"A generous man will himself be blessed, for he shares his food with the poor."         Proverbs 22:9

Then, we were all delighted to hear that Rivo convinced the local elementary school to accept Anjara into the school but not give him a report card.  We were satisfied with this arrangement, but Anjara evidentially was not satisfied.  Anjara studied just like the other students, and by the end of the year was given a report card just like the other students.  For the kid who should not even be in school, Anjara really shined.  He placed 7th out of 20 students.

          Then there is Elia, who just arrived at Betikara last year before the start of the 2005 - 2006 school year.  Elia was the oldest of her siblings that were placed at Betikara.  But she was also the one who was most emotionally attached to her mother at the beginning of her Betikara stay.  For this reason Elia did not fit in well and was always unhappy at Betikara.  Well, things have changed drastically.  Elia not only fits in now at Betikara, but she has also showed us just how smart she really is.  Elia placed first in her class out of 34 students.

          There were six of the Betikara Lambs who took the exam that would decide if they would move on to junior high or stay for another year in elementary school.  We are happy to announce that out of the six who took the qualifying exam for junior high, five students passed.  The one student who did not pass was Andry.

          We ask you to remember Andry in your daily prayers.  Andry has not passed elementary school.  This means that we will have to find something else for Andry to do.  Or, we will have to find some way to educate Andry ourselves.  Here in Madagascar, a child is not guaranteed a place in school unless they can continuously make passing grades.  So, this may be Andry’s last year for school even though he has not gone through junior high and high school.

What can you do?
You can pray.
          Andry is not the only lamb who needs your prayers.  Each of these lambs is growing and changing daily both physically and spiritually.  They are lovely children, but their growing up isn’t any easier than any child’s growing up years.  The decisions are many and difficult even for them, and they don’t have families who will hold them up in prayer.  We count on you for that.  Please consider praying for each lamb individually, or choose one lamb and give yourself in prayer for their precious lives and souls.  Don’t forget to pray for the caregivers and all the Malagasy Christians who serve these lambs every day.  We need your prayers too.  It’s a tremendous responsibility we carry and we are realizing more each day, as these lambs grow and learn, what a tremendous responsibility it is.  But!  We also know how much you do in asking the Father to continue to guide and lead us in this endeavor.  Thank you for your love and for your service to Betikara, to the lambs, and to us.
 

  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