We sit and watch in amazement and awe as God constructs the pillars of His church here in Madagascar, and we can’t resist sharing it with you.  We’ve been in Madagascar for more than five years now and those five years have been spent carefully and painstakingly laying the foundation of Christ and His teachings for His church here in Madagascar.  Now we are watching God provide the increase as He begins to build the pillars of the church.  Those pillars are these first babes in Christ here in Madagascar.  Rivo is just one of those babes, and . . . 

he never quits. 

          Like Peter, I think he would be the very first to jump out of the boat and swim to shore if he saw Jesus walking along the lake today.  Like Peter, he’s impetuous, often times jumping in when he should have stood still, often times putting his foot in his mouth.  But, he’s on fire for his Savior, he’ll try anything for the Savior and he never quits.  He’s been our right arm for almost five years.  He’s willing to do anything we ask and keeps on doing even when we don’t ask.  He’s already taught and baptized his father, started a church in his family’s home, and this month he has baptized his girlfriend. 
          After worship one Sunday afternoon, Rivo and Fano were sitting in his parent’s living room.  Fano began to cry.  Rivo was at a loss to understand until he convinced her to stop crying and explain.  It seems she was listening well to the sermon that morning and to the Bible class.  Fano realized her need and with her soft heart she agreed to obey her Savior.  She’s smiling now and ready to walk with her Savior towards her heavenly Father. 
 On Saturday, August 24th, we were privileged as honorary members of Rivo’s family to attend the first engagement negotiations between the families of this young Christian couple.  Rivo and Fano are the third such couple of babes in Christ who are marrying with the help and support of their church family.  Babes such as these, who are starting out their married life in Christ are the very pillars of His church, and we were touched as Rivo stood up to make the mandatory speech (Malagasy insist on formal speeches for every occasion) announcing that their intent was to put God and His will into their marriage.
          On Saturday, August 31st, we were equally touched and privileged to witness the civil ceremony of the fourth couple of young Christians.  We’ve known Rado for more than six years now.  He was baptized during one of Barry’s trips to Madagascar before we moved to the country.  Rado is not as energetic as Rivo.  He’s far quieter and reserved, but when Rado stands up to give a lesson everyone listens because Rado naturally displays his heart for Christ when he tries to share Christ’s Word with a soul that desperately needs to hear.  Rado shared Christ’s word several months ago with his friend, Harisoa, and then patiently waited for her to respond to the Savior before he asked her to respond to his marriage proposal.
          It was like no wedding you've ever been to. We went in two cars (which seat 5) carrying 11 in each car. I started out with an upper back problem, six hours later, scaling hillsides, climbing over rocks, going where no car should go, and my back was worse than ever. It was an absolutely exhausting day for very very different reasons from those that usually make a wedding day exhausting. Funny thing. As I sat in the sun, perched on a wobbly log in my wedding guest finery, choking on dust while trying to eat rice covered in slabs of pork fat (no meat, just fat), I began to get real homesick for a good American wedding. Then a dozen members of the family got up to serenade Rado and Harisoa. They sang this funny little song that's like a story, full of wedding humor, and I was transported instantly right back to my childhood, remembering the local talent who was always invited to weddings because he could play the accordion and the neighborhood funny guy who couldn't sing a note but kept everyone in stitches singing little songs filled with wedding humor. I drug that memory from the depths. I can't even remember whose wedding it was. Anyway, I got to thinking that weddings aren’t so different no matter where you are.
          What is different about these marriages is the faith these newly constructed pillars of the church are putting in their Savior.  On Sunday morning Rado and Harisoa got up and spoke their wedding promises before the church after Barry preached on God's will for man concerning marriage.  We are so pleased with this kind of growth. 
 As we sit in amazement and awe, we watch God construct the pillars of the church here in Madagascar, faithful couples starting their married life in Christ and in His church, dedicated to raising a family in Christ and setting the example for future young Christians.
 

First Fruit for the Savior

It’s in the Betikara newsletter, but it’s so important to us that we want to say it again and make sure you all see it.  Betikara has produced its first fruit for the Savior.  Robert, the oldest of the Betikara lambs, was baptized on Sunday, August 18th.  The joy in the church was more than you can imagine as one of the lambs, in whom so many have poured so much love, care, and teaching, put on his Savior.  Pray with us for Robert as he begins his walk with Christ toward his heavenly Father.  We are so proud of him.

It was a wonderful vacation
We don’t take one often, but this last month the Rosie family spent six wonderful days on a small island off the coast of Madagascar and we thank God daily for the blessing of that vacation.  The island of Nosy Be which is normally the tourist attraction of tourist attractions in all of Madagascar was completely deserted due to the recent political problems and we had the entire island of quiet, peace and beauty almost to ourselves.  We rested, read, played in the sand, swam in the Indian Ocean and ate fish, fish, and more fish.  We kept our minds totally off of work and we came back to Antananarivo ready to tackle whatever comes our way as this country revives and moves forward again. 
 

• Pray for the four recently baptized members of our Lord’s kingdom.  Pray for Daniel (Rivo’s father, Fano (Rivo’s fiance, Harisoa (Rado’s new wife and Robert the first Betikara Lamb to put on Christ as his Savior.
• Pray for the young couples that are mentioned in this newsletter.  Pray that they may become strong and faithful members of His church.
• Pray for our efforts as we continue to daily teach over 60 workers at the Betikara land.  Pray that they too, may accept the Saviour, and dedicate their lives to His service.
• Pray for the Rosie family as we continue to work and try to be good examples for Him.