“Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.”            Acts 2:46-47

          It was a wonderful Sunday, the second Sunday of the new year and Malagasy put great stock in the new year!  New year in Madagascar is a time of cleansing, washing off the problems, hurts, and mistakes of the old year, and starting afresh with a desire to do better in the new year.  This sentiment isn’t foreign to an American, but the manifestation of it here in Madagascar is much stronger than I’ve ever seen in America.  The new congregation at Ambohimarina started the year with just such a sentiment and with a brisk pep talk from Rivo stressing the importance of each individual working to make the congregation grow closer in love and working harder in the community to teach others of the Savior who is so dear to us. 
          We had one week to think over that pep talk and store it in a special place in each heart of each member, and now it was the second week of the year.  I wish I knew exactly how it happened so we had the ability to generate it and guarantee it each week of the year, but we can’t quite put our fingers on what made it so special and good and better than most Sundays. 
          We loaded up the cars as usual with three times as many people than would normally fit in any car.  It was hot and dusty, the children were noisy, greetings were shared at every stop along the way to pick up those who wanted to worship, and the way was bumpy and long as usual.  We arrived at the new orphanage building and everyone piled out of cars as others approached along dirt paths from different directions nearby.  Everyone was smiling and many were catching up on news, but that is no different than usual. 
          Within a few minutes adults and children alike were settled into chairs in their respective classrooms and Bible class began.  There was a new little twist this week.  We’ve had 40+ children in one classroom with one teacher since we began meeting at the new orphanage building.  Today, the children were finally divided into two classes.  It was my job to teach the little ones (numbering about 27) because their regular teacher was sick.  Rivo taught the teenage and near teenage children.  Barry taught the adults.  I didn’t personally observe Rivo’s class but my own class went great and both of my children came out of Rivo’s class smiling and enthusiastic about Rivo’s new class.  And the news from Barry’s class was even better, for after his teaching, an elderly women who had been faithful to worship for the last month decided to put on Christ that very morning.  She had already run home to get a change of clothes.
          The entire congregation, more than 70 in number, descended the hill to the edge of the lake.  Another short lesson was taught and Raharivelo Helene was baptized into Christ.  Her face was a picture of  pure delight as she rose out of the water.  She quickly changed clothes behind cover of the car and while still standing by the lake, Rivo’s father prayed one of the sweetest prayers I have ever heard.  He prayed for Helene’s journey with Christ, he asked God to give her strength to handle problems along the way, he thanked God for the opportunity to become a child of the Father.  In the middle of the prayer, Rivo’s dad burst into tears.  Everyone waited quietly for him to cry.  No one spoke, no one moved (children included), and when he had gathered himself together he continued his prayer with a plea for help with a problem he deals with in his own journey with Christ.  At the last amen, half of the congregation moved toward Helene to welcome her into the body of Christ and the other half moved toward Rivo’s dad to wrap arms of love around him and to encourage him in his walk with his Savior.  Many walked back up the hill holding hands or with arms around each other.
          Worship was so worshipful that day.  The children sat like angels.  Prayers were heartfelt prayers, the singing was beautiful, the lesson taught was perfect straight from the mind of God and through the lips of his willing servant, Rivo. 
          When worship finished, the entire congregation walked or rode to the nearby village to pray for one in our congregation who has been deathly ill since Christmas.  I was amazed as I watched every adult enter the tiny house, climb the ladder stairs and squeeze into Rivo’s (a woman) bedroom to sing, pray, hug, and encourage her.  Several in the village stood outside the house marveling that a whole church would make such a show of love and support to one member.  They had never seen the like.
          We exited the house reluctantly and stood in small groups enjoying even sweeter fellowship even though we all had had an extra long day of worship, noon was far behind us, and everyone was hungry.  No one wanted to bring to an end what had been the sweetest day together as a congregation.  Many expressed the wonder of God moving among us and commented that it should be just such a Sunday every Sunday of the year.

John and Esther still on furlough 
John and Esther reported that they had a good visit in France and Switzerland for three weeks in December since leaving Madagascar for their furlough.  They’ve since spent another three weeks enjoying the Christmas holidays with their children and grandchildren in Arlington, Virginia.  This week they are in Henderson, Texas, reporting to their sponsoring congregation.  As always happens when a co-worker goes on furlough, work load more than doubles for those left behind and problems seem to multiply exponentially, and this is exactly what we are experiencing here in Madagascar in John and Esther’s absence.  We appreciate very much all the prayers that have gone up in our behalf as we try to carry on, but we have begun to believe that this work has grown beyond the ability of our family or even John and Esther to handle it alone while the others are on furlough.  That’s a good sign.  Growth beyond our abilities to handle it is exactly our goal, and several Malagasy who are growing by leaps and bounds spiritually are filling the furlough void.  In this last month, we’ve depended much on Romain and Nivo Rakotomalala who have helped so much with problems that involve Malagasy custom and culture.  Eric Rakotomanga and his wife Elisa, members at the Ankadivato congregation and the man John put on charge of orphanage concerns in his absence, have filled in many cultural gaps which we have misunderstood and have offered themselves many times to help with whatever need arises.  Dinand Rafanoaratsoa, orphanage caregiver, and the man John placed in charge of government paperwork in his absence, has listened, advised, and spent many hours in lines in government offices to help both the church, our family, volunteers, and orphans.  Our personal right-hand man Rivo Razafimamonjy and his wife Fano have been our prayer helpers and our go-fors for this past month never complaining no matter what is asked of them. Heritiana Rakotonimanana and his wife Hanitra have helped the orphanage building project to continue while Barry has been flat on his back.   We thank God daily for raising up such willing servants and for the show of love and support they have given our family as we try to cope with a hundred different matters in a hundred different directions each day.  We all look forward together to John and Esther’s return. 
 

• Pray for our sister Rivo who is now in a second hospital since she became sick on Christmas morning last year.  Pray that the doctors can find out what is wrong with her stomach and stop the pain Rivo has been experiencing for the last month.
• Pray for our new sister in Christ that was baptized on January 10, 2004.  Pray that we may encourage and strengthen her through our examples.
• Pray for all of us as we grow together in spirit and love in this new year.
• Pray for Barry as his back continues to heal.  Pray that he will continue to be able to work on the necessary paperwork for new visas as well as continue to teach and preach in 2004.