“Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit”                                                                   Matthew 28: 19

Sunday July 28, Rev. Patsy was leading the service at Ankilibe, where Esterline is the evangelist. Patsy and I travelled to Ankilibe in a Tuc Tuc a three wheeled vehicle with open sides, faster than a rickshaw (pousse pousse) but very breezy.  Though  much quicker than walking which is the mode of travel for many Malagasy people.

We walked the last half a mile as the dirt road was to soft and the tuc tuc could not move. The people from the village came to greet us it was a beautiful morning full of the glory of God. The church was a one room, the structure was wood with aluminum sides, and a few rice bags where they ran out of aluminum sheets. The roof was long grasses woven together and held in place with thick pieces of wood. There was one door and no windows but plenty of light through spaces.

Inside the church there was an altar, 5 chairs and the pews were long pieces of wood on concrete blocks eight inches from the floor. I did not attempt to sit in the pews I asked if I may use a chair, as I would not be able to get up.

The altar table was covered with a white cloth decorated with a green cross. The candle holders were unique, recycled yogurt containers containing sand to give weight and they worked very well. The host was safely placed in a used coffee jar and the wine in a red ketchup container. Rev. Patsy brought a chalice and a plate for the host.

The people were so humble at the church and they were so grateful that we came to visit.  One felt so welcome. We were truly on holy ground and the service was very special.

One requires lots of patience in Madagascar as time passes very slowly.  I know God is teaching us all patience and the real meaning of, ‘in God’s time.’  Recently, I  had a weekend of problems.  My phone decided to stop working on Friday morning at 5am it made a strange noise and the screen went black. I sat on my cracked toilet seat and it broke completely.  Ouch!  Saturday, the water to the kitchen and bathroom stopped running but everyone else on the compound had water. I solved the water problem by going to the faucet outside and filling several buckets with water and carried them into the Women’s Center. Monday, Fiavy found a blockage in the pipe and the water started to flow.

The toilet seat was a job for Fiavy (he lives on the compound as one of our security men). He came and made a cardboard cut-out of the seat and went off to buy a new one which he replaced the following Monday.

The phone took a few days longer and a trip into town with Patsy and I now have a working phone. I am very grateful but it takes patience and endurance to wait for repairs to take place.

The women are baking I demonstrated how to make cookies on Thursday and Friday 6 women in pairs made the cookie dough. We froze the cookie dough and will bake the cookies and sell them at the Synod at the end of August.

The women are also learning about Centering Prayer. On the days we cooked we sat for 10 minutes in silence and then they talked about their experience. Andre the young man in the picture is an interpreter when I am teaching.

“Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts.”                                                                         Colossians 3:16

I would love to hear comments or notes of how you are doing.  You can send them to jacquelinelowe51@gmail.com.  Thank you