Report from the Mikea Forest

Jonoro & Hanitra Tefy Emmanuel, our partners living and working in the Mikea Forest of Madagascar, have recently sent a report on recent happenings there. As a Malagasy pastor born in the region, Jo speaks the local dialect. He also speaks fluent French, and is writing in the third language that he is learning – English. But first, a little background information….

Anjabetrongo is a very remote village on the inside edge of the Mikea Forest of southern Madagascar. In this harsh thorny- desert habitat, we have partnered together over the past several years to build a church, a school, a clinic and a home for Jo, Hanitra and their 3 young children. We have also been desperatley digging for water over these years – but 4 deep wells and as many well companies later and still no water. Jo and Hanitra collect water in huge barrels during the rainy season and try to make it last. The villagers are not so fortunate and must resort to bathing, drinking and cooking from a polluted pond they share with their animals.

Jonoro writes candidly about the challenges of living in such a remote area – what he calls “insecurity”, where crime is rampant and violent crime is increasing. Only last year one of our teachers and young leaders – Solofo – was poisoned to death. Jo and other leaders have endured many threats.

But enough from me. Let’s hear from Jo. (My comments are in parentheses)

“The temperature in Anjabetrongo, in the shadow at noon is at 37 C. (that’s nearly 97 degrees F) During the night till 3 in the morning, we sweat. To wait for the first rain to come is a long, long time. All nature wishes it comes soon.The first rain was a very blessing of all people, castle and vegetation in the Mikea area.

Sometimes we feel that ministry in Anjabetrongo is passing the desert period. We feel that sometimes it is hard. This last quarter of the year was one of the hardest times in our ministry, especially in the insecurity issue. Every night in Anjabetrongo is a challenge for us and more than one case of trouble passed during this time. BUT also it is a time for us to learn to depend more on our Mighty Hand of our God. A time for us to seek God’s direction, to look back to the beginning, and to redirect our calling and our specific target group. We do everything by prayer. BUT ALSO a it is a time to see that God answers the prayers of all Christians who are involved in this ministry.To see seeds growing and to see the natives of the village joining the group is a blessing – like the first rain in the desert.

As it was written in the former report, the women Christians in the Anjabetrongo church led their men to Jesus and to join the church. One of those men is named Kandre – which is the same name as Andrew as the masikoro tribe put K before the name very often. So we called this new disciple as “the first disciple of Jesus”. He is one of the people we can trust to ask advice. He is the one taking care of the cows as the former cow boy left for another village. He is organizing our fields, and motivating the Christian to help as they call us as their parents.

It is strengthening to see him using materials to preach the gospel, the good news media using tape and visual aid, and adding some comment and personal testimony to convince people to receive the salvation. He said one day in his testimony: “ I have never seen a clean water to wash our sin and providing forgiveness than this, to be with Jesus who shed his blood as a sacrifice for our sin. Before I thought that this way is a foreigner’s way, now I am convinced that it is for us in this village. It is not for the pastor, but for us. Now my life is changed, and I am on the right way to God.” ( Kandre’s remarks take on more significance when we realize that the Masikoro and Mikea people practice ancestor worship and depend on the blood of cows and goats to appease their angry gods. They also practice devil worship in elaborate ceremonies that involve all-night drumming, frenetic dancing, and falling into trances as they plead with the devil to possess them and reveal the sacrifices he requires.)

But still, even with these breakthroughs we ask you to pray for them, knowing that the enemy is not sleeping. When he can not destroy the preacher or to force him to leave, he is working to destroy the faith of the new believers. But we can thank God that young believers are still standing firm. They are few, but they know what they believe and who they are following – the One who saved them and rescued them, Jesus Christ. And they want to serve Him in His church, to edify themselves and to accomplish the great commitment.

THE JONOROS HEALTH STATUS

From the half of the October, the time we were out for regular supplies, all of us were sick. We had all malaria, and some allergic diseases. We could treat those problems. Jonathan has not been healed unless he took injections. After a couple of weeks, mine was better, but the kids were still weak, so I took them and Hanitra to Antananarivo ( the capital city of Madagascar) and I returned to Anjabetrongo alone. They continued their treatment and I thank God that we could talk time to time as a telephone network is available intermittently now in Anjabetrongo during the night. ( Jo has written again since this report. Hanitra and the children returned with him to the forest in late December. The children are better but Hanitra has continued to suffer some serious health issues. He asks for prayer for her.)

THE INSECURITY PROBLEM

This period (December to February 2009) is the hardest time on insecurity issue, in the area. It is caused by the fact that people are busy planting new crops during this season, and the food and money are difficult to find. To find roots also becomes difficult. ( The Mikea use certain roots, called babo, for their moisture when water is scarce) It is easy for guys to accept to do all things to earn a few amount of money.
Pray that we will be wise on what to do. ( Jo and Hanitra, as well as his young team members, have been burglarized and threatened with both physical harm and witchcraft many times. The church has pleaded with them to leve the forest during for 2 months in order to protect them.)

THE CHURCH OF ANJABETRONGO

According our plan, we are on the process to train and teach the church to run by themselves – and we hope to complete it by this year.
Pray that the church will be safe even we will be absent for a while, during the rainy season. They have committed to run the church themselves.

We are preparing for baptism ceremony on 21st of December. ( Jo has since text messaged me the details of the baptism service. Kandre and his wife were baptized, as well as Limbisoa, Brigit, Mazekine and 3 others.I won’t go into detail, but let’s just say that Limbesoa is a changed man from the first time we met. Brigit now walks from village to village telling the good news that has set her free. As for Mazekine, he is the chief musician in the village and has made his living laying for tromba – the devil worship ceremony. His wife used to be the chief tromba dancer, until she came to Jesus and found freedom – and now her husband has joined her. Jo and Hanitra teach these young Christians carefully over a period of many months and only baptize those they feel truly understand and believe.)

THE LEADERSHIP TRAINING

We have two times a week for training, plus the Sunday afternoon teaching. We are focusing for Sunday teaching on CHURCH and the life in it. For the Tuesday and Friday class, we are focusing on the understanding and interpreting the Bible and on Doctrines – we had finished the doctrine about the scriptures, short Survey on Evangelical doctrine, and we are finishing the doctrine of the Church. We thank God that all members we have, and the candidates to the baptism, all are joining the class. Some can write until they have not yet received the copy of the course, some come and just listening. Pray for us to have wisdom to be able to help all of them to grow in knowledge and faith and in service. We thank God, we are provided by tools for Christians to study and to preach the Gospel and studying the whole bible with tape, produced by Good News Media.

Christians enjoy using it. They have opportunity to bring it to their family and add their personal testimony. With partnership with Malagasy Bible Society, we have the PROCLAIMER (a material with Bible voice, with all the books and chapter option buttons available) for people who can not read. We get 03 free from them: for Anjabetrongo, Analabo ( a neighboring village where Jo and his team minister regularly) and Antampimbato (the deep forest, where Mikea chief Fandahara and his family live). Christians are helped to know the New Testament now. For Anjabetrongo, we plan to listen weekly, for all. Even some people can read, they can not understand well, as they have not a habit to read. To listen, and also with Drama system, is easy for our people to study. Please pray especially for the native men to take their responsibility in the church.

THE FOREST PEOPLE

Some of the Mikea people from the forest stay in Anjabetrongo to grow cassava now. To find roots is now difficult, and also can not help for the other needs. So some young people from the village came and stay in Anjabetrongo to grow cassava, during the sowing season. It was the time for us to keep contact with them, evangelizing and discipling them. They stay for a while in Anjabetrongo not only for cassavas, but also, for discipleship. They enjoy listening and learning about God and how to follow Him. Pray for Rekely (Son in law of Fandahara) and Lapata (son of Fandaharas) – that their faith will grow. they are both spiritually hungry!. Normally people listen to the Audio Bible for about 15 to 20 minutes a day. Rekely and Lapata wanted to listen for more than 2 hours a day. They finished the book of Matthew in one day!

THE SCHOOL OF ANJABETRONGO

At last, someone accept to take place as a teacher in Anjabetrongo. Julia (the widow of Solofo and a member of the church) will teach the level 1 and the Adult Literacy Program.
Olga, a woman from one of our preaching poinst (Ankipola) & a wife of a teacher in another school, will join Anjabetrongo and will teach the level 2 and 3.
They will be trained with on job training system. Hanitra will help them on this. (Hanitra has her degree in education and is an outstanding supervisor, trainer and teacher)
Pray that we will find a better way to help those kids to be prepared for their future life, not only with knowledge but also with a special skills (handcrafting, carpentry or greeding and farming …etc)

About the school building – the metal roof is now finished and we are working on the wall. ( We bought the roof materials and the villagers are responsible to bring wood planks for the school walls.)

THE MEDICAL CARE

As we wrote last time, we can take care only for the children in the school, we can give daily their medicines; to prevent misuse of medicines people may do (we have seen).
But we can also care for the people in the forest, our team and families. A sister planned to come for a week in Anjabetrongo to help the village, but it is postponed for the next year because of the real risk on insecurity. But again we are praying for the future and permanent clinics for the area. We have already purchased a land for the future project. A land of about 10 hectare , that is 200 meters by 500 meters.

FARMING

A friend suggested us to try to grow another alternative in crops, to grow sorgho. This is WFP of the UN promoting in the Deep South of Madagasikara. It fits to the weather and soil condition of the south.
If it will work, that will be good for nutrition of the village, especially the children as they are malnourished. For the school Anjabetrongo, we are growing for a multiplication of seeds, with the cassava and beans to rovide a nutrition project for the next year of the school.

THE MINISTRY IN ANDAKORO TOLIARA (Andakoro is village on the outskirts of the coastal city of Toliare – about a 6 hour drive from anjabetrongo during the dry season. This is where we created a base some years back – a lace to come for fresh supplies and to pick up funds, email, rest. Jo and Hanitra started a church in Andakoro with the multitude of rickshaw drivers that ound the streets daily. In a village is known for alcoholism, violence and prostitution this young and growing congregation provides a place of refuge and hope)

Pray that we have wisdom to help Tovo and Sylvain on taking care of the church. Pray for them as they work together to disciple the young church. Pray that this ministry also will be a place for some to grow in ministry and in mission. We hope that the church will send more missionary for their neighbors.

It is rainy every afternoon here in the place I write this report. It is fresh. I hope Anjabetrongo also has their second rain. People are blessed to have ability to drink and sow, animals will be satisfied with green grass and water. Pray that the ministry is keeping growing, and all of us will be blessed to see seeds growing in Anjabetrongo with the church, and also in the forest. Pray that those young boy and girls will understand the God’s love to them, and they will receive it , and they will serve Him.

Thank to all of you praying and participating for the salvation of the lost, the hidden people – hidden from the world, but seen by God.

JONORO and Hanitra TEFY Emmanuel
(Joyce, Johanna and Jonathan)