(Mat 6:23 KJV)  “But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness!”

          In February of 2001 work started on the Betikara land at Ambohimarina.  At that time there was no guard house or home for the Betikara Lambs.  All we had was a piece of land and an idea.  To start off that idea we needed workers.  Men were called from the two local communities that are close to Betikara.  Many men were chosen by Rivo and Tiana (one of the Betikara guards and a Christian) to work on terracing the land that is up top close to the road.  Men were also called and hired to start working in the Betikara rock quarry.  At one time we also had a number of women working to break up the smaller pieces of rock into gravel that we would use for pouring cement in the future.
          At the beginning when we were first hiring workers, Mbola was hired to be a common laborer.  His job like many of the other men’s jobs, was to do whatever was necessary to complete the Betikara four phase project.  Mbola  received everything that the other workers received.  He got the same pay each week.  He more importantly got the same bible teaching that all of the other men received.  We even went and visited at Mbola’s home several times when one of his six children or his wife was sick.  At one time the local community was amazed when the whole Ambohimarina congregation showed up on Mbola’s doorstep to pray for his sick wife.
          Let me tell you a little bit about Mbola.  Mbola is short like most Malagasy, and he has dark black hair like most Malagasy.  You might say that Mbola is a normal Malagasy male.  However, if you look closer into Mbola’s life you will soon see that Mbola has a “darkness from within”.  Mbola has received bible teaching every working day of his life for the almost five years that he has worked for Betikara.  However, the teaching has not yet penetrated his heart and mind.  Most of the time that we are teaching bible to the workers during their break, Mbola is sitting next to the wall with his head bowed.  No, Mbola is not praying, rather he just seems to be sitting, tolerating the time of bible teaching and waiting for the end.
          Mbola’s “darkness from within” has also manifested itself in other ways.  You see, like many of the Betikara workers, Mbola likes to drink.  Yes, Mbola has a wife and six children, but most, if not all of his salary is spent on getting drunk.  Mbola is known to beat his wife occasionally, and the people in the community look on Mbola and his family as being impossible to help.  No matter what people from the community do to try and uplift the family, it all seems to be of no avail.  It seems that Mbola’s “darkness from within” has reached out and turned the community against him and his family.
          You know how it is with some people.  Until they hit bottom and see a need to change for themselves, there is nothing that you can do to help, except pray.  We have prayed, and we have tried to encourage over the years.  However, it seems that Mbola has not completely reached bottom in his life.  He is still struggling and everything Mbola does seems to go wrong.  Mbola needs our continued prayers.
          Just recently I was informed by Tiana, that Mbola is no longer working for Betikara.  I was told that Mbola was caught stealing from Betikara.  After being warned for the third time, Mbola was sent home.  This “darkness from within”, is still reaching out and destroying Mbola’s life and the life of his wife and six children.  This darkness is also reaching out and affecting the body of Christ at Ambohimarina.  One Christian woman was so upset at Mbola being fired, that she could not even worship a few Sundays ago.
            You ask, why all of the concern over a man that a majority of people consider useless?  After all, he does drink, and he does beat his wife.  Well, there is one part of the story that I have not yet revealed.  You see, Mbola is the husband of Rivo, who is a Christian at the Ambohimarina congregation.  Rivo is the one that almost died and we prayed that she could live long enough to know the Savior and His love.  Rivo is the one that Stacy wrote about, saying that Rivo and her six children come to services in rags, while Rivo is always asking and looking out for the children that are less fortunate than her children in the Ambohimarina congregation.

          So, instead of calling the local police (which would have sent Mbola to jail, and separated him from his family), we set up a time with Mbola’s brother to visit Mbola at Mbola’s home.  We expressed to Mbola that we were very sorry for him and his family, and that we still wanted to encourage him spiritually and pray for the well being, both physically and spiritually of his life.  We shared with Mbola that he needed to try himself, to overcome the “darkness from within” that has pervaded his life for so long. 
Lord willing, Mbola will see the need to change and reach out for help.
           Outwardly, Mbola seemed to appreciate our visit and spiritual encouragement.  This appreciation could be sincere, but it could also be what is expected by Malagasy custom of any Malagasy person that receives visitors into their home.  It is our prayer that Mbola be shown the way more clearly, and that he reach out and overcome all of the trials that have so long affected his life, and the life of his family.
          It is also our prayer, that Mbola can see our light and reach out to that light.  We pray that Mbola can see our actions, as loving actions, that will draw him out of his inner darkness.  The bible says, (Mat 5:16 KJVR)  “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.”
          Please pray for Mbola, Rivo, their six children, the workers at Betikara that have not yet put on Christ and the Ambohimarina congregation as we try to reach out and show His way and love to the Malagasy people.  We covet your prayers and appreciate all you do to lift up “His Work” in Madagascar.
 

New price for cement
As with the price of milk, the price of cement has also increased.  However, cement is still hard to find and the price is continuing to rise.  Before the recent cement shortage, cement was selling for $9.50 for a 50 kilogram (110 pounds) sack.  The last I checked, cement was bringing in $13.00 per sack.  Of course, part of this increase is being blamed on the electrical problems that Madagascar is facing.  Without electricity 24/7 the cement companies cannot keep up production.  We are praying that we can find enough cement, at any price, to get Phase II of the Betikara building project completed.  I just purchased 60 sacks the other day, but today I do not see any cement for sale at the local hardware stores.

Washing Feet
          Recently Stacy and I were both called upon by Malagasy Christians at the Ambohimarina congregation to help with their sick family members.  Both times we were asked to transport a sick individual to a certain hospital for much needed medical treatment.  The woman Stacy helped, took place on a Sunday morning.  We had already arrived at Ambohimarina, and were just sitting down to start the morning Bible class for the adults.  I was called outside of the building by and individual because someone wanted to talk to me personally.  Upon arriving outside I found one of our older Christian women.  She requested that I help her take a daughter that was very sick (with eclampsia) and very pregnant to a local clinic.  Personally, I could not help.  I was already scheduled to preach that day.  That is were Stacy came into the picture.  Needless to say, an item that should be easy, turned out to be an 8 hour ordeal because of the lack of proper medical facilities in Madagascar.
         I was asked, just the other day, to carry the father of one of our members to a special hospital (about 30 miles) outside of Antananarivo.  This special hospital deals with pulmonary cases.  I was told by Jean Baptise that his wife’s father has for some time been sick with tuberculosis.  Immediately I asked if the rest of the family was given the vaccine.
          So many of the things that we take for granted, cannot be taken for granted in places like Madagascar.  So many people live in outlying areas and do not receive the proper medical care or necessary vaccines that are common place to us as Americans.  People are not taught about good health practices.  This is why we are always on call.  We pray that we can be a help to these families physically, so that they can see our Lord through our actions, and turn to Him for their spiritual needs.
 

• Pray for us as we work with the Ambohimarina congregation, the Betikara Orphanage and the two surrounding communities.  Pray that we can be a good influence in the lives of the Malagasy people, and good examples of true Christian love as we serve Him.
• Please pray for Rivo and Mbola as they are going through this time of trial in their lives.  Pray that they can look to God for help, and not on the physical things of this world.  Pray especially that Rivo can remain faithful to her God and be a good example to her husband.
• Pray for our family so that we can have some quality time with Kit while he is home from Rift Valley Academy.