As Christmas approaches, we look back over 2013 with grateful hearts. During the past year, in addition to the regular quarterly funds sent to support our programs in Malawi and Madagascar, we have been able to contribute to many other needs – thanks to our generous and faithful Ancient Path supporters.
Anjabetrongo, Madagascar
Cyclone Haruna caused devastation in the SW region of Madagascar earlier this year. Ancient Path was able to send funds to purchase food for the Mikea households, the Anjabetrongo villagers and the school children, which was purchased and distributed by our partners, Pastor Jonoro and Hanitra. We also funded a ten-day nutrition program for the children and provided new school materials to replace those damaged in the storm. During the November trip to Anjabetrongo, Ancient Path also purchased large bags of maize for the Mikea households to help alleviate ongoing hunger, provided nutritious meals for the schoolchildren, monetary help for teachers and workers, new flannelgraph materials, jump ropes, soccer balls and a 24 foot parachute which quickly became a village favorite!
Antananarivo, Madagascar
With our friends and partners, Ibrahim and Cathy Ravoahangy of Global Action in Tana, Ancient Path was very active this fall, exploring potential partnership projects. We visited the villages of Ampitambe, Ambohibolakely, Andrindra, Betsipolotra, Ambohimanja, Sakalava, Tanambaovao and Andasibe. We traveled by car, truck, motorcycle and, when no road was available, on foot into the high mountains. As well as providing encouragement, Ancient Path contributed helpful gifts and funds for each leadership couple along the way, including the school director and teaching staff in Ampitambe. In the city of Tana, we contributed funds to the medical clinic that the Ravoahangys house on their property. This clinic provides daily care for the poor in Ambatoroka as well as for the children in the Global Action program. The Ravoahangys also have three young men from remote villages living with them for a year to study. One of the young men, Alan, attends a music academy. He intends to learn piano and then return to his village to serve as a church music director. Ancient Path was able to pay for Alan’s music school tuition and purchase mattresses and 100 kilos of rice for the young students. For the expansive children’s program that meets weekly at the Ravoahangys, AP brought in a large flannelgraph set, various supplies and provided monetary help for the teachers.
Kaliyeka Township, Malawi
The Chifundo Program in Malawi has grown to 200 registered children with 150 guardians! In November, an Ancient Path team from the USA carried in thousands of dollars worth of supplies including 15,000 vitamins, numerous cameras for the photography project, musical instruments, materials for the dance team, toys, games, and educational supplies. While there, we built a fence around the property, purchased trunks and bins to organize supplies, large plastic water dispensers, food preparation and distribution materials, and new mats to cover the ground where the children sit. We prepared extra meals, purchased clothes, mosquito nets and school supplies for all 200 children and contributed gifts and funds to the Chifundo team members. Ancient Path also purchased 150 bags of maize – one for each household represented – of 50 kilograms each. Pastor Mtambo intends to distribute the maize on January 1st – a time when hunger is usually at its worse. He tells us that recently the Ministry of Agriculture announced a food shortage around the country, advising people to manage food supplies well. Some areas of the country are already reporting deaths from starvation.
Sanjiko, Malawi
Ancient Path is now collaborating on an agricultural project with a group of young adults in the mountain village of Sanjiko. While hunger and poverty are rampant in this village, the youth group met us with a plan and a proposal. Having done their research well and with a solid strategy in place, they only needed the start-up funds. AP contributed these funds to rent 6 acres of farmable land, purchase seeds for soy and groundnuts, and purchase farming tools. The accountant for our Kaliyeka program, Blessings Mtambo, will oversee this project to help ensure its success. He reports that the land has been secured and the seeds and tools have been purchased. Let’s pray for those seeds to grow!!!!
Cleveland, Ohio
This fall we began our move to new city quarters at Family Ministry Center on Clark and Fulton in Cleveland. Thanks to generous donors, construction began on our recording studio in November and will be completed at the beginning of the year. In 2014, we look forward to increased ministry opportunities and collaborative projects in the city of Cleveland.
2013 has been a year of blessing for Ancient Path, our partners and the children. We thank God for his ongoing care and provision. We thank you for your financial support and faithful prayer. We thank our partners in the field for their tireless work and personal sacrifices and for friends here at home who give of their time and talents.
We are all in this together! We wish you a warm and meaningful Christmas and pray God’s very best for your lives in the New Year! God Bless you and Merry Christmas!
The Ancient Path team