed under: Generalities, Musings, Report
