June Update from Jonoro in the Mikea Forest

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.”
…and with your blood you purchased men for God from every tribe and language and people and nation. You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God,And they will reign on the earth.  – John 3:16; Revelation 5.9-10 (NIV)

Brother and sisters,

We praise God as we watch Him moving people out of darkness and into freedom, to become true worshippers of the God who loved and freed them. This touches our hearts very much at this time. It is wonderful to see the people of the forest sharing their faith with their relatives. The disciples set apart days every week for Sunday worship, leadership training, and outreach ministry.  Some walk as far as 14 kilometers.

One thing that deeply moved our heart was when they sent with me a few can of beans for the food of the trainees in the Antsirabe Bible school. They say that they want to testify that “we received God’s word and are learning to follow Him step by step. Please let people know they have brothers and sisters in the forest!” (I am reporting their words). So where are we now? What to pray for?

THE JONOROS

Our family– Please pray for our health for Hanitra and myself and that God would strengthen us. The work here in the forest is difficult and tiring. Please pray for the health of our 03 children. In the beginning of the year they all suffered from headaches and flu. Joyce and Jonathan are getting well, but please continue to pray for Johanna – for her eye problem. We plan to have her checked when we leave the forest next time.

Please pray for Hanitra as she homeschools our children.

Also, please pray that we would have family time out of the forest together. Since it is not possible to have private time in Anjabetrongo, it is a special need for us as a family to get out together from time to time. We had just few times for this very important “must” of the ministry.

Please pray for helpers for us in the matter of finishing the school building and school furniture for 60 children. Pray for new leaders and that we would have wisdom to manage our tasks.

SCHOOL REPORT

Hanitra is replacing one of the teachers that had to leave the school because of marital problems. Now Hanitra teaches 03 classes and I help her from time to time. Please pray that we can find a suitable new teacher to help Hanitra and the other teacher, Julia. (Solofo’s widow)

Attendance in the school has dropped some for many reasons. Some parents send their kids to another village or to help find supplies for the family.  The children want to attend school but some of the parents refuse to participate in the way we have agreed – by providing wood for the walls or to pay a small school fee.

Also, in Anjabetrongo children marry very young – as young as 12 for some. This is why we lost some of our 3rd level girls. One 15-year-old boy in our school has been married off  by his parents. The parents say they want to avoid him leaving the village to become a thief. But he still attends school even though he is married.

But we thank God that we have the school kids every day. We have 02 bible lessons every week (the beginning and the end of the week) – and 25 of the children join the Saturday and Sunday school class. As the parents see their children’s progress, they become more interested and some have come to help finish the wall of the school building. The school is one of the bridges God is using to reach the whole village.

We are considering new programs for older children combined with their classes. The older students could learn carpentry and help build the school furniture. We also need to prepare the young girls in advance for marriage. And we are considering a nutrition program since malnutrition is a serious problem for us in the forest.

THE CHURCH

The church of Anjabetrongo, with the 10 baptized members (without me and hanitra) and 04 new candidates, is running herself and reaching into new areas. They organize themselves to lead the Sunday service, to preach, to teach Sunday school, to lead the monthly Lord’s Supper. They have a worship song group for Young People and for Children. Our task is now to train and to teach Sunday afternoon and in the Leadership and mission training on Tuesday.

The church now has 03 outreach places: Analabo, Belitsaka and the deep forest. The members are  responsible for these sites. We are changing our role as teaching and mentoring them, except for the deep forest where I continue to go with one of the members. In each village we have a church member living there. And the outreach is first to encourage them to grow, and at the same time to reach the village. We are praying with the team as to the next step for planting churches.

NEW LEADERSHIP
Noely is back, after a couple of months out. He and his wife, Ninamasy, decided to stay in Anjabetrongo to continue their training on Mission and Ministry until it is clear what God’s call is for their new ministry location. He is helping new rising leaders as he continues to study.

Brigitte, the woman who feels called by God to reach Analabo with Pascal (who lives  there) to plant a daughter church, is praying with us for her calling. She intends to start a camp in Anjabetrongo where she can keep people who are willing to be freed from evil possession until they are strong enough in faith. The new converts will have trouble from their families if they are senttoo  soon back home.

Limbisoa is feeling called for Belitsaka where one of our new baptism candidate lives. Kandre (Andrew) and Nina, new members of the church, are still living in our yard, aiming to make easier our stay. They want to reach Anjabetrongo village and the forest. They are the first native people, from the village to be future leaders and missionaries.

Please pray for all the leaders and for ongoing leadership training. Our aim is to prepare strong Christian disciples, leaders and missionaries in the future, who will ensure the continuation of the movement in the forest and among other indigenous unreached groups in southern Madagascar. These last months’ training has been about evangelism, prayer and spiritual warfare. Next we will teaching on laying the foundation and helping them learn to share the gospel.

REACHING THE DEEP FOREST

This is the next big step of the next stage of our ministry here in the forest. At this stage of development we will increase the amount of time we spend in the deep forest.  The security in the forest continues to be a problem. The Fandahara family was recently attacked by a band of thieves – about seven men. They came early in the morning and said that they were sent by police to check cows – but they were there to steal them. But we thank God that the Mikea chiefs Fandahara and Resariny and their families are very interested to listen to bible stories with pictures. They are still using the scripture  audio tapes (provided by Bible Society). Please pray for Rekely, Fandahara’s son in law, who is in charge of this. This is his first responsibility.

There are many more things to share with you, but we thank God for meeting all our needs and for the progress of the kingdom in the Mikea Forest. Pray that we will learn more with Him as He moved his Kingdom among the Mikea. Ask God with us that He will pour His spirit among them. May His name be glorified in the church and in the forest  – even among those who are still hidden.

By Grace,

Jonoro and Hanitra
(Joyce, Joanna and Jonathan)