The Rosie family  is praying  His blessings  upon you  in 2006. Thank you  for everything you do  for His Work  in Madagascar.

Malagasy Christmas
          It ranks third of major holidays in Madagascar, preceded by Malagasy Independence (June 26) and New Year’s Day.  Both Christmas and New Year’s in Madagascar mean washing clothes and cleaning every corner of the house.  Christmas in Madagascar means lime green fake Christmas trees and skinny Santas who wear masks and stand on the street corner selling beach balls.  Christmas here means an ice cream cone and a stroll down the main street in town, sweltering hot weather, new clothes, and a single cheaply made toy, that is sure to break on the same day, for only the children of wealthier families.  Christmas in Madagascar means paper crowns and a child’s presentation to the church complete with songs, Bible memory verses, and a small bag of cookies and hard candy for a job well done.  And that’s exactly what happened at the Ambohimarina congregation this Christmas day in 2005.  The children were dressed in their best clothes, even if tattered, and some of them even had shoes on.  The Betikara lambs made paper crowns for the church kids (even the teenagers) and each of the three Bible classes made presentations to the congregation.  The parents were delighted with the presentation and the kids were delighted with their bag of cookies and candy and their box of milk.  We thought you might enjoy seeing just how many children the Ambohimarina congregation is raising up in the Lord.

Kit is off to school once again on January 2nd.  We will miss him, but we are mighty proud of this young man and we send him off with many prayers.

Congregation-wide Study of Acts
          In 2005, the Ambohimarina congregation gave themselves to learning about Christ, who He was, why He came, and what He has done for us.  In 2006, Ambohimarina is dedicated to a study of Christ’s church, what it is, why we need it, and how we serve within the Body.  This year, all five classes (three children’s classes, adult women’s class, and adult men’s class) will study in the book of Acts each week.  We hope and pray this plan will help families in Christ to study and prepare lessons together at home, and we hope and pray that this concentrated study of Acts will prepare this church for the Rosie family departure sometime mid-year 2007.  At that time, Ambohimarina will walk with more faith in their Savior and the Rosie family will move on to working with a new group of people.  Your prayers can help it all happen.

Visitors in 2006
          The Rosie family has always enjoyed visitors, especially now because it has been so long since we’ve enjoyed a time at home with family, friends, and supporters.  This year, we are looking forward to three visits.  Doris Stutzman, dear friend from Indiana, Pennsylvania, will be visiting us from March 17-27th.  Jerry Bates and wife, will visit sometime in the first half of the year, and in July, we are anticipating a group from World Wide Youth Camps to come and serve both the children of Betikara and the neighborhood children in a two week long Bible day camp.  If you are interested in joining the group that is coming with World Wide Youth Camps, please check out their website:  www.wwyc.org and contact Greg and David Perry to let them know you are interested.  We welcome you all.
 

Ambohimarina’s middle age children’s class (above) isn’t quite as daunting as the itty bitty kids, but Hanitra also deserves her star for serving the Savior by teaching the children.  Everyone of these kids had multiple memory verses to recite.
 

***********

Malagasy teenagers (below) are a rare breed.  They aren’t too embarrassed to wear paper crowns and perform for parents.  Even the teenage boys topped off the show with a quartet performance, and they couldn’t have done it without yet another teacher, Vololona, who gives herself to the Savior as a teacher.