Fourteen people — including OMers — participated in a month-long outreach around northern Madagascar. Coming from different parts of the island, participants were between 18 and 35 years of age and heard about the outreach either from their church or through social media. 

The outreach was focused on two unreached people groups. The groups mix their traditional beliefs with Islam and are known to be resistant to the gospel. In each of the outreach’s three locations the team partnered with the local church. 

“Beforehand we asked the churches what they needed; what they want to do but need help doing,” said Hanitra. With some churches, the team held trainings on topics such as leadership or reaching out to Muslims, and with others they went on day trips to neighbouring villages with no known Christians. Activities on the outreaches included door-to-door ministry where team members prayed for people, visited with them and shared the gospel, sports ministry, kids ministry and showing The Jesus Film.

“I saw the great need of the churches to do teaching and trainings; they don’t know how to get their church members to maturity,” said Hanitra. “It gives us as OM a lot of opportunities to serve the church and on the long term to mobilise.”

A challenge the team faced was the local dialect of Malagasy. “You see, people are not very open when they known you don’t speak their dialect,” Hanitra explained. A big help in overcoming the language barrier was showing The Jesus Film in the local dialect. “As soon as you show The Jesus Film in their dialect, it catches their attention,” remembered Hanitra. “…You see they have been touched and they love Jesus. It’s the first time they’ve watched The Jesus Film and they hear. It’s a positive response.”

‘I saw God’s power working’

Dinah, from Antananarivo, Madagascar’s capital, was one of the outreach participants. 

She grew up in a Christian home. As Dinah grew in her faith, a desire to share the gospel also grew in her heart. The churches she visited were not actively invested in missions year-round, only offering a one-week outreach once a year, and Dinah wanted more. 

At a missions conference Dinah found out about OM and was excited when she found out what they were doing, and about the month-long outreach. Throughout the trip Dinah found herself growing bolder in sharing the good news, and initiating ministry, instead of copying what others were doing. 

The outreach provided many new experiences, including her first encounter with demon-possessed people. “I saw the darkness and the light,” said Dinah. “But I saw God’s power working.” 

Team life surprised Dinah. “What was really meaningful was that the team life was very, very good,” she explained. “Most of the team I’d never met before but they love one another and it was very special.”

Returning home after the outreach, Dinah continued volunteering with OM; attending different trainings and learning more about missions. In October 2018 she travelled to Ambovombe in the southern part of the island to volunteer with the OM team there. 

“What I had heard about Ambovombe was that you can’t live there; it is very scary,” said Dinah. “But when I arrived here that was not the impression I got. The people were very welcoming.”

Dinah plans to spend a year in Ambovombe working with the youth as well as using her skills in nursing to benefit the community. 

‘The same vision’

The team’s journey together started before many of them met face-to-face. “We had been preparing the team during a time of training before the outreach,” said Hanitra. “Making them aware that we are from different churches but we all have the same vision — a vision of outreach.” Every Friday for six weeks the team would get together — either in person or on social media — to discuss what they were going to do, how they were going to do it, as well as read the Bible together. “I think [doing the training and orientation beforehand] made things very easy for the team to bond together,” Hanitra reflected. 

Hanitra remarked how it is uncommon for different church denominations to partner together in Madagascar, as they worry their members will leave and there is “a lack of trust between churches.” 

Mission Tour Diana was unique as it united people from different churches and gave participants exposure to cross-cultural missions. Prior to going on the outreach, participants were required to obtain permission from their churches. Gaining this permission provided an opportunity to inform the church about missions and invite them to partake. 

Interested in Mission Tour Diana? Contact your local OM office for more information. 

One of the villages the group visited was Tanantsoa, home to Siniore, aged 16 at the time. Siniore was touched after hearing one believer share a testimony of how she had experienced Jesus’ love and been set free from witchcraft.

Returning to her home, Siniore kept thinking about what she had heard and felt like she needed to do something but was unsure exactly what. When a cell group was started in her village, Siniore attended, eager to learn more. At the time she was wearing a charm from the witchdoctor but decided to take it off. “It was like there had been a dark, dark thing covering me, and it left me and there was light,” Siniore remembered about taking the charm off. “I could see things properly. Not just in my eyes—but in how I felt. …I was always worried about everything before that, but from that time I had peace.”

Siniore was the first in her village to become a Christian. While some people accepted her new faith, others did not. Her husband divorced her, so she returned to live with her parents.

Siniore desired for her family and friends to know Christ’s love as she did. Hearing about a training offered by the OM team in nearby Ambovombe that focused on discipleship and evangelism, she signed up. After the training, she took what she learnt and put it into practice by starting a prayer meeting every Friday in her village. Attendance varies from 10 to 40 people, and four new believers were baptised in late 2018. 

And just like in Taviramongy, the believers of Tanantsoa were encouraged to spread the good news from the start. In pairs, they preached the gospel in other villages, returning to start cell groups when they felt the time was right. By the end of 2018, they had gone to eight villages that had previously never heard the gospel. 

“Siniore has a passion,” said Hanitra, the OM leader in Madagascar. “She really realises how much God loves her. And she sees the other people who are really lost, and she has the passion to go, go, go.”

Learning new skills

In 2018, Siniore completed Perla. Perla (meaning ‘pearl’) is a Freedom Challenge project that equips vulnerable women with skills—such as cooking, sewing and tailoring—that will enable them to become self-sufficient. Previous to the training, Siniore did not know how to sew but now enjoys it very much. She said with the money she earns from her new skills she: “wants to help my mom and my younger sisters with school.” Having dropped out of school at grade 7 herself, Siniore would like to see her three younger sisters all finish school. 

Praise God for the work being done in the south of Madagascar! Praise Him for the new believers and those who have been baptised. Pray for boldness in sharing the gospel and for people to respond.

Missions was not a new concept for the missionary kid. Raised in her native South Africa and Mozambique, Kotie-Alet served on board Doulos for two years when she was 18 and has volunteered in the media and communications department at the OM base in Zambia where her parents serve. 

Despite her initial response, Kotie-Alet signed up for Media Trek after hearing about it from a friend who was participating himself.

A two-and-a-half month outreach, Media Trek is designed for media-minded people. In its inaugural run in 2017, the team of six travelled to South Africa and Madagascar, visiting different OM bases and non-OM ministries, filming videos to show the work God is doing in Africa. Representing five nationalities, participants learnt to work and live cross culturally alongside local missionaries.

“I was most impacted by the missionaries in the south of Madagascar,” Kotie-Alet said. “When I explained to my sister how they lived, she was like, ‘Wow, they are like the Hudson Taylor’s of missions work today.’ I was challenged by their level of commitment and love for the people despite it being a difficult culture.”

Team members were challenged in different areas of life: from living in tight quarters to washing laundry by hand, from getting up early to do daily devotions and preaching in churches, from long bus rides to video equipment malfunctions.

“We had this saying that [everything would] happen by faith,” remembered Kotie-Alet. “Initially, I thought it was just jargon, but as the Media Trek continued, I realised so many things can change. There are things we can’t plan for and you can only trust and live by faith. I thought learning to live by faith practically was super valuable.”

By the end of the outreach, the team had made nine videos. 

“Through the Media Trek I saw the power that media has--it can really impact people. It can tell a story that hasn’t been told, generate income and be evidence of what God is doing,” said Kotie-Alet. “I am taking media in missions seriously now, and it’s something I would love to continue doing. I am jumping in, Lord willingly, and pursuing that. [The Media Trek] changed how I see the future and how I see me in the future, doing what I love, for God’s glory.”

Check out OM Africa's youtube channel to view a few of the Media Trek's videos.

Her love for Muslims, and in particular Comoran Muslims, is what prompted Holy to start a Discovery Bible Study (DBS) at a university in the capital of Madagascar, Antananarivo, in 2015.

Comoros is a small island country to the north of Madagascar. Made up of four big islands and numerous smaller ones, Islam is the country’s main religion. The volcanic islands have few natural resources and the country is ranked as one of the poorest in the world; relying heavily on foreign aid and imported goods. Many Comorans move to Madagascar to attend university or get jobs. 

Though not a student at the university herself, Holy spends time on campus going up to people and inviting them to study the Bible. Through this bold approach she started a Bible study with Malagasy students that meets once a week and one-on-one meetings with Comoran students every day except Sunday.

In the beginning, the Comorans met in a larger group but Holy found they were unwilling to share in front of their fellow countrymen and little progress was being made. By meeting one-on-one the students feel more comfortable and free to ask questions without fear. A big aspect of the meetings is building relationships and trust. 

Holy and a few male students from the Malagasy Bible study lead the Comorans from Adam in the Old Testament to Jesus in the New Testament, tracing the path of the prophets. It is a long journey, but well worth it to Holy.

Out of the 19 Comoran students that attend the Bible studies, one was already a Christian and four have become believers. The other 14 attend the meetings out of curiosity. 

“They don’t believe, but they want to understand,” explained Holy. “They want to know who God is and for the Christians who Jesus is because they believe that Jesus is only a prophet. That is why they come to the Bible study – to understand who Jesus is.” 

By accepting Christ into their hearts the new believers gain salvation, but lose face with other Comorans, as Islam and Comoros are so closely connected. Many face persecution from their family and friends. 

One of the new believers lives with his cousins and friends from Comoros, a common thing in the tight-knit Comoran community. When they found out he believes in Christ, they said they couldn’t understand why he would deny his religion and background. Now they ignore him and don’t include him in the household, leaving him to fend for himself. Though it is hard, the young man knows he made the right choice to follow Jesus. 

Pray for the new believers as they continue growing in Christ. Pray that though they may face persecution from their family and friends they will remain strong and share the love of Jesus with everyone they meet. They are now studying the importance of baptism and deciding if they are ready for that step. Pray for those who are not believers yet; that their eyes will be opened. 

Ambovombe is the capital of the Androy region in the south of the island. Constantly in a state of drought and crisis, the people are called the ‘Tandroy' or ‘people of the thorns’ in reference to the native plants. 

When OMer Herimanina moved to Ambovombe in 2013 from Madagascar’s capital Antananarivo, she saw that skills training would be beneficial in the town where most people dropped out of school before graduation and were not trained in any way. In Antananarivo, Herimanina had taken sewing classes and enjoyed them immensely. She sold her own sewing machine in order to pay for the ticket to Ambovombe. With a desire to see women empowered, Herimanina began Perla in 2014. 

"The women are worth more than jewels to God," explained OM Madagascar Field Leader Hanitra regarding the choice of name for the project. 

Each year Perla runs from May to October four days a week. Twelve ladies participated in the course this year where they learnt sewing three days a week and cooking once a week. In addition to the skills training the ladies also attended a Bible study and learnt how to share the gospel with others. 

“Our hearts are full of happiness,” one student said at graduation. “We don’t know how to express it, but thank you.” 

The women have changed, and in turn, changed their families. Husbands and relatives have gone to Herimanina and thanked her for helping bring transformation to their families. 

“I can see the results of the effort and time that have been spent (with the ladies),” said Herimanina. 

Personally, Herimanina has also grown and developed alongside the women she teaches. “I’ve learnt a lot about love,” she said. “Loving God and loving people. If you don’t really love them then you can not make much of a difference.”

Empowering women

At 17 Angeline dropped out of school to get married. Despite her protests that she wanted to continue her education, Angeline’s parents accepted the proposal of a 42-year-old man on her behalf. 

“I didn’t know what love meant. When I got married it was not my will, but because of difficulties in my family,” said Angeline. “I didn’t know him and it wasn’t a good base (for marriage).” 

Early on in the relationship, Angeline ran away to her parent's house expecting a warm reception from her family. They did not welcome her, but instead they beat her and sent her back to her husband. Ten years later the couple separated again only to be pushed back together by both sets of parents. 

When Angeline’s husband stated his desire to take on another wife Angeline drew the line and they officially divorced in 2006. 

Unable to get a steady job due to a lack of education, Angeline sold small things such as vegetables on the side of the road when she could to provide for her family. 

Five of her seven children live with her while the other two are cared for by relatives. In addition to her children, Angeline’s elderly parents also live with her. Since the divorce, her husband has had nothing to do with them. 

“I don’t think I will get married again, but something I would like to do is care for my children and pay for their studies,” said Angeline. 

Hearing about Perla from a friend, Angeline was immediately interested, recognising the training as an opportunity to gain skills to provide for her family. 

“I thank God for sending OM here to help us, to create a new thing for us to do like sewing,” Angeline said. “They teach me and I can work and find money.”

Knowing that she attended Perla, people around town began approaching Angeline to sew their clothing even before graduation. The income is already helping the family who just moved into a new house.

Besides bringing in an income, the newly learnt skills directly impact Angeline's family as she is able to repair their clothing and sew her children's school uniforms. Angeline developed more than just sewing and cooking skills though, she developed a personal relationship with Christ.     

“Something I learnt here is the love of God. I know that God loves me. The way He provided this training (is an example). I know how to worship God now. I know how to pray.”

Pray for the women who have done the Perla training in the past three years, that they will continue to grow in their faith and use the skills they learnt to glorify God. Pray for Herimanina as she develops the Perla team and for God's guidance. 

Often considered to be one of the least-reached and underdeveloped areas of Madagascar, the people of the Androy region, called the Tandroy people, often feel forgotten by the rest of the country. Poor road conditions make the area difficult to access, adding to the feeling of isolation. 

Ambovombe is the region’s dusty capital. The main road is crowded with people selling vegetables and meat, cow carts transporting goods and minibusses weaving around potholes on their way to greener places. It was to here that Fara and Herimanina moved in mid-2013, with warnings of constant droughts and thieves who prey on passing busses ringing in their ears. 

Initially, the women spent time adjusting to the culture and learning the local Malagasy dialect–though still in the same country, rural Ambovombe differs drastically from Antananarivo, Madagascar’s capital, where both ladies are from. Despite many challenges, including poor housing and being charged more in the market because they weren't from the area, Fara and Herimanina adapted and their love for the Tandroy people grew.

Building up relationships with local churches and people, the ladies organised outreaches to the surrounding communities and offered trainings. Herimanina started Perla, a Freedom Challenge project that equips vulnerable women with skills, while Fara worked closely with the church and youth. Through these ministries, the women have seen lives changed and people come to faith.

In early 2016, when a lady who had completed Perla in 2014 asked the OM team to visit her father’s village, they saw it as an opportunity to spread the good news further. With a few local Christians, they made their way down a sandy road to Taviramongy 14 kilometres away, and what started out as a one-time drop by turned into a weekly visit. 

Keeping it casual, the believers met with whomever was around under the largest tree in the village to talk about their lives. Through this budding friendship, the team was able to share about Jesus and the difference He had made in their lives. Many people in Madagascar know of God but do not have a personal relationship with Christ, believing Him to be distant and inactive in their daily lives. Some combine Christianity with ancestral or animistic beliefs. 

By returning each week and continuing to proclaim the good news, the team has been able to demonstrate God’s love to the people of Taviramongy, and people started giving their lives to Christ. 

'I feel peace in my life now'

For Fomesoa, it didn’t take weeks of talking with the OM team to know Jesus is the way. It only took one day.

Fomesoa looks like a typical Malagasy man. He is slight in frame with brown eyes, and his black hair is speckled with grey from age. What is not so typical is that at 15 years of age, Fomesoa became a witch doctor. 

“I didn’t get it from people,” he explained. “An evil spirit came directly to me and guided me to buy a particular type of wood [to start making charms].”

Since then Fomesoa has made his living making idols and charms to cure illness and ailments for people in the area. His status as a witch doctor made him feel powerful and in control. The village was divided on their opinion of him; some were frequent customers while others disapproved of his occupation--regardless of their stance on the witch doctor, the majority of the village was scared of Fomesoa’s power, despite his refusal to put curses on people. 

In early 2016 Fomesoa’s life changed. “In the beginning, there was no one who told me about Jesus, but I just started to not care about my idols. I think that is when Jesus first came into my life,” said Fomesoa. 

A few weeks later, he met OMer Fara, who told him about Jesus and urged him to get rid of his idols and charms. Filled with conviction, Fomesoa lit a fire outside his house and threw the charms in. Looking back, he knows now that his indifference to the charms was God working in his life. “I felt something changing in my life, I felt happy [burning the idols],” Fomesoa said.

To provide for his wife and 10 children now that he is no longer selling charms, Fomesoa collects firewood from the surrounding area and sells it in Ambovombe. 

“I feel peace in my life now,” said Fomesoa with a smile.

Community transformation

In May 2016, the OM team did a training on community transformation, which the new believers were eager to start applying in their own village. Two women started a literacy programme that resulted in the building of the village’s first school; others began reaching out to five nearby villages with the hope that they would experience the love of God as they had. 

“The people of Taviramongy have really grown,” said Fara. “We would like to see them really become an example to others and also be a people group who take initiative to transform their own communities. I want to see multiplication.”

Pray for the new believers as they develop spiritually. Pray for wisdom and guidance as Fara and Herimanina continue to build a relationship with the village and give more trainings. Pray that Taviramongy will be a light to the surrounding area and a catalyst for change. 

Eight students responded to the advertisement and made the two-day drive up north, along with two leaders, in the new OM Madagascar van to visit two cities. 

For all of the students this was their first time going on an outreach. Participating in missions is still a relatively new concept for the Malagasy church as historically they were a destination for missions rather than a starting point. 

OMer Holy, who led the outreach, saw the students develop and grow throughout the trip. At the beginning, she noticed how hesitant they were to share their testimonies and experiences with others, particularly Muslims, but by the end, all were eager to talk with people and show the love of Christ.

“God helped (the team) answer questions that we couldn’t answer ourselves,” said Holy. “Like when we were in the mosque God helped us answer questions (from the Imam) to back our testimonies; the Holy Spirit helped us.”

In addition to reaching out to local Muslims, the team was able to share in multiple churches about the heart of God and missions. 

“Missions is for all, not only for us,” said Holy. “We showed them that it is not difficult to preach the gospel, it is just obedience.”

“God said to me ‘don’t be afraid, go and preach. I’ll put in your mouth the words to say.’ I just fix my eyes on God.”

Peace even in the struggles

One afternoon, Holy and another woman went to the market with the intention of sharing the gospel with anyone who caught their eye. They saw two children around ten years-old playing and joined them in their games. While they played, the ladies shared the story of Jesus with the kids and asked if they could meet their parents. 

The kids led them to their house, which Holy immediately recognised as belonging to a very traditional Muslim family. 

After introductions were made, Holy asked the family about their beliefs, what the main goal of their religion is and who Jesus is to them. While discussing the differences between Islam and Christianity, Holy asked them if they knew where they would go if they died today. The family replied that no one could be sure of that answer, not even the prophet Muhammad. 

This opened the door for Holy to share her testimony and declare that she knew what would happen to her spirit if she died right then. She said she had that assurance in Jesus Christ. The ladies explained how Jesus is love, and because of His love, they were there in the family’s house that day to share with them. 

The household listened and asked a few questions including if the ladies had peace in their lives because they had none in theirs. The women said yes, because Jesus lived in them they had peace even through the struggles. 

While most of the household seemed open, the man of the house declared that Jesus was only a prophet and God wasn’t actually like the one they were describing. Despite his denial, he allowed Holy to pray for the family before they left. 

Please pray for the seeds that were planted during the outreach. Pray that the Lord will send people to do a follow-up and nurture those seeds. Pray for the local church to see the importance of missions and the need to reach out to the surrounding communities. 

Which is why the newly constructed school immediately draws the eye. 

A red roof to symbolise the blood of Christ, white to represent light, and green…because the village wanted another colour and it matched the Malagasy flag, but also because it stands for growth. 

The one-room school is the biggest building in the village, and the first of its kind in the area; education had never been a high priority in the community until recently. Connected to the village through a team member who had relatives there, the OM Madagascar Ambovombe team started making regular visits.

Meeting under a tree on Saturdays they reached out to the small community by being relational – sitting and talking with people about everyday matters. Through this growing friendship the team made up of local believers from Ambovombe and OMers were able to share what Jesus had done in their own lives. 

In May 2016 the team held a training course on church planting and community transformation, which a few of the Christians from Taviramongy attended. Two ladies in particular were eager to reach out to their neighbours and bring a change to the village. Though both had left school early to get married—one at 15 years old and the other at 17—after receiving literacy training, took what they learnt and began applying it immediately. 

Under the only tall tree in the village the two ladies held literacy classes. Soon 20 students of all ages were attending their lessons. 

The Androy region is known for its dryness and desolate landscape – and the village is no exception. The tree did little to protect the students from the wind or heat. 

So the village decided to build a school. 

“We always encourage (people) to mobilise what they have,” said OM Madagascar Field Leader Hanitra. “So one person gave the land and then people started saying they would give this or that. We helped them with what they couldn’t provide; the roof sheets and cement.”

The community banded together and built the one-room school with their own hands. Now, Tuesday through Friday from 07:00 - 09:00 AM, students gather to learn at the Akany Fahazavagne (“Light Centre”). The literacy programme is a Christian-based curriculum provided by the Malagasy Bible Society. 

“They don’t only learn to read and write, but through the programme they learn about God. Everything there, in the books, is about God,” Hanitra said. 

Changing mindsets

The school was officially opened in October 2016. To celebrate, the village pooled funds together and purchased a cow to slaughter and eat at the event. 

Cows are very important in the Tandroy culture. Not only a source of meat and leather, the cow is also a symbol of wealth and status. The school opening marked the first time the village killed a cow out of celebration rather than for a funeral or as a sacrifice – a big step in changing mindsets. 

The school has already become a source of pride for the village; something they can look at and be reminded that it was their initiative and efforts that brought the building into existence.

“When the government builds something it’s a government building. When they come to inaugurate it the local people dance for the authorities and say ‘thank you, thank you’ but it’s not the village who did it,” explained Hanitra. “This is different. It’s theirs. They invited the local authorities to come and see what they had done themselves. It’s the opposite of usual.”

The people of the village are eager to reach out; they’ve already started building relationships in five other villages wanting others to know the love of God and have hope. 

“Before there was nothing happening here,” said one man. “But now there is. Not from our strength but from God.”

Coming from a Muslim family, Djohar lives with his brother and cousin near the university. His parents live in Comoros, a small island country to the north of Madagascar.

Djohar began attending the Discovery Bible Study when it first started February 2015. The Bible study, run by OM Madagascar, meets every week at the university. Originally 13 students have been interested in studying the Bible, but since Ramadan only three have come every week.

Beginning in Genesis, they studied creation and then followed the path of prophets from Adam to Jesus. During this time Djohar concluded that Jesus was sacrificed by God to save the world, and the message touched his heart. He had many questions and found no answers in the Qur’an, so he started reading the Bible. That is where he found answers.

One week the group was studying Proverbs 8. During the meeting Djohar said that God knocked on his heart, and he wanted to repent of his sins. The team led him in a prayer of repentance.

At this same time, a Malagasy student asked about the meaning of repentance, and it was Djohar who explained the significance of repentance in the Bible. The student decided to accept Christ as well.

“For me, this story is very amazing,” said Noro*, who leads the Bible study. “I thank God that He is a God of love who is never wrong. If He says that He loves the world, He loves it, and it is really true.

“I hope to see many Comorians decide to follow Jesus through Djohar, because He is an instrument of God to the Muslim people.”

Praise God for Djohar’s new life in Christ. Pray that other students like him would discover that God sacrificed Jesus to reconcile sinners to Himself.

*Name changed

Growing up, the sisters hadn't had the easiest life. The eldest of six, Orthense dropped out of school after grade nine because her parents could no longer afford the school fees. Their home life was unstable: Their father was in and out of prison and their lives until their parents divorced and their mother remarried.

Hearing about jobs available in China, the sisters were excited; they desperately wanted to get out of Madagascar and away from their difficult lives. Though the agency was looking for girls between the ages of 18 and 25, they assured 17-year-old Natasha that her ID card could easily be changed so that she would fit the criteria.

The girls' aunt worried about her nieces. She had heard about how wonderful the jobs would be, but something didn't sit well with her. When she met two members of OM Madagascar who were visiting the inner city of Antananarivo to talk about human trafficking, the aunt asked them to pray for her nieces, and she later introduced them.

Having seen it before, the OM Madagascar team warned Orthense and Natasha that they were in danger of being trafficked. At first the sisters were not convinced, but gradually they saw that this opportunity was not as great as it seemed. They dropped out of contact with the agency and signed up for the next intake of OM Madagascar’s Perla programme.

Perla, meaning “pearl” in Malagasy, is a Freedom Climb project that raises awareness about human trafficking and provides skills training, coupled with discipleship, to at-risk women and girls. The goal is to enable the women to become self-sufficient.

The sisters, along with two other girls at risk, stayed at the base just outside of the capital for the month-long programme. Attending classes daily, the students learned a variety of skills, including budgeting, cooking, sewing and making raffia crafts, in addition to studying the Bible.

Manitra, coordinator of Perla, lived on base with the girls and saw them grow.

“At the beginning it was very difficult to get the girls to talk. They were not open but very reserved,” Manitra said. “But now, they have become like daughters, running to me to share their joy and pain. Trust has been built, and it is encouraging to see how they are growing in their relationships with God.”

Though the programme has ended, the friendships carry on. The Perla team is committed to following up with the girls, helping them to continue moving forward with their lives.

Before attending Perla the girls had only thought of getting out of Madagascar; now they dream of futures in which they can provide for themselves. Orthense wants to open a shop one day, and Natasha would like to continue making raffia hats and baskets to sell at craft markets.

“I have learnt about God and His love,” said Orthense. “Now I read my Bible and trust Him for my future.”

Madagascar is a source country for women and children trafficked for forced labour and sexual exploitation. Sex tourism is also an increasing problem in cities along the country’s coast. Please pray against human trafficking and for the vulnerable women and children of Madagascar. 

Their parents had tried, their grandparents had tried, everyone had tried, all the way back to when the Tandroy people first settled in the area. Water had never been found in Tsimihevo, Madagascar.

Located in the Androy region, an area known for its dryness and droughts, the village of Tsimihevo receives an average rainfall of 400mm a year, making life difficult for its inhabitants. People are unable to wash themselves and often develop rashes across their skin from the constant presence of dirt and dust. Unwashed food contributes to viruses that spread rapidly through the village, particularly affecting the young and old.

About once a week a water cart pulled by zebus (cows) passes through. The cost of 20 litres of water is 400 ariary ($0.15 USD), which to many in the world is the change found between the couch cushions on any given day, but to this community it is precious money. The only other option is to walk six kilometres down a sandy road to the nearest well, pay 200 ariary ($0.07 USD) for 20 litres of water, and carry it back.

Since mid-2013 OM Madagascar has had a team in Ambovombe, the capital of the Androy region. They connected with the Assembly of God Church, where the pastor told them about a church that had recently been started in the nearby village of Tsimihevo, and invited them to participate in an outreach there.

After arriving in the village the team asked the locals what they needed most in their community. The answer: water.

Around this same time, a couple were married in Uzbekistan. The newlyweds wanted to bless others with the money they had received as a wedding gift and decided to finance the digging of a well in Tsimihevo, after learning about OM Madagascar and the work being done in the Androy region through friends.

A local business was contracted at the recommendation of the pastor, an agreement drawn up, a place for the well chosen, and the digging began.

One metre down the three workers hit a large stone. They worried about the well walls collapsing if they took out the stone, but carefully broke it up and removed it anyway. The well remained intact, and no further problems were encountered.

When the team first declared their intention to build a well in the village, a few local people scoffed at the idea, remembering the attempts and failures of the years past. So confident that water could not be found, they said they would attend church if the well was successful.

On 1 November 2014, water appeared 25 metres below the surface.

The project has provided an opportunity to show the village and surrounding area that God is real, answers prayers, and cares for His people. The local church especially has been encouraged as they see God at work in their community.

Next, the well walls will be bricked, and a structure built over the opening. Villagers have promised to contribute the needed materials for this final step.

In about a month the well will be completed and open for business. The price of the water has not yet been determined, but will be less than the other options. The profits will be used to manage and maintain the well with a long-term goal of building a second one, as well as financing local missionaries.

Step-by-step the OM team is working with a committee formed of local leaders and church members to manage the well properly, establish good business practices, and emphasise the importance of saving money.

After training the committee, they in turn will train and mobilise the community to care for the project.

The close proximity and the low price of water will raise the standard of living in the village, improving the health conditions and agriculture.

Please pray that the locals will stand by their word and start going to the local church. Pray that the well will be a lasting reminder of God's provision and goodness.

Growing up as a “formal Christian”, Eddie did not know what it meant to have a personal relationship with God for many years.

When he was a year old Eddie's parents divorced, and he and his six siblings were sent to live with other relatives. Though he moved four times throughout his school years, Eddie always remained adamant that he would get a good education.

“[Family members] didn't want to send me to school,” remembered Eddie. “I was 11 years old at that time, but I insisted.”

Eddie finally found encouragement with the last family he stayed with, as they supported him in his studies and paid his school fees. When he graduated from high school, Eddie did not want the couple to spend their hard-earned money on his studies, as they had children of their own to provide for. Eddie decided to study English so that he would be able to teach English courses to fund further education.

When he became advanced in English, he received an offer from an English club that teaches all over the country. He trained with them for two years in Fianarantsoa and was then sent to Ambovombe in the south of the country.

“During the time which I came to Ambovombe I was a bad boy,” Eddie admitted. “Drinking, smoking, and committing adultery. Fortunately one of my students was a pastor. [He] tried getting close to me, talking with me, and a month later, I was invited to church.”

Eddie accepted the invitation, but not out of personal conviction. “I just went because I wanted to please the pastor.”

Though peer approval got Eddie through the church doors, God's voice kept him there. “I heard that I was guilty,” Eddie said. “And since that time, I understand what the Word of God is saying, and the love of God.”

From that day Eddie quit his former worldly ways, except smoking, which proved a more difficult vice to give up. It took a little longer to throw away the cigarettes, but he was able to with the help of Jesus.

Eddie was baptised on Easter Sunday, 2011, four months after accepting the pastor's invitation to church.

Business to help others

Now Eddie incorporates the Bible into his classes, teaching students both English and the good news. Every class begins and ends with prayer.

“I like teaching,” said Eddie. “I can share my knowledge with the students. I can teach them a different language, and, most important, I can teach them the Word of God.”

While some of his students are Christians, others are not and balk at the topic.

“It's hard to convince them. When we pray, they do not want to pray. But if they want to study English, they have to pray. I can see that every student is changed through learning English. I tell them that whatever you do, you need to give your life to Christ,” Eddie explained. “Especially as Proverbs 16:3 says, ‘Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and he will establish your plans’ (NIV).

Named the English Learning Centre, Eddie's English courses typically run for six months. Working over 40 hours a week teaching in a private school, a public school and an evening class, Eddie is very busy. Besides teaching, he is also an aspiring businessman.

After a teaching project generated some extra income, Eddie followed the advice of the OM team in Ambovombe and invested in the purchase of a pig. One week later, he bought another. One more week passed, and he acquired one more pig. A month later, Eddie bought his final pig, bringing the total to three sows and one boar. Two of the sows recently gave birth to a combined total of 16 piglets.

Eddie's business aspirations, however, have not stopped with pigs. A small shop was also in his plans. With the sale of one of his pigs, Eddie had the amount needed to set up the shop.

A suitable building was the next challenge. After sharing his vision with a friend, she replied that she not only owned a place that would be an ideal location for a shop, but knew where he could buy the goods he planned to sell. The store opened at the beginning of August 2014.

Eddie does not do all the work himself but employs people from church who need a job. “I wanted to be a businessman so I could help people,” Eddie explained.

Currently he has hired two people to work in the shop, and one to look after the pigs. Already Eddie has his eye on his next business venture: chickens.

‘I want to be a missionary’

Between teaching and his businesses, one would think Eddie has enough on his plate, but he is also in his second year of university. “But if there is a way for me to attend seminary school, I will. I will leave [university]. It is better for me to study the Bible,” he said.

Eddie is busy with all his jobs and commitments, but missions is where his heart is, and he uses every opportunity to tell people about Jesus.

An active member in his church, Eddie connected with the OM Madagascar team in the south through an evangelism group. He joins them when they visit the local hospital to pray and distribute care packages, and whenever other opportunities present themselves, such as the OM outreach that took place mid-July in Ambovombe.

“I want to be a missionary; that is the great desire of my heart. I want to do [all kinds of missions work], especially to preach the Gospel.”

Perle, meaning 'pearl' in Malagasy, is a Freedom Climb project in Madagascar, that teaches women how to sew and run their own businesses. Like Celestine, many of the students had never picked up a needle prior to class.

“Before, when there was a torn place in my children's clothing, I didn't know how to fix it,” said Celestine. “Now I can. I have already sewn up all the tears.”

This is the first time Perle has run in Ambovombe, a town in the Androy region to the south of the island. Earlier this year it ran in Antananarivo, Madagascar's capital, with four students graduating. In the capital, the students lived on base and attended classes daily. In addition to sewing, they were taught cooking and housekeeping during the month-long course. The OM team saw the need for Perle in Ambovombe, but knew it would have to run differently then it had in Antananarivo. All the women signed up for Perle in the south had families dependent on them, so living away from home was not an option. Instead of an every day, month-long course, Ambovombe's Perle holds three hour classes, three times a week, for six months.

In Ambovombe, Perle was the answer to Marena's prayers.

“For a long time I've desired to have a handcraft. When the announcement went through church, I decided to join,” she said.

Out of the 11 women enrolled, eight of them are widowed. Marena is one of the three ladies whose husbands are alive.

“It is hard, because we study and take care of our families,” said Marena. “At the beginning it was so difficult. My husband was angry with me (for taking classes), but that changed. He knows that I am studying, and that there will be a difference in our home because of it.”

Besides stitching by hand, the women practice on two sewing machines. One is hand cranked, and the other is electric, although with power outages it can not always be counted on. Originally the program was to have three machines, but the OM team sold one to pay their bus fares to Ambovombe.

Dresses, skirts, shirts, and undergarments have all been completed successfully, and the group has moved on to trousers.

“We are proud that we do not study for nothing, but will have great benefit from our study,” said Fine. “At the beginning we were babies in the world of sewing. We thank the Lord for giving us knowledge and understanding.”

“I am a widow, and I am jobless,” she continued. “I have five children, and there was nothing I could do to feed them, so I asked Jesus what I should do for a living. When the announcement was made in church, the pastor appointed me to study because he knew my situation. I know that God opened up the way for me.”

Not only do they learn the ins and outs of sewing, the ladies also study the Bible; learning how to live as a follower of Christ, and apply biblical principles to their daily life and business interactions.

“Through scripture we learn God's plan for His people,” testified Marena.

Hermonie, one of three OM team members in the south, enjoys spending time with the women.

“I give thanks to the Lord that I am able to teach them. It's not always easy. Especially with the dialect,” she admitted. “Sometimes I use a word that shocks them. But sometimes it's funny, and everyone just laughs.”

Previous to the course, the women did not all know each other. The hours spent together over needle and thread have made them a tight-knit group. Coming from different backgrounds and churches, they are united in their desire to learn a new skill, and provide for their families.

The group wants to start a sewing society in Ambovombe, gathering business from town and the surrounding areas.

“We have a vision,” widowed Esther explained. “We have a great desire to work together as one.”

From the middle of August till the end of October, the women from Perle will be completing a practical in order to gain expirence. A few clothing orders have already been made. 

“Pray for us,” Marena asked. “To preach the gospel with our hand crafts, not only to get money.”

Tehiezie is one of two students who completed OM Madagascar's first literacy program in Ambovombe in the Androy region to the south of the island.

“I testified on the radio to everyone that (learning to read and write) is possible with Jesus.” Tehiezie said. “I am very changed. I thank the Lord, and those who taught us.”

Out of the eight students who began the literacy course, Tehiezie and 19-year-old Vorihery were the only two to graduate. Other commitments, too far of a commute, and lacking a desire to learn, were among the reasons for dropping out. The program lasts five months, with three hour classes running four times a week.

It requires a great deal of commitment and hard work, but as Vorihery said, “God is able to do all things.”

Vorihery spent his childhood walking with the family's cows throughout the day and caring for them. This responsibility left him no time to attend school.

A few years ago Vorihery started going to church.

“When I started praying, I desired deeply to read the word of God, but I could not,” he said. “It pushed me to fast and ask God.”

Soon after, a member of Vorihery's church told him about OM's literacy program.

“God had a plan for me to read and write,” said Vorihery as a way of explanation. Now “I want to continue studying. One day maybe I'll be a pastor.”

To those who are illiterate Vorihery says “First, Jesus is good. Second, go to school.”

According to The World Factbook, literacy rates in Madagascar hover around 65 per cent. This figure is much lower in the South however, where poor road conditions, and natural disasters lead to isolation. OM Madagascar's Ambovombe team saw the need, and responded by setting up a literacy program. Lova, who heads the program, never expected to teach.

“I wasn't eager to do it,” she said. “When we started training (to teach), I asked if I needed to do it, and the Lord showed me the answer. I was in a bus, (at that time still in Antananarivo), and I sat with a Tandroy woman. The woman handed me her telephone, and asked me to find a name in the contacts because she could not read. That touched my heart. The Lord told me 'this is something you can do for me.'”

The Malagasy dialect is different in the South, and has been one of the struggles encountered by the team.

“It's hard, but with Jesus, we know we can do anything,” said Lova.

The second literacy program began in Ambovombe the second week of July. Fourteen people signed up, and by the third week, five had dropped out.

Every lesson begins in prayer, and after about two months, the students start reading the Bible.

Soazara, 32, a clothing seller, heard an advertisement on the radio for the program, and immediately went to sign up. Growing up in the countryside where there were no schools, Soazara never had the opportunity to learn.

Illiteracy presents two main problems for her.

“I am a traveler. I like to go from place to place, but I do not know how to read the signs, and because of this, I do not know where I should go. Secondly, I am a business woman, and when I ask for prices, I am not able to know how much this is, and how much that is.”

When Longosoa, 18, heard the advertisement on the radio, he ran to the OM base to put his name down on the list.

“I do not want to be cheated by others,” he said. “I want to be able to do everything such as signing (his name), and counting.”

When asked about the future Longosoa said he would like to be a teacher, “I want to help people learn how to read and write, as I have studied.”

Twenty year-old Miandrison said he would like to become a pastor after completing the program. “I'm here to study because I want to know what is written in books and in the Bible.”

“I want to be able to write. I want to know how to read.”

If the desire to learn is there, the Ambovombe team will help through a combination of teaching and prayer.

As Lova said, it is only “with His power that we can do the teaching successfully.”

“In my family it was taboo to go to church,” he said. “Every Sunday we went to the seaside to call to the spirits of the dead, and slaughter a goat.”

Born in Tulear, in the southern region of Madagascar, Rene was the son of a witch doctor.

One day when Rene was 10, two evangelists from The Assembly of God Church visited Tulear. They urged the curious village children to attend church, saying that if they did, they would receive a sweet.

“So because of candy I went to church,” Rene said.

Candy might have been what got him through the door, but Rene found himself listening in ernest to the preaching and teachings. Even when the candy incentive stopped, he continued attending.

At first, Rene believed that Jesus was one of the forefathers. Gradually, he began to understand who Jesus truly is; the son of God, not a forefather.

When the Sunday school teacher asked who was ready to receive Christ into their heart, Rene was the first to raise his hand.

Due to his new found faith, 10 year-old Rene's family excommunicated him. His grandfather told him that he would not care if Rene died, and his father said likewise.

“Yet, I insisted to follow Jesus,” said Rene. “I knew He had a plan for me.”

Rene moved in with the pastor of his church so that he could continue going to school, and learning about the Bible.

While living with the pastor was a good experience, the pastor's lack of income troubled Rene.

“I was sad because the pastor was very poor,” he said.

Rene planned to study hard in order to get a good job, so that he would be able to support men of God, such as his pastor.

Having always done well in school, Rene went into the final exams before graduation confident that he would receive good marks. When he got his grades back, however, he saw that he had not done well at all. He had failed.

Determined to succeed, Rene re-did the school year, and took the exams again.

Once again, he failed.

Rene had to repeat the exams four more times before he passed.

“I realize now that those four years of failure were in the plan of God to keep me to work for Him.” Rene said.

Since accepting Christ into his life, Rene would go to the countryside to preach the gospel. Those who heard him remarked that God was with him when he preached, and that there was a call of God upon his life. Rene could not see it, and disregarded their comments.

Four years of failure, however, helped change his view.

When his pastor asked the church if anyone would like to go to Bible School, Rene was the first to raise his hand.

After studying Rene became a pastor.

In 1994, he started a church in Tulear, his hometown, where he was able to be a light in the community. Several of the family members who had previously shunned him became believers. After seven years Rene felt called to move to Fort Dauphin.

The move to Fort Dauphin was hard.

“I realized that there were a lot of sinners in Fort Dauphin; that's why God sent me there,” Rene said. “But Fort Dauphin is very expensive. My family was not happy, because they thought I would be poor. I had five children at the time. But I realized when I got there, that I was blessed.”

After settling in Fort Dauphin, Rene began a church in Ambovombe, a five-hour drive away.

OM Madagascar has a team of three ladies working in Ambovombe, and they connected with Rene's godson who lives in town. When OM ran a conference there in 2013, Rene's godson invited him to attend.

“I learnt a lot of things last year (at the conference),” Rene said. “This year I learnt even more.”

Forty-seven pastors and church leaders attended this year's three-day conference that began on 9 July 2014. Two lecturers spoke on topics such as: leadership, what it means to be a church, and balancing faith with culture and tradition. The topic that impacted Rene the most was discipleship.

“I have been preaching for a long time, but I did not know how to make disciples. I just knew how to save people. Through OM's conference I learnt that I need to make disciples.”

Rene is looking forward to returning to his church in Fort Dauphin, and implementing changes.

“Namana” means “friend” in Malagasy, and the group is a gospel-centred community development project that aims to help underprivileged women, not only by giving them eternal hope in Christ, but by coming alongside them in everyday life and helping them provide for their families.

According to OM Madagascar, thousands of people are migrating from rural areas to the cities, especially to the capital Antananarivo, in hopes of finding safer living conditions and work. However, the pace of life in the city is totally different from what they are familiar with in the villages, where community life is still the foundation of society. In the cities, every man fends for himself and seldom helps his neighbour. Most of these migrants have built makeshift shelters around the capital. They are struggling to find their place in society and a daily plate of rice.

Through the Namana Project, OM gives business skills training and loans to help participants start up a small business or develop an existing one.

Working together, Perline and her husband, who have three children and live in the inner city of Antananarivo, produced wooden electrical-switch bases. In the beginning they did not have enough money to get raw materials, but with loans of 100 US dollars they received from the Namana Project, their problem has been solved.

After one year they were able to repay the loans and earn some savings. They followed the business skills training, had a dream to develop their business, and with their savings and new loans of 400 US dollars at the beginning of 2013, they bought a better-performing machine to respond to their market’s needs.

Currently their business is doing well. They can sell 4,000 switch bases every couple of weeks. They do not rent their house anymore but have built their own, and their three children can now get an education.

Perline said, “Getting business skills training makes the difference. It teaches us to glorify God in how we do our business!”

Praise God for the lives changed through Namana Project. Pray for wisdom for OM Madagascar to help many more, like Perline and her family, who need it most.  

The local Antemoro people of Amosiala only speak a very basic Malagasy—the island’s most widespread indigenous language—and have their own dialect called Temoro. Antemoro is a Malagasy word that means "coastal people". Roland and other leaders did their best to communicate with very basic language and body gestures because they didn’t have a translator.

Nevertheless, a few witch doctors and other people responded by saying: “We got ‘The Story’; it´s time for us to give our lives to Jesus!” Sixty people came to saving faith. A local pastor will follow up with these people to help them continue walking in the steps of the One who wrote a new story for each of them.

Praise God for these new lives! Pray for the local pastor who will follow up with these people. For more information about OM Madagascar, contact info.mg@om.org.

The outreach team, composed of 15 locals and foreigners, was sent by OM Madagascar to the Antandroy people in the southern region of the island during July and August 2012. This was the first team OM Madagascar had sent to this region.

One day the team was baptising people. Lazarus, touched by what he’d seen during the outreach, approached the team and asked to be baptised too. The leaders spoke to Lazarus about the seriousness of his decision to follow Jesus and the commitment to walk in His steps. Lazarus was convinced and was baptised then.

A week later, thieves assaulted Lazarus’ house and killed him. Little had Lazarus known that his life on earth would end so soon, or that meeting the foreigners would enable him to hear news that would ensure eternal life in heaven.

The family felt not only emotionally depressed, but also socially isolated from the community. They began a furniture business, but without money to buy wood, they had to charge their customers in advance for half the cost of the furniture. Often, the only wood they were able to afford was not dry enough – further driving down the cost of their product.

Before receiving the loan from Project Namana (meaning “friend” in Malagasy), it was difficult to afford a daily plate of rice for Noromamy's family of four. Often they had to delay paying the grocer in order to eat that day. In addition, their two sons’ school fees were no longer affordable and costs were piling up.

But now that they have received the loan, their life has greatly improved. The family received 200,000 Malagasy Ariary (equivalent to 100 USD) to boost their furniture business – which includes building beds, tables, chairs, etc.

Noromamy said, “People trust us more because we no longer ask them to pay a deposit in advance for the furniture they order." The family can also now provide rice for the family and pay the monthly school fees for the sons. “We are excited and thank God that the church could meet our needs through Project Namana," she added. "It means a lot.”

Their future dreams include having a separate work place from their house and purchasing more chickens to farm. They also attend the daily Bible reading and study group at their local church. Noromamy and her family have expressed a desire to grow in the Lord after having experienced His provision through Project Namana.

The partnership of two churches was essential to the success of the outreach, reports the team. Church members from both churches helped lead door-to-door visits and took ownership of the ministry.

The team was encouraged when three ladies, along with their small children, walked five hours to reach Manakara to join in the door-to-door outreach. The following day they walked another three hours to reach the small, rural village of Maroala, where they shared the gospel.

Maroala is a village relatively untouched by the modern world—and also by the light of the gospel. Team member Caitlin Red (US) said, “Though I had tried to mentally prepare myself, I was still shocked at the poverty.” She saw malnourished children with swollen bellies and mothers with hopeless looks in their eyes. The team had brought clothes for the people and passed these out after presenting the gospel.

In May 2011, OM Madagascar made contact with the tribal chief of Maroala. They asked his permission to start a church in his village, to which he happily agreed. During the most recent visit to Maroala, the villagers were introduced to their new pastor and his wife.

The team also took pictures with the chief and his wife and promised to return with a copy for them. When the team returned with the pictures, the chief commented, “People have come and taken pictures before, but they’ve never given us a copy.” He expressed his delight in receiving the pictures and also in seeing that Christians keep their promises.

Please pray for the new church in Maroala, as well at the pastor and his wife. The team reports that witchcraft is prevalent in this community.

Plans to start the first Christian micro-finance programme in Madagascar on a large scale have been a long-time dream for OM Madagascar. In partnership with OM Hong Kong, this dream will soon become a reality.

OM Madagascar’s relationship with OM Hong Kong (HK) began in 2009 when OM HK asked the team to send information about a project that needed funding. OM HK, who raises funds locally through Hong Kong churches, did a fundraising campaign in 2010 and OM Madagascar received funds earlier in 2011.

“The preparation phase was long and difficult,” says OM Madagascar team member Elyse, referring to the micro-finance programme, “but we managed to put it fully on track. We partner with a local church and we hope to develop it further in working with more local churches.”

The project is called Poject Namana, which means “friend” in Malagasy. The marginalised people of Madagascar are not only economically isolated, but also socially isolated. The name “namana” describes the goal of OM Madagascar to not only financially help these people but also to become their friends and bring them out of social isolation.

Project Namana is a two-fold programme: one group will receive financial loans and training; the other group is geared toward young girls from the rural areas of Madagascar who have come to the city seeking employment. These girls come to be housekeepers but are often taken advantage of—financially and physically. Through Project Namana these girls will receive basic financial and economic training and biblical values to help protect their future. 

The team plans to first start with a 50-person test pool in two separate communities. The participants will receive any amount from $10-100 US dollars, depending on their business plans. They hope to equip people both financially and spiritually as they receive training in entrepreneurial skills and biblical values.

Twenty people now benefit from the programme. “The goal is that within one year, the recipient will have established a viable business, be able to manage their own finances and provide for their families independently,” says Elyse. 

Over 50 per cent of the population of Madagascar is under the age of 15, yet there are few or no Christian youth programmes currently available. In June 2011, OM Madagascar changed this by hosting a football competition for youth in Antananarivo, the capital of Madagascar.

People in the community were touched, as they had never seen an outreach specifically for young people, and asked the team to plan a competition for next year as well. After the games, each team was given an award—geese or other food items.

 A copy of the Bible was also given to each referee as a gift after the competition. One man was overjoyed and said it was the first time he had ever been given a copy of the Bible on such an occasion. OM Madagascar looks forward to continuing sports ministry as a method of reaching young Malagasy people.

The programme has since been renamed “World Challenge” and the focus has shifted. They now challenge listeners to pray for missions around the world. Recent topics have included prayer for the Muslim world and the persecuted church. In addition, listeners receive two daily SMS messages from “World Challenge”: in the morning they receive a scripture verse and at night a prayer challenge. “World Challenge” also hosts an annual prayer gathering, attended by roughly 700 people.

Praise God for reaching lives and challenging believers through this ministry. Please pray for the OM Madagascar team and their wisdom in mobilising more churches for missions. Pray that many more in the Malagasy church would be inspired to get involved.  

When Hanta told her mother she wanted go on an outreach with OM Madagascar to the city of Manakara, her mother said she didn't have the money to pay for it. But Hanta was determined to go and willing to sell whatever she had. So, she sold a few of her ducks.

When the OM Madagascar team heard of her dedication, they wrote a short story about it and asked for prayer for Hanta.

OM team members in Costa Rica read this story and decided to financially support Hanta, which enabled her to participate in the outreach that took place in September. When Hanta was asked how she felt after receiving support all the way from Costa Rica, she paused for a long moment and said, "When I received support from them, it was like I could feel God smiling down on me!"

She learnt that if you're willing to obey God, He has already opened a way for you. She commented that she had been worried about working with a team, since all the people were from different churches and backgrounds, but the love of Christ united them, and He showed her how to love others.

The most important thing she learnt about God during the outreach was concerning His grace. She said because of His grace He could use her, even though she is "just a farm girl from the rural area." 

A visit to the ocean during the outreach was particularly special for Hanta, as it was her first time. In awe of God’s creation, she asked, “Did He really create this?” Her eyes were opened to the wonders of God as they revealed His greatness.

Since the outreach, Hanta has shared in church about her experience. She’s received great responses from her peers, who say they would like to hear more.

When asked about her future, she said that she has a desire to grow deeper in her knowledge of the Scriptures. She is now busy sharing the gospel with her friends and has indicated that several have already accepted Christ as their Saviour. 

Praise God for providing the funds for Hanta to participate in the outreach. Pray that she will be a light in her community and grow in her relationship with God.

Interning with OM Madagascar certainly opened up my worldview. My heart grew and was stretched in ways I never thought possible. I have a better understanding of what it means to love and care for one another. I came to understand the risk of loving someone as Christ would love them; it leaves you changed forever and forces you into action.

Initially, I decided to participate in this internship to gain practical communications experience and also see if I could really do it—meaning, if I could really live on the mission field full-time. I realised, I can't do it—but Jesus can through me. I would encourage any university student in my situation to spend time overseas; it's the best education you can receive! 

In Madagascar, I learnt enough lessons to last me a lifetime. But perhaps the most important one I learnt is that God is not so concerned with where I live and what I do for Him as much as who I am. 

Tomorrow, I board a plane bound for Texas. My journey in Africa has come to a close. I can't wait to see my family and friends at the airport, and I can't wait to tell them all the stories of my time here.

But there is something slightly intimidating about returning to the familiar, when I, myself, am not so familiar anymore. I've changed, while things at home might have stayed the same.

This has worried me for a few days, until I realised how pointless it is to worry. In Matthew 6:27 Jesus asks, “Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?” (NIV).

Before I left for Madagascar, I was totally consumed by worry. But now looking back I realise that worrying didn't change the outcome of my experience; worrying doesn't change God's plans for me.

Now heading for home, I can be free to look forward to the future with great expectation, because God's plans for me are good and they can't change.

The moment I set my foot on the bike pedal the rain started falling. It's going to be a long 10 kilometres, I thought to myself. It was during a recent outreach to Manakara, a city in southeast Madagascar, that I visited Maroala, a truly rural village of about 200 people that can only be reached on foot or by bicycle. After carrying the bike through a steep mudslide in the tropical rain, I started to doubt my decision that riding was a better alternative to walking. Nevertheless, 10 kilometres later I stood in the village of Maroala covered in mud and sand.

Though I had tried to mentally prepare myself, I was still shocked at the poverty in front of me. As I looked at the children with swollen bellies and mothers with hopeless looks in their eyes, I wanted to shut them out and cause my heart not to feel for them. The team had brought clothes for these people, which we passed out after a gospel presentation. Still, I was distressed that I had no food to offer, no immediate relief.

But I heard Jesus remind me: “I am the Bread of Life and Living Water; whoever comes to me will never be unsatisfied.” He's our great provider and ultimate satisfaction. Please pray with me that His name will be made great in the village of Maroala.

Since being in Madagascar, I've experienced things I never imagined I would—like riding a bike through the jungle. Most of these experiences have made for hilarious stories that I'll never forget, but some have broken my heart.

I never thought I would hear a little girl say she wanted to grow up to be a prostitute.

For instance, I never thought I would hear a little girl say she wanted to grow up to be a prostitute. But the dark reality is that prostitutes on the small island of Sainte Marie, off the northeast coast of Madagascar, appear to be the wealthiest and most satisfied individuals. They have the nicest clothes and the most customers. This little girl doesn't realise that these women are used, abused and hurting. She doesn't realise that she's been created with value. She hasn't been taught to dream beyond her small island home.

I felt so saddened by this little girl’s answer, thinking that if she only had more love and support, perhaps she would dream beyond prostitution.

Then it hit me: maybe the Lord looks upon us, His Church, and feels the same emotion. He has provided unfailing love and the unending support of a Father, yet what do our dreams look like? Can we see beyond our circumstances? Do we believe anything is possible with Christ, that He can really change a nation?

OM Madagascar’s vision is to empower Malagasy Christians "to run faster and fly higher" because we serve a big God who is capable of all things. Let us pray for this nation, interceding on their behalf for God to do miraculous and marvellous things among them.

The annual outreach, themed "Listen to Me, Islands," drew people from all over the globe—Brazil, El Salvador, Netherlands, U.K., South Africa, Nigeria, U.S. and Madagascar—who had one thing in common: a passion to share God's love with those who didn't yet know Him.

On 29 August, just hours before the team embarked on their journey, they heard the news that one of Madagascar's government ministers had drowned the day before during a tragic boat accident off the coast of Sainte Marie.

Regardless of this unsettling news, and to the dismay of some family and friends, the team decided to continue with the outreach.

When the team reached the port city to board a boat, the local people expressed shock that they would take such a risk after the accident, even asking, "Do you want to die too?"

But, as the team would later see, God was already using this tragedy to prepare the hearts of the people of Sainte Marie to receive the gospel.

A small island in the Indian Ocean, Sainte Marie is stunningly beautiful but riddled with poverty, witchcraft, Islam and sexual tourism. Though the church has a presence on the island, many people still have no basic knowledge of the Bible or God's plan for salvation.

One team member asked a local man if he knew who had created the beautiful island. The man responded, "I don't remember. I was very young when it was created."

Although amused by his answer, the team was saddened, as this man's response demonstrated the lack of biblical understanding so prevalent on the island. Yet in the midst of so much darkness, the people are hungry for the Truth of the gospel.

One afternoon while sharing door to door, team members spoke with an old fisherman standing by his boat. They asked questions about his faith and soon discovered he was having marital problems. His boat was tethered to the dock by three ropes, and though the waves rocked the boat, the three ropes held it secure.

The team pointed to the ropes and explained that marriage was like the boat and the ropes. Three things hold marriage together, they said: the husband, the wife and the Lord. In the same way, the Father, Son and Holy Spirit hold believers' lives together.

They asked the man if he wanted to accept the good news of Christ, and he responded, "I will if my wife will."

After discussing it with his wife, the couple prayed to accept Christ. The fisherman gave his phone number to the team and asked that they call and keep him accountable to reading the Word.

"The harvest was truly ready in the island and many people came to know the Lord."

Team member Evelien Starreveld, from the Netherlands, says she could see how the enthusiasm of the team and their faith in Jesus impacted the people of the island.

"One lesson I learned was how important it is to be full of Jesus every day, in prayer and in His Word, to burn brightly like the sun," she said. "When the people in Sainte Marie first began to hear about Jesus, their faces would light up and also begin to shine like the sun. And because of the love of Jesus, they began to overflow like fountains as well."

Through various ministries during the outreach, including door-to-door and street evangelism, children's programmes, drama, sports ministry and seminars, over 100 people accepted Christ as their Saviour.

"I was pleasantly surprised by the willingness of the local people in Sainte Marie to hear the gospel," said participant Simon Fellows, from the U.K. "The harvest was truly ready in the island and many people came to know the Lord."

During a day of street outreach, Simon began talking to a woman. By the time he had finished speaking with her, he was surrounded by a crowd of about 15 people. At the end of the talk, each person accepted Christ as Lord.

"I felt privileged to be used as God's tool," remembered Simon. "I'm going to continue praying for these people as they begin their walk with Jesus."

Another team member, Matthew Luney (Northern Ireland), noticed that even though the churches he visited in Madagascar did not have access to much Christian literature or resources, they had no lack of the Holy Spirit or love for Christ. But, he also recognised the work still needed on the island.

"I realised the great need of the church to continue reaching out and providing for the spiritual needs of these people—to get the church out of the church building and into the lives of the people."

“Reading Hunger for Reality by George Verwer on the plane to Madagascar introduced me to a new kind of faith,” said Stephen Drury (UK), a participant in a recent outreach with OM Madagascar to the island of Sainte Marie. “But it was only when I was in St. Marie praising God at 4:00 in the morning that I really came to grips with what hunger looks like.”

During the outreach in a small village, a woman gave her life to the Lord. A few days later, the team returned with gifts and a copy of the Bible. They knew the woman couldn’t read, but they trusted that God would somehow make a way for His Word to enter her heart and mind.

 “We praised the Lord when she informed us that her young daughter could read the Bible to her,” said Stephen. After giving out the gifts, the team presented the gospel to the woman’s husband, who also accepted the Lord!

“There's no doubt the Holy Spirit was with us and went before us wherever we went,” remembered Stephen.

Praise God for bringing transformation to this family. Please pray for others like them who heard about Christ for the first time during this outreach. Please pray for wisdom and strength for the OM Madagascar team. 

Caitlin, a university student from Texas (USA), is spending a semester interning in communications with OM in Madagascar. From August - November, she’ll capture what God is doing through OM on this island off the coast of southeast Africa. The following is the fourth in a series, written by Caitlin, in which she shares her insights about what it’s like to serve on this diverse and exciting mission field.

The first glimpse I caught of Sainte Marie, a small island off the east coast of Madagascar, was so beautiful it almost took my breath away. Even through the tropical rain, I could see the numerous palm trees and small wooden canoes floating about.

It looked like a deserted island from a Hollywood film, but fortunately I wasn't deserted. In fact, I was one in a group that included people from Nigeria, Netherlands, UK, Madagascar, Brazil, El Salvador and South Africa.

After travelling for more than 15 hours by bus through the jungle and two hours by boat, we all breathed a sigh of relief when we arrived at our destination.

It's not up to me how many people accept the good news; it's only within my power to offer them hope.

Witchcraft has a stronghold on Sainte Marie, like it does in much of Madagascar. Some parents even dedicate their children to Satan after birth. We knew we needed to be very diligent in prayer.

We woke up every day at 5:00 to praise the Lord and pray for the day's activities. Some days included children's ministry, street and door-to-door evangelism or youth outreaches. The harvest was truly ripe, and at least 100 people accepted Christ as their Saviour! 

I'll never forget one particular moment, sitting on the floor of a grass hut sharing the gospel with a woman who had never heard the name of Jesus. Just moments later she joined the family of believers and was saved for eternity. It’s a privilege being part of this ministry.

Madagascar is a stunning and exotic country, with souls ready to hear the good news. I have been challenged to take this passion home with me and be more proactive in sharing about God wherever I am.

Jesus said, “...go and make disciples of all nations...And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age” (Matt. 28:18-20; NIV). It's not up to me how many people accept the good news; it's only within my power to offer them hope.

Please, join with me in thanking the Lord for how many He rescued in Sainte Marie.

“In this village there’s no school, no church. The sight of the kids touched me so much,” said Anita, a photographer with the OM team. “They not only were barefoot and wearing clothes with holes in them, but emptiness and hopelessness covered their faces as well. Yet their lives and the basic things they manage to survive with intrigued me.”

During the visit the pastor introduced the team to the chief, or king, of this small tribal community. The team asked for the chief's permission to plant a church in Maroala. He gladly responded, “You are more than welcome to come here and bring the light of God to my people.” Anita was so pleased to meet the king of Maroala and help introduce him to the King of Kings.

The OM Madagascar team is planning another outreach to Manakara this month, please pray for God's light to shine brightly in that place. 

Caitlin, a university student from Texas (USA), is spending a semester interning in communications with OM in Madagascar. From August - November, she’ll capture what God is doing through OM on this island off the coast of southeast Africa. The following is the third in a series, written by Caitlin, in which she shares her insights about what it’s like to serve on this diverse and exciting mission field.

When I was a little girl, I learned a song called "Jesus Loves Me". The words go like this: Jesus loves me, this I know, for the Bible tells me so, little ones to Him belong, they are weak but He is strong ... followed by a series of "Yes, Jesus loves me!"

As many times as I've heard this simple song, I've never realised the profundity of the phrase "they are weak but He is strong". There's nothing like experiencing a new culture to make you realize how weak humankind is. We're all vulnerable, broken and completely dependent on the grace of God. Some countries in our world are more developed—they're cleaner, maybe even safer, yet the people in our world are all the same: weak.

This probably sounds like a very negative thing to say. But the reality is that none of us has anything valuable to offer this broken world apart from the strength of Jesus. His strength is what runs in our veins, fills our lungs, and gives us the ability to live and love effectively. 

One new friend here in Madagascar said, 'Just your being here gives me strength to carry on in ministry, because I know that someone across the world cares.'

I’ve been in Antananarivo, Madagascar, for only one week, and several times already I've been approached by fellow believers telling me that my presence here has encouraged them. One new friend here in Madagascar said, "Just your being here gives me strength to carry on in ministry, because I know that someone across the world cares."

I'm humbled that in the same way Jesus encouraged me to come to Madagascar, my presence here has also encouraged someone to do what is difficult—carry the name of Jesus to the unreached. 

All this is to say that I am weak, but He is strong. We often pray for God to raise up workers to go into the mission field; I would urge you today to be willing to be the answer to that prayer. God is ready to use weak vessels, with lots of cracks and holes, so that His strength will shine through to the nations.

Hanta plans to participate in the upcoming outreach to Manakara, which will be hosted by OM Madagascar in September. The outreach participants meet every Saturday morning to prepare for this trip. Through these times together the team has realised that Hanta’s decision to participate in the outreach demands a much greater dedication than most; Hanta must walk five hours before catching a bus to finally arrive at the location where the team meets. When they heard this, the OM team were impressed by her courage and love and asked what motivated her to travel such a long distance. She simply said, “I would like to grow in my service for God.” 

In addition, as an act of obedience and commitment to her love for Christ, she is attempting to raise support for the outreach by selling some of her ducks. Please pray that God will bless her obedience and will continue to grow her heart for Him. 

Caitlin, a university student from Texas (U.S.), is spending a semester interning in communications with OM in Madagascar. From August – November, she’ll capture what God is doing through OM on this island off the coast of southeast Africa. The following is the second in a series, written by Caitlin, in which she shares her insights about what it’s like to serve on this diverse and exciting mission field.

You might be wondering, what exactly does an OM intern do during orientation? For me, it has involved some travelling, some eating, and lots and lots of learning. I'm so grateful that I was given the opportunity to travel to Kabwe, Zambia for the annual "Love Africa" conference hosted by OM; missionaries from all over Africa and all over the world meet in Zambia once a year to recount the incredible ways God is moving on this continent. However, when 4:00 in the morning rolled around and it was time to head to the airport, I was less than enthusiastic.

You might be wondering, what exactly does an OM intern do during orientation?

Despite the early departure, the conference was an amazing experience and I felt privileged to glean some knowledge from these men and women who are following Jesus. The main hall at the conference centre was practically shaking with the voices lifted in worship singing, "Mambo sawa sawa! Mambo sawa sawa! Yesu akiwa enzini, Mambo sawa sawa!" (Things are getting better! Things are getting better! When the Lord is on the throne, things are getting better!) 

Another learning opportunity presented itself after the conference. I arrived back in South Africa, and the very next day began learning important communications skills at a communications seminar led by another OMer. Lessons like “less is more” and “remember your audience” were drilled into me and the other members of the OM communications team. I gained a new perspective on effective communication and a new desire to utilize these skills in Madagascar! 

So here I am, on my last day at the OM Africa office in Pretoria, where the rain is steadily falling and the temperature steadily dropping. I'm staring out the window thinking about what adventures tomorrow will hold for me.

One question I need not ask is, "Will my God be with me?"—He is always there.

Will my luggage arrive? Will I forget all the French I used to be able to speak? What if I catch some tropical disease? The questions keep flowing. Nevertheless, after months of preparation and praying, tomorrow is the day I will finally set foot in Antananarivo, Madagascar. One question I need not ask is, "Will my God be with me?"—He is always there. Whatever tomorrow brings, He is faithful and will never leave me.

Caitlin, a university student from Texas (U.S.), is spending a semester interning in communications with OM in Madagascar. From August – November, she’ll capture what God is doing through OM on this island off the coast of southeast Africa. The following is the first in a series, written by Caitlin, in which she shares her insights about what it’s like to serve in this diverse and exciting mission field.

“It feels like just yesterday that I heard direction from the Lord telling me to pursue a position with OM in Madagascar. I had never heard of Antananarivo (Tana), the capitol of Madagascar, and now I will be living there in just a few short days. Preparing for this trip has been exciting and nerve-racking all at once—exciting because I was preparing to go to a new land and nerve-racking because I will be apart from everything and everyone with whom I am comfortable. However, the Lord made it clear to me that this was His plan. I obtained my new passport, visa to Madagascar, and all my vaccinations with no problems. Yet as I said goodbye to my family in Texas and boarded my plane, I wondered if I was making a huge mistake or embarking on one of my life's greatest adventures. 

...I can feel the Lord reassuring me every day that He is in control. He will complete in me the good work which He began; part of that completion might be bringing me here, to Africa.

“My plane landed in South Africa, where I will go through orientation and receive communications training from the OM staff before leaving for Madagascar. It was certainly a long flight, but when I landed I had a great sense of peace and realized that when following the Lord's direction there is never any reason to fear. Everything I am experiencing here in South Africa is new and unfamiliar, and while struggling with jetlag, it is easy to feel slightly overwhelmed; but I can feel the Lord reassuring me every day that He is in control. He will complete in me the good work which He began; part of that completion might be bringing me here, to Africa. 

“Before I left the USA, my mother encouraged me with these words from 1 Chronicles 28:20, ‘...Be strong and courageous and do it. Do not be afraid and do not be dismayed, for the LORD God, even my God, is with you. He will not leave you or forsake you, until all the work for the service of the house of the LORD is finished’ (ESV). 

“People have asked me if I feel as though I'm wasting a semester of college, or have told me how great I am for sacrificing my time in college to go to Africa. In those times, I'm reminded of a quote by the missionary David Livingstone: ‘If a commission by an earthly king is considered a honour, how can a commission by a Heavenly King be considered a sacrifice?’ 

“I feel so honoured and blessed beyond words to be chosen by God for this task. I'm looking forward to arriving in Madagascar!”

For future updates and to follow Caitlin’s ministry in Madagascar, visit the OM Madagascar webpage: news.om.org/country-news/mgq. For more information about serving with OM in Madagascar, visit www.om.org/en/mission-jobs/by-area/africa#madagascar.