I purposed in
my heart this morning to sit down and finally write this newsletter!
However, most of my information this month is so dry and I had little motivation
to write in down for you. I always have so much more fun when the
information is exciting. Even the lambs are in need of a touch of
excitement. School is moving along and the lambs are in their usual
routine, but it’s about time for a pleasant break in that routine.
God knows, and
as always, He provides at just the right moment! This morning before
I raced off to Sunday morning worship, I received a wonderful note from
a former Betikara volunteer, Jehn Baker. She came to Betikara five
years ago as our first official Betikara volunteer, stayed with us for
three months, and spread much sunshine during her whole visit.
Jehn has kept
in contact with us over the years. A piece of her heart stayed right
here in the Betikara home even when she left the country. She is
still spreading sunshine and we are so thankful for her caring heart.
Along with her
note Jehn sent some wonderful pictures that have revived old memories and
have given the lambs a delightful afternoon of reminiscing. We thought
you might enjoy seeing a few, not only “then” pictures, but some “now”
comparisons.
Take a look
at the photos, please, and enjoy along with us, a flock of lambs who were
beautiful back then and are even more beautiful now!
Then and Now
Greetings from another friend of Betikara
Jehn isn’t the
only friend who surprised us this week. We received a late Christmas
gift from Soraya Verstraete on Saturday of this same week. Soraya
visited Madagascar in 2002 along with her class from the “Christians on
Mission” Program based in Marseille, France. That group of students
was with us only three weeks, but they found a special place in the hearts
of the Betikara folks and they still send sunshine our way.
Soraya is working
with a group of Bible class children in Europe. She and her Bible
class children sent the lambs a lovely photo and picture album just to
say hello and to encourage the lambs. The lambs don’t even know the
children who made the album, but nevertheless, they will pour over the
book of fun and experience the love that was drawn into every picture and
that shines forth from every photo in the book.
Thank you all,
dear friends of Betikara.
We finally got it!
We have waited
many months while a dear friend labored ceaselessly, and finally Betikara
received the rice that was promised from USAID thanks to our dear friend,
Peter Delhove, who shows his loving heart to every person he meets and
who has a special love for Malagasy children. We don’t have to think
any more about placing the lambs in long rice lines and making them wait
for their daily portion, and hopefully this rice shortage problem will
right itself before we have to think about purchasing rice again.
Many thanks, Peter, for letting God work through you.
Looking forward to seeing you.
The Betikara
folks are anxiously looking forward to a visit from three generations of
the Doyle Kee family. Doyle and Barbara, along with two sons and
two grandsons, arrive on March 18 and will be with us until March 29.
The lambs are expecting a fun filled few days with this veteran missionary
as he shares his heart and work with his teenage grandsons.
School concerns.
Betikara now
has a hired teacher to supplement the educational needs of the six youngest
Betikara lambs. One half day of school now and then is just not enough
for us, even if it seems to be enough for the rest of Madagascar.
We welcome Voahangy on board at Betikara. She has begun afternoon
lessons with a great knowledge of the Malagasy school system and with a
desire to help the lambs succeed. She needs our prayers as she works
with these primary school children and we need your prayers as we search
for yet another teacher who will do the same for the junior high and high
school level lambs.
We are on the
search for school books used in the Malagasy system which cannot be purchased
due to the incredible book shortage in this country. Barry has already
borrowed many books and copied them for the lambs’ use. We are very
thankful there are no real copyright laws in this country, but we still
have many more books to track down, borrow, and copy before the children
will have all they need.
Please send
your special prayers heavenward for Robert and Sedera, who will be taking
the high school qualifying exam in June. Pray also for Elisa, Princy
and Elimine, who will take the Junior High qualifying exam also in June.
These tests are difficult and often an unfair measure of the children’s
ability. Nevertheless, they must pass to remain in school and to
do that, they need your prayers. Thank you.
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