Betikara February 2004

Helping needy Malagasy kids to become

Jesus’ kids!

February 2004 Volume 7, Number 2

“He will defend the afflicted among the people and save the children of the needy.” Psalm 72:4

We’ll be fishin’ soon, thanks to World Bank!

          A long time ago, before work even began on the new home for the Betikara children, we envisioned a fish pond on the property to supplement the children’s food needs, and for just plain fun too. Work on the home began and thoughts of a fish pond were temporarily put aside but not forgotten as workers began to dig rock out of the ground and cut it into usable size and shape for the walls of the new home. Still, in the backs of our minds, was the idea that a fish pond would fill the huge hole left behind by the rock workers.
          Just about as soon as work started on the Betikara land, the forty plus workers formed an organization of workers and registered themselves with the government. Their purpose was to help each other as they began to help Betikara. There is no reputable health insurance in this country and so the Betikara workers developed their organization to create a sort of health insurance fund for felt needs as they arose. Each worker in the organization agreed to put a certain amount of his salary into the fund weekly. They then elected a committee to oversee the fund and dispense money to workers for medical needs. That organization and fund has been in operation for more than two years now.
          Last Christmas, the Betikara Workers Organization made a visible showing when they purchased white t-shirts with a helping hands insignia over their hearts. We were impressed.
          Now, we are even more impressed. Recently, the Betikara Workers Organization learned that World Bank was offering money and aid to worthy development projects within the country. They first applied to the government for use of a piece of flooded bottom land adjacent to the Betikara property. They then applied to the World Bank development project with a plan to properly enclose the flooded bottom land and asked for a grant to stock this land with fish. The Betikara Workers Organization became one of fifteen organizations in competition for the World Bank money and guess what? They came to the top!
          This last month, all forty plus workers suspended regular work and went to work on the flooded bottom land which the Malagasy government has granted to Betikara for use. They built several dikes to keep the water at a prescribed level, built a small guard house, organized a round-the-clock guard on the bottom land, and then called in World Bank who stocked the bottom land with 15,000 Royal Carp and filled the guard house with the proper food to help the fish grow to more than eighteen inches long in the next eight months.
          As I write, the workers are sectioning off another larger piece of bottom land with dikes to provide growing space for the Betikara fish project, and they will turn next to the hole left behind by the rock workers to expand said fish project. So. . . about eight months from now, the lambs will have fish for lunch and fish for fun!!!!!

The Betikara Workers Organization busily counts the 15,000
fish donated by World Bank as they stock our new fish ponds.

Betikara says goodbye to Sandy
          Sandy Lund arrived in Madagascar and began work as a volunteer at the Betikara Orphanage on February 14, 2003. Sandy has worked as a volunteer at the Betikara orphanage for almost one year, completing her work on January 17, 2004.
          During her year with Betikara, Sandy worked directly with 19 children (ages 8-17) who live at the Betikara orphanage. Sandy worked five days per week, giving five hours per day directly to the children’s needs. Often times, Sandy worked an extra day per week or extra hours per day as needs arose. Working at the orphanage also required Sandy to travel on city buses for two to three hours daily.
          Sandy’s responsibilities at the orphanage were varied. She taught English and Geography to the younger children (ages 8-13). She did art projects with all the children and spent many hours overseeing them as they made thank you cards for sponsors, wrote friendly letters to sponsors, and made gifts for donators to the Betikara orphanage. Sandy also taught swimming to the Betikara children. Over and above duties directly relating to teaching the children, Sandy also dispensed vitamins and food supplements, helped prepare meals, worked alongside the children as they completed assigned chores, and attended to the children’s personal hygiene. She took them for walks, played with them, shopped with them, gardened with them, and provided fun in leisure time.
          The Betikara organization deeply appreciates the time, effort, and love that Sandy has given to these children in need. The prayers of the lambs and the staff of Betikara go with Sandy.

Betikara’s New and First Stove

Many thanks to the family of Christ in Warren, Ohio,
who donated funds for a new stove for the new home!

EXPENDITURES
Rent	$ 200.00
Food	635.40
Education	39.80
Clothing	0.00
Misc.	889.50
Health Care	656.98
Care Giver_____	195.50

Total expenses	$ 2,617.18

If you would like to help with a monetary donation, write your check out to BETIKARA and send it to:

Indiana Church of Christ
225 East Pike Rd.
Indiana, PA 15701

“He who is kind to the poor lends to the LORD, and he will reward him for what he has done.”
Proverbs 19:17

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