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His Work Go ... and make disciples of all nations Matthew 28:19 |
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Volume
21, Number 10 |
October 2007 |
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The
Barry Rosie family have worked on the mission field in Africa for more
than 21 years under the oversight of the: |
Fraley’s Chapel |
Elders Phillip Young - 662-286-2995 Mike Whitehurst -
662-287-7631 |
A Curious Parallel
“Now I commit you to
God and to the word of His grace, which can build you up and give you an
inheritance among all those who are sanctified.” Acts 20:32
Barry is in Michigan. Kit is
in Alabama. Havilah is in a remote part of the island near Tamatave. I am home
alone. (Now here’s a thought: What kind of mischief can I get into if I’m “home
alone”?) For the first time in twenty-two years, our family is scattered to the
winds. I am grateful that it is only temporary. Nevertheless, even when Havilah
is here with me, we both feel the hole, the lack of completeness. We are
missing the leader of our family.
I’ve had two flat tires since
Havilah and I have returned from the States. It would take Barry less than half
an hour to fix a flat and he would hardly notice the effort. Each flat costs me
four plus hours and I have had to ask for help many times in the process.
Fixing flats is way lots easier in the States than it is here. I am thankful
that so far vehicle breakdowns have been limited to flat tires. I watch the oil
light with trepidation each morning when I turn the ignition switch. A few
weeks ago, our internet server decided to make major changes that required
configuring both of our computers in order to maintain internet access. I had
no idea how to go about such a task and I still fear daily that our internet
server will cut us off. Although, Havilah and I have shared meals at home since
our return, we have yet to sit at the dining table like a real family. Each
time I face a major decision or find myself wrestling with a question or debate
about faith (something that happens with regularity when one works in an
international school setting), I feel acutely that my greatest source of
guidance and support is missing.
Despite our missing piece,
Havilah and I are surviving. We find it easier to take one day at a time. If we
think about continuing in this state until January, we are unsure how we can
possibly make it. It helps us to maintain peace of mind knowing that our family
leader is in a position to help Kit as he settles into university and tries to
find a life of his own. More importantly, our peace of mind is established and
maintained as we focus daily on our family leader. We are thankful that
technology has allowed us to economically touch base with our poppa for a few
minutes each day.
Sunday is one of the hardest
days of the week for me. Full of my own trepidations, I arrive at the orphanage
(worship) to hear all the trepidations of the men of the congregation. They
apologize each week because they feel they cannot worship properly without
Barry. They worry that they aren’t doing a good enough job, and continue to
express their lack of knowledge concerning the Bible and spiritual things. I
try to encourage, but I cannot lead them as they struggle to fill the whole,
and yet there is a sweetness in what they are doing without their visible guide
and support. The foundation of their faith is obviously Christ and they are
learning to lean on the true head of the church instead of on Barry. I see them
taking small steps weekly and growing in grace, even as they feel their
weaknesses and doubts acutely. They depend on each other as members of a family
even as they feel the missing piece of the family. I am proud of their efforts.
Many a time, I have argued
with Barry about his approach to mission work. have accused him of not clearly
leading, not taking matters in his own hands, not assuring that programs and
plans move forward with enough momentum. Despite the phenomenon we saw over and
over again in Kenya of those who led with eloquence and charisma and gathered a
flock who depended on charismatic type leaders instead of on the Savior, I
still tend to think (in error) from time to time that leading from front and
center works best. Despite learning first hand in Kenya that the best leaders
were those who served in silence, my urge is to take matters in hand and move
forward with a purpose. This is the first opportunity I have had to experience
the young church left on its own without a missionary. Barry’s impulse has
always been right. He insists on serving in silence and often refuses to lead
from front and center. These men in Ambohimarina do the same. They may have a
long way to go in becoming eloquent preachers and teachers of the Word, but
they know well how to lead by serving.
Tomorrow, I head to worship
once again at Ambohimarina. Instead of worrying because I cannot lead and
feeling that they need a leader, I believe I will encourage these men, who feel
so unable to teach and preach, to simply focus on the real leader of the family
to gain strength. Simply reading about the Savior can be a great source of
knowledge as well as confidence for these men and they don’t even need
technology to access this focus. It is a curious parallel. The Rosie’s in
Madagascar gain peace and assurance by focusing daily on the head of our family
and the Malagasy church can gain peace and assurance by focusing on the head of
the church family instead of on Barry.
October 14th Mission report to Adrian Church of Christ in Adrian, MI
October 17th Meadowlawn
Church of Christ
October 21st Mission report to Galion Church of Christ in Galion, OH
October 24th Mission report to Westside Church of Christ in Akron, OH
October 28th Mission report to Warren area Church of Christ in Warren, OH
October 31st McKeesport
Church of Christ
November 4th Mission report to Indiana Church of Christ in Indiana, PA
November 7th Whitehall Church
of Christ
November 11th Mission report to Langeloth Church of Christ in Langeloth,
PA
November18th Three Chopt
Church of Christ
November 20th Travel to
Montgomery, Alabama for Thanksgiving with Kit
November 28th Mission report to North Brevard Church of Christ in
Titusville, FL
December 2nd Mission report to River Road Church of Christ in New Port
Richey, FL
December 5th Mission report to Bay Area Church of Christ in Mango, FL
Did
You Know . . .
. . . that even as
a supposedly “seasoned” missionary I often find myself thinking about what I am
doing. I often wonder if what I am doing is correct. I often think about all
that I have seen and done in the last 22 years and find myself asking if it is
enough. Then I finally realized that no matter what I do and for however long I
do it, it will never be enough. There will never be enough that I can do in
service to Him that will repay the debt I own. He died for me and took my sins
upon Himself so that I can be free from the guilt of sin.
Knowing that He was there for me when I needed Him makes me all the more determined to serve Him even though I know that whatever I do, it will never be enough to thank Him for His intervention in my life.
Miniature Missionaries
We no
longer have miniature missionaries, but this Mom just can’t stop using the
term. Our youngest miniature missionary turns 14 at the end of this week, but
she’s not even with her mom or any of her family’s on a mission trip. October
15-19, is school spring break week and a small group of MK’s (missionary kids)
are going to a very remote part of the island to help the Mission Aviation
Fellowship organization repair an airstrip to ease transport in and out of the
remote area. It will take two days to reach the area by car and then only if
the roads are passable. The kids will sleep in tents, work for five days on the
airstrip, and interact with the local villagers. Havilah has been looking
forward to this trip with great excitement and a 14th birthday with mom has
taken second place. I’m proud of her. She looks forward to every new mission
encounter with relish.
Havilah’s 9th grade school
year has started with great success. This year, her classmates provide a great
challenge to her academically. She’s working to stay ahead of the pack. With a
significant change in classmates (due to our highly transient environment),
social challenges for Havilah have lessened. At the same time, she has become
accepted and understood by those of her classmates who have known her for the
past three years. She is still much younger than her grade mates, but she has
learned to deal with those differences.
So, we have two missionaries
who aren’t so miniature any more. The one still on the mission field and still
very much under our care and guidance continues to bloom into a real
missionary. The other, we hope, is finding his own mission field as he adapts
to university life and independence as a young adult.
this and that
A
Note from Stacy
Stacy says many thanks to those of you who are sending messages to Madagascar after Barry has made a visit to your area. These messages are filled with sweet encouragement and they make Stacy and Havilah’s time alone much easier and more enjoyable. Be assured that Stacy and Havilah are fine except for missing half their family. School is going well for both Stacy and Havilah and their days are eased when they see that the Betikara lambs are happy, healthy, and busy. Obviously, Stacy is falling down on the orphanage PR work and she apologizes. She just cannot accomplish the same amount of work as she does when she has Barry to lean on.
Address
Clarification
Visiting with some of you has brought to my attention that I need to try and clarify what I wrote in the September “His Work” newsletter concerning the addresses for sending support. Presently there are two different congregations that are receiving funds for the Madagascar work. The congregation in Indiana, Pennsylvania is only taking care of funds for the Betikara Orphanage. If you are sending money for sponsorship of a Betikara Lamb, a special donation to help with the building project, or if you would like to help with other Betikara items then send your checks to the Indiana Church of Christ in Indiana, Pennsylvania.
For support of the Rosie family or the church work that we do in Madagascar then you need to send your checks to Fraley’s Chapel Church of Christ in Corinth, Mississippi. This support would be money that you want to go directly to the Rosie family or for money that we use to carry on the Madagascar work.
I had mentioned before that money was being sent to three different addresses in the Corinth, Mississippi area. Please make sure that any checks you send for the Madagascar work, not Betikara, are sent to the following address.
Fraley’s Chapel Church of Christ
c/o Phillip Young
140 C.R. 170
Corinth, MS 38834
Basically, if you were sending your checks to a Corinth, Mississippi address, keep sending them, just make sure that the address is the above address. Checks are being sent to three different addresses in the Corinth area and this is making it difficult for brother Young to keep track of what is being sent each month.
Furlough Update
So far I have travelled in the United States visiting congregations for the past 3 months. Only 2 and one half months to go before I will be returning to Madagascar and His work that is progressing on the big island. I want to take this time to say thank you to all of you that have taken me out to eat and especially to those of you who have visited with me, let me stay in your homes, and encouraged me in the work we are doing for Him while I have travelled around visiting the churches and reporting on the Madagascar work. May our Father bless all of you richly.
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EXPENDITURES SEPTEMBER |
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Diesel |
$ 440.66 |
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Vehicle maintenance |
515.90 |
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Rent and Utilities |
586.13 |
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Office |
618.39 |
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Travel |
0.00 |
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Misc. |
0.00 |
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Total expenses |
$ 2,161.08 |
What
can you do?
You
can pray!
¨ Pray
for the Malagasy Christians at the Ambohimarina congregation that are unsure of
what they need to do in service to Him. Pray that they can gain the confidence
that they so much need. Pray for them to lean on the Savior as they continue to
grow in Him each day.
¨ Pray
for Stacy and Havilah as they are in Madagascar during the time that I here in
the states reporting on the Madagascar work to all of you who do so much to
further His cause in Madagascar.
¨ Pray for Kit, as he is still not settling in well to life as a university student. Pray that he can concentrate on his studies and be able to finish his degree in Criminal Justice.
We welcome you to join us in this work for Him . . .
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Barry,
Stacy, Kit and Havilah Rosie Tel. 011-261-32-02-081-14 |