Madagascar in the News
I feel like crying.
5, 7, 20, 25, 30, 40, 50 dead. Depending on which story you read.
I will update this post sometime tomorrow. But in the time being please pray for the Malagasy people.
What is happening? Where are the beautiful Malagasy people I know?
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As most of you know, Andry Rajoelina proclaimed himself as leader of Madgascar on Saturday. He ordered all ministries, shops, schools etc to be closed on Monday.
President Ravalomanana responded by saying that there are 1500 (I can’t remember the correct number) mayors in Madagascar and all of them can’t be president. He said that he is still in power.
Monday came and went. And life went on as normal. Shops were open. Kids went to school and the government offices were all functioning as usual.
Later during the day Andry TGV made an application at the High Constitutional Court for the imposition of the president. He also announced that he will now be visiting the provinces to address his supporter and continue with the struggle for democracy.
This morning I received an sms. “Pray 4 me pls if u cn! I’v lost my job v shopping center were I worked was robed nd burnt.” And a few minutes later “I really don’t know wot to do at the moment” She later told me that she did not receive her salary for January because of the crisis. And she is not the only one.
I will encourage her to trust in the Lord and look to him for a solution. But as Theresa of Avila once said, Christ has no body now, but yours. No hands or feet on earth, but yours.
How are we as the body of Christ going to help our brothers and sisters in Madagascar?
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Sunday 1 February
Update
Update 20:45 Malagasy time
Update 17:15 Malagasy time
Update 14:30 Malagasy time
Unconfirmed reports claim that Andry TGV told the crowd that President Ravalomanana left the country.
Pray for thios country as you have never prayed before. This can be the turning point in the countries history.
Saturday 31 January
Yesterday morning Shoprite opened for a short while. (Shoprite is a general grocer, mostly used by expats, but yesterdays crowd were 95%+ Malagasy.)
There were between 500 and a thousand people waiting at the gates. We were pushing and shoving each other. Everyone wanted to be at the front of the line for when the gates eventually open. I was just looking out for myself. Very Christlike, I know.
After a while two soldiers, the one armed with a AK-47. I did not see the others weapon. From inside the Shoprite employee asked for silence. He then announced that the two soldiers were to be let in. “We are going to open the gate for the soldiers. But only they may enter. The rest of you, dont try anything. Dont push. And dont try to enter”
Then all of a sudden everybody relaxed. No more pushing and shoving. The soldiers were let through the opened gate unhindered. And then as the gate closed and it became ipossible for anyone to do anything, the pushing and shoving started again.
In spite of the pushing and shoving there was no violence. I never felt threatened. Just squashed. But this peacefull atmosphere and actions are how I know the Malagasy people. The Malagasy people are not violent people.
Mass Meetings
Analakely
Today Andry TGV, the opposing mayor, and his supporters will meet in Analakely in Independance Avenue. TIM, presidents Marc Ravalomanana’s party, will hold a mass rally at Mahamasina, maybe 2 or so kilometers down the road. Will the two groups disperse peacefully? Or…?
Mahamasina
I think that what happens today will set the tone for the next weeks, months and even years to come!
I will update this post as and when I get news.
PS. There is a 50% chance for thunderstorms. Please pray for rain. Rain will disperse the crowds and prevent huge crowds from turning out.
Weather prediction for Antananarivo
UPDATE
It is rumoured that Andry Rajoelina will proclaim himself as Prime Minister of an interimgovernment today.
From
http://andrydago.wordpress.com/
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Thursday Afternoon, just before 14h00, local time 11h00 GMT.
In Tana things seem to be calming down. The Armed forces were out doing there job. When I was at the petrol station this morning to get fuel for my motorbike there was even a soldier with his AK-47 to keep us safe. And more significantly there weren’t any queues! That is a good sign!
There seems to be continuing unrest in the provinces. But I suspect that htings will get better throughout the day.
Shoprite Talatamaty is stil not open. But if, as the rumours go, it is truely the only Shoprite still standing, you can understadn their hesitance. I am sorely tempted to go and look at the destruction in the city. Maybe tomorrow! But a lot of this is just motivated by curiosity and not a desire to help or to report what I saw.
Yesterday President Ravalomanana visited some of the places that were razed. He said that the government will assit in the reconstruction on houses. He also said that the Army followed his orders the first two days when they did not act. If they acted many more would have been dead.
This provides an interesting cultural insight. Looting, razing of buildings and general lawlessness is preferable to the loss of life. (That is if I understand it correctly.) Again we see how inadequately an outsider can understand another culture. Whether his logic makes sense to me and you is not the point. It (apparently) makes sense within the Malagasy culture.
It has been reported that there were in the order of 400 000 people at the rally held by Andry TGV on Monday. He has called for another mass meeting on Saturday. As an outsider I question the wisdom of this action. It has already been proved that a group like this can easily turn into a crazy mob. Perhaps it would be wiser to address his followers via radio and television.
I urge you to pray for rain over the weekend. Lots of rain will surely deter many people from turning out. (Just for clarity: I am not declaring myself anti-TGV by hoping that the meeting will rain out, but rather pro-peace!)
Arrest-warrants were issued for Rolland Ratsiraka, the nephew of previous president Didier Ratsiraka, the current mayor of Toamasina, as well as for General Dolin Rasolosoa, a close advisor to Rajoelina.
President Ravalomanana made it clear that he lays the majority of the blame for the violence squarely at the feet of Andry Rajoelina, the DJ turned mayor.
The website Sobika.com reports that 61% of a reported 3000 pollsters indicated that they want an negotiated settlement to the crisis.
The numbers of how many died as a result of the riots vary significantly. Some are as “low” as 33, and some people say in excess of 70. There are even claims of upto 90 dead. Most were killed when a burning three-storey clothing store collapsed on the looters.
It is really sad when you see the reactions of the “common” man and woman. They shake their heads at these incomprehensible events. They all ask: “Why?”
And on a more practical level, cooking oil is virtually unobtainable. I know. I tried. Apparently sugar is also dissapearing fast. Most Malagasy people buy tiny amounts because they do not have money to buy a full bottle of this or a packet of that.
Madagascar is in desperate need of revival. These riots were the manifestation of the hold that the defeated one still has in this country.
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Last night I was quite optimistic that things would fizzle out during the day. I was wrong. (This happens quite often!)
Reports of looting all over the island were what we heard and read all day.
Fianarantsoa, Andapa, Toliara, Mahajanga, Toamasina, Samabava, Vohemar, Nosy Be. Everywhere.
Magro and Tiko, companies owned by the president were quite popular targets. Two or three Shoprite stores were also looted here in Tana.
My impression, shared by some, is that most of todays looting were opportunistic and not politically motivated. The absence of the armed forces obviously contributed.
Why are/were the military absent?
I have heard various stories.
Some guess that President Ravalomanana lost the support of the Army.
A second theory is a bit more complicated. If the Army confronted the 10 000+ crowd yesterday many people would have died. Therefore it is better to ‘allow’ the looting, because less people will die. If the Government reacted strongly yesterday, they could also have been accused of crushing a valid opposition rally.
A Friend reported gunshots close to her house. Apparently a looter was shot by the army. Deaths have been reported in Tana and elsewhere, but I have no idea how many or how few.
It seems that the armed forces are slowly turning out, trying to bring about law and order.
Some useful and interesting links:
Cyber Observer, Andrydago’s blog with eyewitness accounts and photos
The huge irony is that both President Ravalomanana and Andry Rajoelina wants what is good for the country. But what is taking place now is detrimental to all. Tourist are reportedly cancelling their trips. International investment can not be encouraged by what they are seeing.
Some have claimed that the biggest stumbling stone, preventing these two men finding a solution is pride. Whether that is true or not, I do not know, but please pray that they will talk and that a solution will be found soon!
Remember to pay for the widow and the orphan.
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According to my info twop people were killed sofar. A policeman and afourteen year old. However some claim that it were 2 protesters. One was allegedly shot and the other died of a
heart attack. One journalist claims to have seen 11 bodies.
There seems to be wide-spread looting taking place. My guess is that a lot of this looting is pure opportunistic.
– 22h50: Andry TGV has decided to go into the field to help firefighters.
– 22H44: Radio Antsiva announced that demonstrators want to attack the fuel depot and Ankorondrano Jirama Mandroseza dam.
– 22h30: Looting has Behoririka. House burned to Soarano opposite the building Ramaroson.
– 22h23: Round table tomorrow anticipated Andry TGV donors, ambassadors and Ravalomanana. Andry TGV called for the cessation of looting in the capital.
– 22H14: Courts 67 ha plundered, looted Floreal center!
– 22:00: Electronic Analakely Naza burned!
– 21H00: Radio Antsiva announces a dialogue between Rajoelina Andry and Marc Ravalomanana
– 20:45: Having regard Force One to 2 Ivato in the track
– 20H42: Radio Antsiva Executive announced a possible military
– 20h10: General Prison Break Prison Antanimora! Commercial center of the CITIC Behoririka attacked.
– 19h48: Antananarivo with the calm …
(This is from http://www.sobika.com and was translated with Google translate)
For more photos visit the Observers site
For more news or here for eye-witness accounts.
As far as I can deduce the president has not fled the country. This is definitely not in line with his character.
Please pray for the Malagasy people. They are really nice, gentle and hospitable people. This manifestation of violence is definetely out of step with who they really are.
Without being pro-this one or anti-that one, the result of these riots will be that the poor will be even poorer. The rich have insurance policies and other options.
One Malgasy man said to me: “It seems that this is the Malagasy mentality. We always return ourselves to zero.”
Pray for the street children and the other homeless. Who will look after them?
Pray for the safety of the women and children who need to go out to buy food.
Pray that the police, army and protesters will use minimum force.
Pray for wisdom and calmness.
Pray for rain. It should disperse the crowds. (Last week we were praying “against” the cyclones and now…)
Pray for the president and the mayor.
From the sobik.com website
“We are Malagasy and Malagasy are not combatants. There is a concern for peace and harmony and this is the wish of all Malagasy in general. It is not too late to get there, but we must put aside pride and prejudice. That’s where the problem is unfortunately.”
PS. I am safe. Nothing has happened on our side of town.
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There are currently riots in Tana. These are the result of a conflict between the President Marc Ravalomanana and the mayor of Tana, Andry Rajoelina.
I do not pretend to understand the intracasies of Malagasy politics. But today three radio and television broadcasting stations have been burnt down by angry mobs. Various shops have been looted and burned down, including those belonging to the president.
Please pray for peace. I believe that things have not yet reached a critical mass where it has to lead to worse riots and God forbid widespread ciivil unrest.
Please pray for rain and lots of it. If its raining lots of the protesters wont enjoy it.
Please pray for the safety of all. Some missionaires are really worried. The Malagasy people are still remembers the suffering they went through during the previous “crise.”
I will try to update my blog. But it is theoretically possible that we may loose internet connectivity.
A timeline of todays happenings
– 18h35: 2 Force One took off at 17.50
– 18.30: according antsiva radio, TVM was not affected by the fire this morning at RNM
– 18h20: The Conference of Bishops of Madagascar (EMC) through its chairman Bishop Fulgence Rabemahafaly drew both supporters dialogue
– 18h19: Radio Antsiva resume the aerial.
– 17h59: the PM has canceled his statement. Sources confirm the resignation of several members.
– 17.50: rumor resignation of the government. Take the conditional lack of confirmation by the media
– 17h05: View: Tikos trucks escorted by soldiers in the direction of Antsirabe
– 1700: No radio or television does except gospel songs
– 16H40 Courts stores and Cora Ankorondrano robbed
– 16H40: the bodies of dead in Mbs tgvistes will be brought up on 13 May
– 16:30 PM should make a statement in the next few minutes. Marc Ravalomanana “found”
– 16H20: The more TV station stopped broadcasting
– 16H10: Andry TGV calls back tomorrow to May 13
– 15:50 Andry TGV will speak on TV Plus
– 15.30 Auditorium Ankorondrano burned!
The army refused to intervene, leaving the field open to protesters. Marc Ravalomanana is
– 15.00. Magro Ankorondrano robbed by Crowds
– 14.40 Tanjombato Magro group Tiko burned!
– 1400: MBS burnt! 2 deaths near TGV
– 13.00: TVM and RNM were burned by TGV
– 02H50 RADIO VIVA closed by mercenaries
TVM and RNM are respectively the national television and radio stations. (Theoretically pro-President)
MAGRO (bulk wholesaler), TIKO (company that produces various milk and oil products) MBS radio and television broadcaster belongs to the president
Courts a French furniture retailer
Cora a French retailer, clothes, food etc.
At 19h00 local time (14h00 GMT) the Catholic Radio station, Don Bosco is continuing as per normal.
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Just last week I was thinking that we have been fortunate so far. We have not had any cyclones. (Well a small one somewhere last year but not much damage.)
And then today, what do I see on the weather map? Not one, but two cyclones Eric and Fanele are squeezing the Big Island. Eric is on the east coast and Fanele on the west.
Eric
Fanele
The following text is from http://www.moov.mg The text was automatically translated from French by Google, and therefore the interesting use of the English language. (As many of you know I lived and worked in Mandritsara for three years. I lived in Maroamboka, one of the heavily flooded areas. My house would not have been affected because it is on a hill, but many houses are next to the river.)
” Hurricane Eric has 244 victims in Mandritsara
(19-01-2009) – Hurricane (Tropical Storm tempered) Eric joined 08 hours Feneri East in the Analanjirofo. It then crosses the district of Toamasina and leaving the district Brickaville to 14 hours, according to the BNGRC. The first assessments are 244 claims in the region Mandritsara Sofia.
Plaque announcing the entry into the area hit by Ivan Analanjirofo in 2008 © DTS
Monday, 19 January 2009 to 8 hours, Eric chose the district Fénérive East as an entry point. “With a force winds of 95km / h, Eric will be for 2 hours in the district of Fénérive East. With the same intensity of the storm and then passes out in Toamasina district Brickaville causing heavy rains “, according to the Bureau National de Gestion des Risques et Catastrophes or BNGRC.
The regions of Analanjirofo Atsinanana and are now in full damage assessment.
“The trunks of coconut trees line the streets. Wherever we go, it’s a mess. Today has been dead for Toamasina, no school open … and if tomorrow, the weather and wind The day will also be vacant, we sent a operators in the economic capital.
The same situation is also experienced by the people of St. Mary.
“High winds and heavy rains have so far, according to initial assessments of local authorities brought down many poles and bananas,” according to the BNGRC.
On the RN3a in 2008 © Didier Ramanoelina
But the first assessments of the damage coming from the Sofia region. A Mandritsara, the damage is significant.
“The rains have caused flooding of 40% of the slums of the city. Of the 13 fokontany that in the urban municipality of Mandritsara, 06 were seriously flooded: Antanantsimihety, Maroamboka, Andohomby, Ambohimandroso, Antsahabe, Ambala Kompania. The District Mandritsara currently 244 victims including 164 housed in the reception center of ECAR, Tranompkonolona in the 50 and 30 in the office of fokontany of Antanandrainivelo “as always BNGRC which has already dispatched a team in the Atsinanana Analanjirofo and in the regions most affected by Hurricane Ivan in February 2008. Another team is also part and is already in the region Melaky to prepare people to face Fanel, another hurricane coming from the Canal of Mozambique.
The situation in Fanel 16h, according Weather France © Météo France
According to the weather map of France Weather taking today at 16h, Fanel could hit the coast of Madagascar on Wednesday 21 January at 04 am on the side of Morombe. A 16heures, its center was located 225km from Morombe.
Recall that in 2008, hurricanes left more than 184 million dollars in damage in Madagascar, the most affected were Analanjirofo, Sainte-Marie and SAVA. “
Please remember to pray for those who where left/will be homeless or who lost/will lose loved-ones. These people do not have insurance. SO if it is gone it is gone.
Do you know of a cyclone in the Bible? Please let us know!
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This is a Ride report of a motorcycle trip I made recently. I travelled from Antananarivo, the capital of Madagascar to Nosy Be, the holiday and sin capital of Madagascar and back.
I am a missionary in Madagascar. I teach at a theological seminary of the FJKM, that is Ny Fiangonan’ I Jesoa Kristy eto Madagasikara. The Church of Jesus Christ in Madagascar. The FJKM is a reformed church of the presbyterian fold.
Why did I go on this trip? (I am trying to be philosophical.)
There is something romantic about the whole road trip thing. Something mythical and mystical.
You are also challenged to face your fears and doubts, well at least some of them. Can I do this? What if the bike breaks down? What if I crash? Do I have the skills to face the challenges? En n klomp ander vrae.
The 19th I had a million good reasons for cancelling, but I did not! haha!
Packed and ready. The odometer read 19229.8km and I added 1807.5km by the time I got back here.
Day One I travelled from Antananarivo, the capital of Madagascar to Ambondromamy to the west. Only 399.3 km. But it took me a while.
The roads in Madagascar can be called many things, but not straight! Imagine the Olivier’s Hoek Pass. Now imagine a much narrower road that is not nearly as straight, level or well maintained. Don’t forget to add the odd goat, zebu, chicken, duck or crazy pedestrian. But most of all, remember that ALL other vehicles, two or four wheeled, will treat you like SA taxis treat someone from a warring taxi faction!
In Madagascar roads only have one side, and that is the center! Everybody sticks to the center, straddling the white line (if it is actually painted) like a thief that got stuck on a barbed wire fence.
If you approach a blind corner, you stay away from the centre, even if that is the best line, for the guy coming from the other side WILL be on your side of the line. And as far as I know, bikes tend to lose fights with four wheeled vehicles!
First stop was in Ankazobe (At the Big Tree). Had a cup of Malagasy coffee. This coffee is used by to render nuclear waste inert. It is that strong. But after 5 years I’m getting used to it. Also I haven’t slept for the last 4.99 years.
I have not been on this road before. The RN4, Route Nationale 4 runs east west, from Tamatave to Mahajanga. And it is one of the busiest roads on the island. And by the time I got to Ankazobe, I have used up my quota of swear words for 2009.
Dodging trucks and taxis.
I stayed over in Ambondromamy for two nites, visiting a American missionary. It’s hot. With a humidity of about 7 000 000% And from there on it got just worse. (I don’t deal well with heat and humidity. Sweat like a pig in a rubber suit!)
A picture of me and Daly. It was her birthday. Malagasy kids are either scared of big white people, or very scared of them. Daly and I became friends quite easily. Her grandmother is a doctor in Ambondormamy, and my missionary friend lodges with them.
The next stretch was from Ambondromamy to Befotaka (Lots of Mud) about 340km to the north.
I crossed quite a few single lane bridges.
In Mampikony I had coffee and rice-cakes.
The lady on the left works at the local hotel. She told me that they don’t serve coffee and then led me across the road to a coffee vendor. She kept me company and walked me back to the motorbike.
This guy was fixing cellphones. I do not know why he heated them over a coal fire. You know the expression “‘n Boer maak ‘n plan’ (A Boer finds a solution), well let me tell you the Malagasy are light years ahead in that area. They can fix anything with a piece of wire, cracked wood and a brown banana. I kid you not. Poverty, and not neccesity, seems to be the mother of invention.
The road to the north has recently been re-tarred. It is wonderful now. The 80-something stretch between Mampikony and Port Berge could take anything from 10 hours to a week or more if you got stuck in the mud. (No this is not a story. I know of a truck that took four months from Ambondromamy to Diego in the north. Mud, mud mud.)
Now there is only about 40km of bad road. And it was pretty muddy. I had only one aim: Don’t fall! And that made me forget about the camera. The mud was not deep mud, but as slippery as can be. You lose traction just like that. This picture does not do the mud justice, but believe me it was slippery!
You must always be on the look out for cattle. The zebu is actually a kind of water buffalo.
Rice is the staple food in Madagascar. Rice for breakfast, lunch and dinner. And rice cakes with you coffee as a snack. Most people grow rice.
Kids doing their best Ninja impressions. To impress me or scare me? You decide!
At the Hotely Aleloia I had some coffee. This is also where I noticed that I lost my 5L jerry can! It just fell of!
The bridge over the Sofia river is 800m long. Quite a long bridges, longest in Madagascar by far.
A while after crossing the bridge, I spotted this gecko! Poor guy probably got onto the bike in Ambondromamy.
In Befotaka I noticed my weird tan. I wore elbow guards all the way and not a jacket. And I forgot to put on sunscreen. Big mistake! Blisters!
Christmas Tree – Befotaka style
As I already mentioned, work at a theological seminary here in Madagascar. Once our students graduate after four years of study, they become pastors. Then they are sent to tine out of the way villages. Pastor Narisoa and his wife Voahangy, also a pastor live in Befotaka. IT seemed like a good idea to visit them, seeing that I will pass through Befotaka.
I celebrated Christmas with the Christians at FJKM Befotaka.
Malagasy Christians often use palm branches to signify a important feast
It is typical that everyone will greet the pastor and then form a line and greet one another after a church service. I like this practice.
There are always millions of kids in any church service. And they are amazingly quiet and well disciplined. But the adults are also much more lenient with them if they do make some noise.
The congregation gave me a gift for Christmas. IT was quite unexpected. The Malagasy people are gracious, kind and humble. They considered me to be an important visitor who should be honored, and therefore the gift. Although I appreciate their token of love, it is often very humbling. They go out of their way to make you welcome, honour you and help you. And all I did was drop by unannounced and uninvited.
This lady is one of the Christians in Befotaka. She does not live in the town itself but in one of the surrounding villages. She stopped by just to chat with the pastor. And as a farmer, she could not just leave the weeds growing in the pastors garden. So while talking she weeded the garden. It was such a natural act. I did not get the impression that she was trying to ‘score’ something or impress. The weeds weren’t supposed to be there and she removed them. Her humility was refreshing.
I think that she is a recent convert. (I cant remember if it was her or one of the other women.) She was what we would call a witch doctor or sangoma. She used spiritual means to heal diseases. (In Madagascar there seems to be a link between sin and sickness.) She got ill and could not heal herself. Nor could others heal her. And western medicine had no effect. Out of desperation she went to the church where the pastor and other Christians prayed for her, and she was healed.
In the Acts of the Apostles we read how people burned their “medicine.” This still happens here when someone becomes a Christian.
They just could resist posing for the resident photographer.
The morning of the 26th I set of for Ankivy to cross over to Nosy Be.
The moment I arrived the “responsable” for the Zarga approached me and “forced” me to go with them. Initially they wanted 25 000Ar (approximately R125) for the crossing. I then negotiated this down to 20 000 Ar. The waiting and loading process took 2 – 2:30 hours. It was hot and humid. I was tired.
Then they told me, “Remove your bike. We cant fit it and 4 vehicles and the bike.”
Then we had a huge fight. I arrived first of all the vehicles. But seeing that they get 4 or 5 times more for a vehicle I don’t count. I really was upset with this guy. I realised all along that I’m fighting a losing battle and that they will not change their minds. So I demanded my money back. They promptly gave me the 20 000Ar back.
But then I got confused and told the guy that I paid 25 000Ar, he still owes me 5 000Ar. And he gave me the extra 5000Ar.
I truly and honestly made a mistake. But when I realised it later the afternoon I did feel a little better. I am the only guy in the world who got the better of the Transporters in Madagascar. They are very good at abusing your trust and taking advantage of you. I still smile when I think of it! (Hope my pastor doesn’t read this! 😉
On the next ferry I found out that the correct price is 15 000Ar for a person with a bike.
Various modes of propulsion.
A tug towing a barge out to the deeper water were containers will be offloaded. The container ship cant come in to the shallow harbour.
This should be big enough for the rice for a family of four!
A chameleon
Some Malagasy snails. Big hungry bastards!
Sunsets
The Fig-tree Hotel
Beach party every Sunday afternoon
Prostitution is a massive problem in Nosy Be. I counted close to thirty “working girls” at this party. It is disgusting to see this bald, fat old (white) men with young girls.
Island
For sale!
Local Fisherman’s catch
Sign at the harbour
(I did not take many pictures on the trip back. But if you want to get a feeling for the trip back, I suggest you read this report from back to front.)
I wish you all a 2009 where we experience and recognise God in our lives in a way that will bring honour and glory to his Kingdom.
J
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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
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Jandré in Madagascar 