"Fiovan’ Tontolo" or "Changing World" is one of the slogans used by the president elect of Madagascar. As one drives around town there are numerous bulletin boards that have a picture of the world. At the top of the bulletin board one can read the words, "Fiovan’ Tontolo". Down on the colorful map of the world you can see the island of Madagascar beside the continent of Africa. The island is easy to see on the map even though it is in proportion with the rest of the world map in size. Around the island of Madagascar, there is the color of yellow that looks like the rays of the sun, as it shines out from behind the island of Madagascar. This is very effective and eye catching. There is no other writing on the bulletin board, not even the name of the candidate for whom the people of Madagascar should vote if they are for change. 
          Marc Ravalomanana, the president elect, has stated, that if chosen to be the next leader of Madagascar, he will lead Madagascar into a new era that will bring about many changes for the Malagasy people. However, change is something that does not come easy in Madagascar. The people are excited about the idea of change, but soon revert back to the traditional ways. This can be seen by what happened in Madagascar back in 1991. The Malagasy people elected a new president. That president was not allowed to take office, by none other than Ratsiraka, the incumbent president of Madagascar right now. So, many demonstrations ensued, and the then incumbent president finally gave way and allowed the president elect to take office after one year of turmoil in Madagascar. It was not long after this change to a new president that the Malagasy people became disillusioned with their new president and called for the return of Ratsiraka, and the old ways that they embrace so strongly as Malagasy. 
          This problem of Malagasy people wanting, but not wanting to change, is what faces us daily as we try to teach about our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Change is not easy for Malagasy people, and when they do change, finally accepting what is taught it the bible concerning God’s way, they often are pulled back into the traditional ways by family and friends. The Malagasy people already consider themselves to be changed, and a spiritual nation. It is reported in one guidebook about Madagascar, that almost 50% of the population are "Christian". And, we have seen for the most part, that Malagasy people are very spiritual. However, their spirituality lies in the belief and worship of their ancestors. Christianity is just a thin veneer that the Malagasy wear over their ancestral beliefs. The Malagasy people may be "Christian", but only "Christian" because many of the denominations in Madagascar do not call for a leaving of the traditional beliefs and spiritual worship of their parishioners. It is this ancestral spirituality that we constantly struggle with, as we endeavor to instill God’s plan that can change the lives of the Malagasy from ancestral spirituality to a spirituality that is grounded in the bible and God almighty. 
          We have lost some members from the Ankadivato congregation to traditional ancestral worship. We do not seem to be able to compete, so far, with the "blessings" the Malagasy people claim to receive from their former family members or ancestors. We also fall short of the many denominations that claim to heal the sick and cast out demons. We have declined to cast out demons, exorcise the evil spirits and to "heal" the Malagasy. (All of these afore mentioned items pull strongly on the lives of the Malagasy people.) Instead we are trying to teach about the strength and healing that can come from a life with Christ, the Great Physician. We pray for those who express the desire to be free from their ancestors, telling them that a deep faith in Christ will help them overcome the fears that they have of the unseen or their ancestors. We try to instill in the Malagasy the idea that the family of God is far more important than the physical family of this present life. We often tell those new babes in Christ that their new spiritual family is far more lasting and helpful to them than their physical families. 
          Much of our teaching is centered on Jesus Christ and him crucified, as Paul stated, "For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified." (1 Corinthians 2:2) If the Malagasy people are ever going to change, they need to realize that Christ must be the center of their lives, not the ancestors. They are going to have to give up all of the traditional beliefs that bind them to the form of spiritual worship that uplifts the ancestors. The Malagasy people need to leave all of the rudiments of the world as Paul stated in Colossians 2:8, when he said, "Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ." We continue to pray, teach and encourage the Malagasy people to commit their lives to following the Savior of the world. We have seen many Malagasy people change and continue to serve our Lord and Master. Those that can change, and leave the traditional ways, continue to show their faith and allegiance to Christ. 
          Even so, we are constantly reminded just how much of a pull animism has in the lives of these people. Many Malagasy people will give up anything in order to appease the ancestors. They will save for years so that they can exhume the remains of their ancestors and parade them through the streets, at the same time having a big feast to unite the family and reinforce their ancestral beliefs. All of these signs are just the tip of the iceberg concerning their spiritual beliefs. 
          In Kenya we knew the people were animistic and feared or worshipped their ancestors. However, we never saw Kenyan ancestral worship out in the open in Kenya. Ancestral worship was always hidden from the white man. Here in Madagascar it is a different story. The Malagasy people proudly march in the streets and let all know that they are linked to the ancestors. This boldness concerning the worship of their ancestors shows how hard it is going to be to convert or change them to Christ. 
          We realize that we still have much to learn in order to effectively teach the Malagasy people. We are continually seeing signs that the Malagasy people want to change, but many are unsure and afraid of what there lives will be like once they change and put their trust in Christ. Please pray for the Malagasy people as they struggle to overcome centuries of traditional belief. Please pray for us as we continue to learn more about the Malagasy people that will help us understand them better and be able to more effectively teach them about the changes that await them in the Kingdom of God here on this earth.

New Sunday School classes
There are now new Sunday School classes at Ankadivato. We have tried to distribute the children more evenly as far as age and the number of children in each class. We have also started two new classes for the teenagers at Ankadivato. We have separated the teenage boys from the teenage girls in hopes of being able to give them biblical teaching that, Lord willing, will prepare them for their future lives both physical and spiritual. Also, there is now a class for new married couples and couples that are contemplating marriage. We have three couples at Ankadivato that fall into this category. Please pray for all these new classes. 

Election update
          One Sunday, I decided that I would continue my teaching appointments even though roadblocks are in place around town.  During the day there is no problem, but at night road blocks are set up to check vehicles. I started by going to my first Sunday afternoon teaching appointment at 3:00 p.m. Once finished there, myself and two other Christian men proceeded on to our next appointment at 5:00 p.m. just outside the city of Antananarivo. Upon leaving to return home from this appointment at 6:15 p.m. we did not get far before we were stopped by the first road block of the night. When I finally reached home, I had passed 19 road blocks and spent 2 hours and 45 minutes in the car for a trip that should usually take 30 minutes. When I asked one of the people that manned the road blocks what they were looking for, I was told that they were looking for guns that might help the followers of Ratsiraka. 
          Just this last week we went into the Ankadivato center for Wednesday afternoon bible classes for the children. Upon leaving the center we started home following a different route than the route we used to enter town. It was not far from the center that we saw an overturned vehicle sitting in the middle of an intersection that had been torched. 
          For almost a week now, the center of attention here in Madagascar has not been Antananarivo the capitol, rather the port city of Tamatave. The main thrust at the present time is to remove the road blocks that continue to keep supplies from entering the capitol city. Along with the fighting that is going on to remove the road blocks, it has been rumored that Tamatave no longer has a telephone system. It seems that the supporters of the newly elected president have torched the telephone building in Tamatave. So far there are no changes for the better in Madagascar. We still wait!

• Please pray for the lives of the Malagasy people as they struggle to change and follow Christ, instead of the traditions that have bound them for so long. 
• Please pray for the Madagascar as it struggles to overcome the stalemate that has cause so much disorder and confusion since the presidential election last December 16th. 
• Please pray for the church, that we may remain strong and faithful to God as we reach out to encourage those that need to leave the traditional ways. 
• Please pray for the health and wisdom of the Rosie family as we try to serve those around us. 
• Please pray that this current crisis may open the hearts and minds of the Malagasy people.