Dear Friends of Mission in Madagascar,

We have been sad to hear news of the devastation of Hurricane Katrina.  It is certainly a challenge physically, emotionally, and spiritually to deal with the immensity of the loss. 

Our prayers are with those who have lost loved ones and property.

In this issue of Footprints:

A Thing about String!

Making the Impossible Possible

Extreme Ministry

A Thing about String!

A lot of kilometers were put on our vehicle in the last few months as we all spent about 26 hours driving to Antananarivo, then Doug drove back to Diego.  A few weeks later he drove back to Tana and then we all did the 28 hour version back again last week.  Fortunately, Doug carries string with him in the car.  It came in handy on two of those trips.  On the trip down the battery fell out due to the road conditions and he tied it back in with string.  On our trip back this time we got a late start due to the death of a pastor and ended up in a bad section of road after dark.  As a result, we missed a detour that would’ve been obvious in daylight.   Thus we ended up on a VERY bad section that tore a piece partially off the underside of the car.  String solved the problem again and we continued on our journey. 

These trips were due to the time which the boys and I spent in Tana for Ben to attend a summer school session at the American School there.  Even though it was only a 4 week session, it seemed to be a wonderful gift in giving him a boost in English writing and spelling and a chance to have English speaking friends!  I also got to spend a good amount of time working on Manna since that is where most of the work with Manna needs to happen.  Meanwhile, Doug was back up in Diego doing visits to the countryside and meeting with people in what he bemoaned was a “very empty house.” 

Making the Impossible Possible

We’ve written in recent months about challenges in the women’s development project, Manna, and have asked for prayers for its future.  We thank you for those prayers and want to report that God has been doing the impossible!!  As we have struggled with what to do for and with Manna, God has provided the steps one by one with insights coming through conversations with various people.  Yet the solution we felt God was leading us to was one which many people said was impossible.  We felt that dissolving the old structure and establishing a new one with all new leadership was what we needed to do.  We felt that finding volunteers who had no connection with Manna centers were needed to run this organization.  Yet in spite of many Malagasy people believing like us that this was the best solution, many others said we would never find people willing to volunteer to do that because people are struggling themselves too much.  Yet God has brought together a team of Malagasy women not only willing but excited about volunteering to help this ministry!!  Not only did God provide, but abundantly.  These women are experienced in fields of development, handcrafts, government offices, and regulating organizations and their financial dealings, which is just what we needed!  Currently we are working on all the Bylaws and regulations which will then be submitted to the government for approval.  It looks like there is hope for this new structure to be much more workable and sustainable.  Yet it is still fragile so we ask for prayers that God continue to do the impossible. 

In spite of these challenges the ministry has continued and women have received work!  We have been working with new groups of women to make a difference for them and their families.  During the last several months we have begun working with a school for the deaf, female prisoners, a girls’ school, and several groups of women who need the income they receive from Manna orders just to provide their daily food.  One such order for Manna products came from WorldCrafts in the USA which was shipped in May.  Another order was placed in order to sell through Manna Bazaar Kits and Manna USA, Inc. and has just arrived in Baltimore.

If you haven’t heard about the Manna Bazaar Kits, making a difference is what they’re all about.  Malagasy handcrafters have been working on orders of antaimoro cards, embroidered products, raffia bags, wood carvings, zebu (cattle) horn necklaces, and much more.  Soon the products will be packaged in kits worth $500 each.  Churches can order kits to sell at a special “Madagascar Bazaar” or through regular church fall or Christmas sales.  Churches pay nothing up front, but after trying to sell as many products as possible, churches send back unsold products and the money from sales to a USA address.  Those who participated last year said it was fun, easy, and very enjoyable!  Not only did they get the opportunity to buy the handcrafts themselves, but hosting the Bazaar gave them the satisfaction that they were making a difference in people’s lives without a great contribution of time or money.

There are creative ways to sell the Bazaar Kits as well, including having a youth group take it on as a project to learn about poverty, the world, missions, service, etc.  Missions groups could host a Madagascar Bazaar in conjunction with missions or World Hunger Sundays.   We’ve also heard of a group selling products at an auction with minimum prices set for items.  We have a number of “overstock” products which we would like to sell at clearance prices so ask us for more info if you’re interested in having a “Clearance Sale” along with your Bazaar Kit.

We only produced enough for 40 Bazaar Kits, so if you’re interested, get your order in early.  For more information or to order your Bazaar Kit, email Kirsten Swanson at:  Jffkrstn@wmconnect.com .  

On another note, we’re very excited that the Manna website is up and running.  Parts are still under construction but feel free to visit us at www.MannaMadagascar.org  In time it will include even more information about products, the women involved in the project, how you can get involved, current needs, and much more.  Many thanks to Lea Mulqueen and Jon Faust for their hard work on the site!!!

As we look ahead too, we’re hoping to break into EBay soon as well as other possible markets in the US so please keep all of this in prayer.  We’d also like to have more focused fund-raising possibilities, especially with the greater need now due to the end of the former Manna.  Thus, we’re hoping to recruit a volunteer who could encourage and coordinate fund-raising in the USA.  Also, we’d like to find another person who would be interested in coordinating Manna education efforts in the USA about poverty, hunger, and other global issues, etc., If you are interested in helping in either of these ways please let us know at dougmonica@projectshalom.org . 

One very creative fundraising idea that will take place in October is an album cropping party to be held at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Parkville, Maryland.  Contact Anne Shelley at ashelley@brimrose.com or check out the Manna website for more information.  Thanks, Anne, for all your hard work and creativity to benefit the women of Madagascar!! 

Many thanks too, go to Emmanuel Lutheran Church of Bethesda, Maryland, for providing funds for sewing machines which have been donated to the ILOFAV Women’s center near Antananarivo.  For more information about ILOFAV, see the Manna website.   Emmanuel’s donation will also purchase one more sewing machine which we are waiting on until it is back in stock, later this year.  These machines will make a big difference in the lives of many women who will be able to receive orders through ILOFAV for Manna.  Thanks to Liz King and everyone at Emmanuel, Bethesda!

Extreme Ministry

In early June we were excited to receive visitors from the Diego area’s sister synod in the ELCA, the Rocky Mountain Synod.  Twenty-seven visitors, including Doug’s sister, Debbie, came ready for adventure and ministry.  They divided into five ministry teams with one of those designated to visit Project Shalom.  Doug planned an ambitious trip for them to visit two different Project Shalom evangelists and see what Doug does when he goes out on regular visits to those villages.  What Doug hadn’t planned on was that the road to one village would be completely closed off.  As he, the five visitors, and Pastor Rapatera (Doug’s Malagasy colleague) planned to sleep in the car for the night, half the village came out in the dark to dig out the road enough for the car to get through.  A core of hard working men dug, removed rocks and carved out a road for an hour or so, until the car could make it.  What a welcome!  Once in town, an eager crowd gathered for a program of a children’s choir, watching a film (with generator, TV, etc. brought by the missionary) and then each of the American guests shared their faith while Doug translated.  The second village that the group visited said that they were the first car to reach their village in 6 months (since the rainy season had begun).  Meanwhile one local leader of another faith received a Bible for the first time and a few others received Bible stories presented as comic books (“talking pictures” they call them).  There is much more to tell, but perhaps it is enough to note a comment by one of the Rocky Mountain Synod participants (when it was all over) who described this Project Shalom work as EXTREME ministry!  Doug and Rapetera felt very affirmed and delighted to have these visitors who were great sports through all the challenges and very supportive of all that is being done.

Presenting Bible to leader of local religious group

Doug continues to meet with two men of a different faith who are very eager to learn English and discuss the Bible and theology.  Doug meets with them at their place of work or at our home and leaves each meeting eager to see them again.  They seem to have the same feeling as they want more time with Doug than he can afford to give them.  One of them was shocked to hear recently that Jesus offers salvation as a free gift, without having to struggle to earn it.  It was like a huge revelation for him which seemed to really delight him.  Please pray with us for these two men and the many others who are searching for truth.

Thank you for Prayers

Thank you for your faithful prayers.  We appreciate that so many of you are faithful still in praying for us in our work, and in daily life. 

We are thankful for the progress that is being made through Project Shalom and Manna.

We are grateful for good health for our family and that our boys are enjoying their time in Madagascar.

We are thankful that God is providing and guiding and even miraculously leading and providing. 

We are praying for discernment about future ministry here and for Ben’s education in the coming years.

We are praying for those who are seeking the truth, that they might have their eyes opened to The Way, The Truth, and The Light.  

We are praying for guidance for each of us in our projects so that this work can continue no matter how long we are here.

e-mail us at dougmonica@projectshalom.org

or write us at: BP 471  Antsiranana (Diego Suarez) 201  MADAGASCAR 

or contact us through: Robbie Cox  2101 Copeland Way  Chapel Hill, NC  27517

visit our website at www.projectshalom.org

If you know someone who would like to receive our newsletter in the future, encourage them to send a blank email to: projectshalom-subscribe@yahoogroups.com

visit the NEW Manna website at www.MannaMadagascar.org