Word of mouth spread like wild fire about the morning bible teaching and afternoon game times.  On one day there were over 450 children in attendance.  As word of mouth spread, the children that attended classes came from farther distances.  Some children walked over 6 miles one way each day.  The per class average grew from around 60 per class to about 90 per class.

          Needless to say, even the seasoned teachers in the group were a little overwhelmed by the numbers of children that kept showing up each day for bible teaching.  As you can see by the pictures, the children were many in number and they were very happy to have the bible classes to attend during their winter break from studies at school.

          There was much excitement among the teachers and translators concerning the classes and the numbers of children that attended classes during the three week long V.B.S.  Everyone is already talking about when the next W.W.Y.C. V.B.S. in Madagascar should be held.  Some are saying that next year would be great.  Others think it would be good to have another V.B.S. after two years.  Part of the reason for two years would be our possibly not being in Madagascar next year during the summer months.

          All of the teachers and translators worked together well and we saw from their actions that they were all having fun, even if the classes were so big.  Since Malagasy children are used to being crowded into a small room, it made it easy for the teachers to work with them and be able to teach them each day.  We want to take this opportunity to thank the W.W.Y.C. group for their willingness to come to Madagascar and brighten the lives of Malagasy children with His word.  We look forward to the next time that the W.W.Y.C. organization comes to Madagascar.  The building is finished and will be even more ready with desks and supplies for teaching children than it was this last summer.
 

Ben and Stacy Upton
          Ben (a senior in high school) and Stacy (a junior in college) came along with their parents and the W.W.Y.C. group.  They were as involved as the rest of the team.  Both Ben and Stacy taught 12 classes just like the rest of the team, and they had over 90 students in their classrooms just like the rest of the team.  Ben and Stacy shined brightly and completed the three weeks of teaching with flying colors.  They touched the lives of numerous Malagasy children and made many good friends. 
          We were totally impressed by their servant attitudes and character.  Not even Kit, who has lived on the mission field all of his life and knows the Malagasy language and does not have to use a translator, was willing to enter a classroom and try to teach the masses of children that came from the surrounding areas each day.
          Ben and Stacy were a wondrous asset to the VBS, and showed us just how much an individual can do if they allow the Savior to work through them in their daily lives.  Please pray for Ben and Stacy as they continue to serve our Lord in the coming years.
 

         We ask you to rejoice with us at the baptism of our daughter Havilah.  Havilah accepted the call of our Lord and Savior on July 30, 2006.  We are happy for her decision to follow our Savior.  We ask you to lift up Havilah as we lift her up to the Lord.  We ask that the Lord strengthen and guide her in the new walk that she is starting.
          Havilah recently worked along side the World Wide Youth Camp volunteers.  During that time she was a translator as well as a facilitator for the WWYC group.  We pray that Havilah will continue to grow in the Lord and serve Him with all her life.
 

• Pray for the children that were taught His word during the W.W.Y.C. bible teaching that took place during the month of July.
• Pray for the W.W.Y.C. volunteers that came to Madagascar and served the Savior so that so many lives could be touched.
• Pray for us and the congregation at Ambohimarina as we continue to teach and encourage the Malagasy people of the surrounding communities to accept Him into their lives.
• Pray for Havilah as she grows in the Lord.  Pray that she can use her life to influence her friends at school so they can know the way of the Lord.  Pray for us as we guide Havilah in her walk.