His Work
Among the Malagasy People of Madagascar

Go ... and make disciples of all nations

                                                                                                  Matthew 28:19
Volume 20, Number 4 April 2006
The Barry Rosie family have worked on the mission field in Africa for more than 20 years under the oversight of the:
Fraley’s Chapel 
Church of Christ
c/o Phillip Young
140 C.R. 170
Corinth, MS 38834
Elders
Eugene Holland - 662-287-1721
Jerry Bates - 662-287-3351
A letter from our sponsoring congregation

Fraley’s Chapel Church of Christ
3733 CR 100
Corinth, MS. 38834
Telephone:  1-662-287-3351

March 28, 2006

Dear Brethren,

          I am the minister for Barry and Stacy Rosie’s sponsoring congregation.  This congregation has worked with them ever since they have been on the mission field, a period covering more than 20 years.  Recently my wife and I made a trip to Madagascar to see them and to see how the work was going.  Since you have also been a faithful supporter of their work, I thought it would be good to let you know of our trip. 
          We were very impressed with their work, and we feel that the work is going well, especially considering the short time that the church has existed in Madagascar.  They have sacrificed a great deal in their work, although they probably would not consider it a sacrifice.  Both of them have many abilities which serve them well on the mission field.  They know the language well, which is essential if one wants to relate well to the people.  The church has only existed in Madagascar about 10 years.  During that time the church has grown tremendously in both number and spiritually.  There are now three congregations meeting in the capital city of Madagascar, with a population of 1.7 million, and all three enjoy a close relationship with one another. 
          One congregation meets at the orphanage that Barry and Stacy have helped build.  Some of you may feel that his work with the orphans has detracted from his teaching duties, and therefore the church has suffered.  After surveying the situation, we feel that the opposite is true.  The people have seen Christian love and concern in action, which has had a positive effect on the community.  Many of the people who helped build the orphanage have become Christians due to the influence and teaching they received while working.  About 25 children are currently being cared for, and there is room for about 15 more, which probably will be filled in a few months.  The facilities are excellent, comfortable with plenty of room, and since it is built completely of stone, should last for decades with minimum upkeep. 
          The church building is attached to the orphanage and will soon be finished, providing seating for about 400, with several classrooms.  Those classrooms may one day also be used for a school, which Barry is hoping to get started.  That school would also bring in neighboring children, allowing them the opportunity to teach children the Bible daily.  This is needed because the public school system in Madagascar is poor. These children would pay, while the children at the orphanage would not have to pay.  All children currently pay in the public school system, so this would be an income source for the orphanage.  We found the orphanage to be well managed financially and the children well cared for and happy.  About 140 people meet every Sunday in that congregation, with over half of them children.  However, the children are well behaved and listen with great interest as the lessons are presented. Besides the Betikara children, the other children came with adults that were also attending. The future for the church is indeed bright.
          This short letter cannot possibly convey to you the good work which is going on in Madagascar.  The truth is very much needed in Madagascar, and there is much work remaining to be done.  Barry and Stacy are committed to doing that work for many more years, and we commend them for their dedication.  On their behalf we thank you for your generous support, and hope that you will continue to support their work as long as they are on the mission field.  My wife and I would be happy to discuss any aspects of their work with you further if you have any questions or concerns.  My address and phone number is listed at the top of this letter.  You can also e-mail me at jbates@nadata.net. 
          May God bless you and your work.

In Christ,

 Jerry Bates
Minister and Elder
Did You Know. . .
. . . That for about five months now the electricity in Madagascar has not been shut off.  We have enjoyed this period of plenty (due to the annual rainy season) and are thankful for the break from the daily rationing that the electric company was compelled to use due to the lack of rain in Madagascar.
 Just recently, however, rumors have started again concerning the lack of water to produce electricity, and the need for rationing.  Just this last week, Jirama (the national power and water company) made front page news by stating the need for rationing to resume in the near future.
 We are preparing ourselves, both physically and mentally for this next time of rationing.  We hear through the grapevine that the problem Jirama is facing will not be alleviated until well into 2007.
this and that
“The Devil is stirring”
           This last Sunday I was called to join an after worship meeting of several of the men of the Ambohimarina congregation.  The meeting was arranged by one of our faithful women (the mother of Tefy who we have written about in the past).  I had no idea at the time what was going to happen, so I just stood and listened for quite some time as we were told about how the “Devil was stirring” in the life of her husband.
          We have known for quite some time that Tefy’s father, who is not a Christian, is an avid drinker.  That was one of the reasons that upon her husband retiring from the Malagasy army, Tefy’s mother was intent on buying a piece of property close to the congregation at Ambohimarina and moving her family out of the city.  The husband agreed to this plan and the married couple are now living within a ten minute walk of the Ambohimarina building.  However, to date, Tefy’s father does not meet with the Ambohimarina congregation.
          For a time, the move seemed to help the drinking problem.  However, recently Tefy’s father has taken to leaving home for several days at a time to go to the city and drink with his old army friends.  That is when we were asked last Sunday if we could come as a delegation of men from the congregation to talk, teach and pray with Tefy’s father.  We set up our first meeting for Monday morning and since that time we were requested to return to their home unexpectedly on Wednesday morning for further teaching, prayer and encouraging words to help Tefy’s father resist the Devil that is stirring within his life.
          We now ask you to join us in our effort to free Tefy’s father from the bondage that he is entangled in on a daily basis.  We covet your prayers and ask that you lift up not only Tefy’s father in prayer, but also the entire family as they struggle to help their loved one be free from the snares of this life.  James 5:16

Milk for Malagasy
          Recently we suffered a long shortage of school milk in Madagascar.  A couple of weeks ago I asked the workers for Tiko (the supplier for school milk here in the country, which is owned by president Ravalomanana), if there was school milk.  The reply was, “we have not seen school milk for a long time.”
          Well, perseverance does pay off.  This last week I returned to Tiko, not once but three times.  The first time I was promised 15 cases of milk that afternoon.  Upon arriving at Tiko, I was told that their supply of school milk did not arrive from the warehouse.  Thus, I was only sold 6 cases of school milk, while being told I should check back the following afternoon.  I left my phone number so that I could be called, just in case the milk did arrive and I could then be notified.  I did not receive a phone call, so I took a chance and went to the Tiko outlet the afternoon of the next day.  Upon arriving the worker had a big smile on his face and asked me how many cases I wanted.  I told him I would take 30 cases (1,620 cups of milk) if they were available.  So, now we have a fresh supply of school milk that should last us a few months.   Nothing is ever finished the first time around in Madagascar.  Several return trips are always needed.  So goes life in Madagascar.
 
EXPENDITURES
Diesel
 $ 187.00
Vehicle Maintenance
 212.11
Rent and Utilities
 628.36
Office
 451.27
Travel
 0.00
Misc.
 2.63
_________________________
__________
Total expenses
 $ 1,481.37

 
Miniature Missionaries
          We are finally a family again, at least for a little while longer.  Kit came home on March 24th (he returns to school in Kenya on April 24th) and since that time we continue to enjoy his company.  We are happy to report that Kit is healthy and that he continues to make passing marks at Rift Valley Academy in Kenya.
          Since Kit arrived home he has enjoyed his respite from school.  He sleeps in late, and spends a lot of time on the Internet and playing computer games, which he does not get much time to do while studying at R.V.A..
          Kit is also spending time with Robert, one of the Betikara Lambs.  Robert has visited our home several times already.  Each time he comes, Kit and Robert spend time conversing, watching Deep Space Nine DVD’s and playing computer games.  I have to admit, it would be nice to have some time to do what Kit is doing.  I guess you could say I am becoming a bit envious of Kit and his vacation from school.

For the next four months we will be using this section of the newsletter to let you know a little about the Madagascar team.  This month we feature John and Esther.

John and Esther Ratovohery


• Native Malagasy
• Retired Diplomats to France and the United States
• Sponsored by the Henderson Church of Christ, TX
• Working with the Ankadivato congregation
• Overseers of the Centre d’Etude Biblique
• Overseers of the Betikara Orphanage
• Experts on how to get it done in Madagascar

John says, “I want my own people to hear God’s Word.”
 What can you do?
You can Pray!
  • Pray for Tefy’s family as they are striving to help his father overcome the problem of drinking that has ruled his life for so many years.  Pray also for the Ambohimarina congregation as we support Tefy’s family spiritually in their time of need.
  • Pray for the Rosie family as we continue to learn more each day what the Malagasy culture is all about, and how we can effectively teach the Malagasy people about God’s way instead of the traditional ways.
  • Pray for the Madagascar team.  Pray that we can all work in unity in order to further His Kingdom here in Antananarivo, the capital city, and also throughout the rest of the island of Madagascar.

rosies.gif (19981 bytes)

We welcome you to join us in this work for Him . . .
 
Barry, Stacy, Kit and Havilah Rosie
B.P. 7554
Antananarivo 101
Madagascar

Tel. 011-261-32-02-081-14
 brosie@wanadoo.mg
http:\\www.madagascar-mission.org

Return to Newsletter Archives Index

Return to top