Antsiranana (Diego Suarez) December, 2005
In our correspondence we prefer to use "friends" or people of a "different faith" as pseudonyms for the people with whom we minister. This way we hope to avoid unnecessary complications from certain groups who may monitor email and other communications.
Dear Friends,
Belated Christmas greetings from Madagascar! Our "Christmas tree" is blooming brilliantly right now with bright red blossoms. Not a typical Christmas tree but a fun tropical version of the symbol of Jesus' life everlasting. We have heard of cold and snow in parts of the US which is making Ben wish to see snow. Jeremiah doesn't have any concept of snow so isn't missing it at all. We've started decorating for Christmas but I don't think it will ever feel like Christmas while we're sweating all day and night. Then again, the Christmas spirit is really in knowing Jesus as Lord and King…in hot or cold weather.
Big Changes Ahead
Ben has had the opportunity to attend French schools ever since he started at 4 years old in France. He loves to say he has always studied in French and enjoys being much stronger in French than his parents, but we continue to have concerns about his lack of formal English education. After much prayer and soul-searching, we resolved that it would be best for him to enter an English school by the next school year. Yet we do not feel that God is calling us to leave our ministries and leave Madagascar at this point. Thus we sought and received permission from DGM (our mission) to relocate to the capital city, Antananarivo, so that Ben can study in English at the American School there. We are still concerned about his transition into that system since he is below grade level in English reading and writing. We would appreciate prayers about this as we work through many related questions and transitions.
One logistical challenge in making this move is that we also expect to do our home leave next summer, 2006. That means we will be doing all the scheduling of those visits and preparing for that trip while we're also trying to pack up, find a house, and move. Again, we are praying for this major transition.
Yet we are also getting excited about the time in the USA. We enjoyed our visits with sponsoring churches in 2004 and look forward to meeting many more of our sponsors in 2006. We are tentatively planning to be there mid May-mid August. We have not yet started scheduling but will be contacting our sponsoring congregations soon.
A Kingdom Divided Against Itself, News about Project Shalom
Kings are not just something of the past in Madagascar; they are living guardians of the culture, the ancestors, and all sorts of spiritual power. Today the authority of most Malagasy kings stretches only within a limited region and most of them are little more than figureheads. Historic battles and contact with other nations has given way to a national, democratic government. Yet, where we live, the Antakarana King still has significant authority. He collects taxes and exercises both spiritual and physical claims on his people. His people are the majority of our neighbors. They mostly adhere to another faith and are thus the primary focus of Project Shalom's ministry in the north.
Yet in early 2005 many elders publicly called for him to be dethroned. Another man has been selected by many of the people as a NEW king of the Antakarana. Yet the old one won't leave. Tensions have been rising throughout the year until just a few weeks ago the old king was tied to a tree, beaten, had dog manure put on his head, and may have been killed if the army had not rescued him. Now many of his loyal supporters are camped out in the palace, guarding him as he heals. Meanwhile, this brings to mind the words of Jesus: "Every kingdom divided against itself will be ruined…" (MT 12:25).
This may be a unique moment in the history of the Antakarana people. As the kings shame each other, the authority of the kingdom itself is shaken. We believe that the traditions of the king create a spiritual barrier or darkness blocking people from coming to Christ. (A simple example might help: One of our evangelists quit and moved to another part of Madagascar outside the Antakarana kingdom and continued evangelistic work there. In his 4 years of working with Project Shalom no one of another faith had come to Christ and been baptized. Yet within 1 year in the new place, he baptized 70 converts and began a new church.) If people lose confidence in this kingdom, we have hope that hearts will be more open to Christ. We are preparing for a new day in evangelism here, an open door unlike we've seen before. A number of new converts are currently "hiding" their new identity and may find a new possibility for life. Meanwhile we are training and sending out more and more Christians motivated to share the Gospel to this people group, distributing Bibles and other literature, etc. Please pray for the Kingdom of God to grow as the Antakarana Kingdom wanes.
Please also hold up two friends of another faith that Doug has been discipling for around a year. They are hungry, and one is already believing in Jesus as his Savior. As he left our home recently, he glowed about how light and free he feels each time after studying the Bible here. He went on to say, "I know what it means when Jesus says, `His yoke is easy and His burden is light.'" We're hoping for the greatest Christmas gift ever for him this year. Yet, there are still many things that tie them to another faith. Please pray for them to find freedom and new life through faith in Christ.
The Cupboard is Bare
News about Manna for Madagascar You may remember that we wrote in our last newsletter about Bazaar Kits being sent out for sales in churches. The great news is that all of them were ordered in addition to most of the extra merchandise that was left over from other shipments. Thus, the cupboard of products is bare! A huge thank you to all the churches which have been hosting the Bazaar Kit sales and selling the Manna products!! The other exciting news is that we seem to be making some connections to retailers in the US as a result of the Bazaar Kits and through the website. Hopefully this will continue and increase so that we can provide more consistent work for the women in the centers here.
The women are currently swamped with orders which make them very happy. They are working on a new order from WorldCrafts and are preparing an order to be shipped to the USA for churches and synod assemblies (or other large church gatherings) to sell in the Spring. We are organizing it a little differently to give those ordering more flexibility in what they will sell at their event. It will still involve churches or synods ordering products with no money down and then sending in the money for items sold and returning unsold products. These products should be ready for shipment in March, 2006. If you are interested in selling products at your church or a bigger church gathering, please email Lea Mulqueen at lea_mulqueen@yahoo.com .
You probably remember that we have written earlier that in Diego prostitution is very accepted. A friend told me recently that in Diego families are considered wealthy if they have a lot of daughters because they can get their daughters to earn money through prostitution to support the family (often starting at 13 or 14 years old.). Then when they get older the family tries to get the daughters married to foreign men so they will send money back to the family. Meanwhile, the male members of the family don't go to school, don't work, and spend their time consuming alcohol and locally grown drugs. We believe that God has a different plan for this city and we ask for prayers that God would do an amazing work here.
One ministry that is trying to do something about the situation is a PACWA (Pan-African Christian Women's Alliance) group of women. In partnership with Manna for Madagascar, they are planning to open a women's center in Diego in January. City officials have agreed to let us use a government building which we have been fixing up. We plan on teaching classes in sewing, embroidery, and jewelry making. Unfortunately the woman who was supposed to be the lead teacher moved away recently because her husband was transferred and the other teacher is away for several months to have a baby. Thus, we would appreciate prayers that we can work through all the details and find new people to take their place so that ministry can really begin and have an impact in this city.
Manna for Madagascar is still in the process of writing its Bylaws which will then be submitted to the government to become an officially recognized organization. One of the challenges is to do so in a way that will safeguard the organization from people trying to take advantage of it or steal from it. The country's laws do not seem to have sufficient safeguards for protecting organizations so we need to write these in somehow. Please pray that this can be accomplished.
Prayer Requests: - For wisdom and peace during our upcoming move and home assignment.
- For Antakarana M., that divisions in their kingdom will lead many to seek the Kingdom of God through faith in Jesus Christ.
- For the PACWA center in Diego, that its ministry will be blessed.
- For Manna for Madagascar, that many women will be empowered both spiritually and financially through the growth in this ministry and that the organization structure and Bylaws can be established in a way that will safeguard its future.
- For Project Shalom, that our move to the capital will not hurt the ministry, but rather expand it into new areas while the existing work continues.
Contact information:
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
Highlights from this December, 2005 Edition of the Footprints newsletter:
We're moving soon. Recently we decided it would be best for our son, Ben, if he could study in English starting next Fall. Thus, we will be moving to the capital, Antananarivo, just before heading to the USA for our 2006 home leave. In "Tana" Doug and Monica will continue working in their respective ministries, with Doug frequently traveling back to Diego.
Home leave in 2006 (likely mid May-mid August) will include visiting sponsoring congregations which we will begin to schedule starting in January.
The Antakarana tribe in northern Madagascar continues to function as a monarchy with their king having great spiritual and cultural authority. Recently a conflict has arisen within this tribe with two different groups each supporting a different king. We are praying that this might provide an opportunity for many in this tribe to hear the gospel and believe in Jesus as Lord.
Manna for Madagascar products which were sent to America for Bazaar Kits have been ordered by churches and a new order is underway which will be sent for groups and churches to sell in Spring, 2006.
One ministry hoping to address the prostitution (which is culturally acceptable and encouraged for girls starting as young teenagers) here in Diego is about to open a center in January to teach various classes.
Manna for Madagascar is still writing its Bylaws to submit to the government. Doing these in a way that ensures transparency and honesty for all involved is important at this stage and we ask for prayers for this process.
If you know someone who would like to receive our newsletters, they can subscribe by simply sending an email (from THEIR address) to: projectshalom-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
To learn more about Doug and Monica's work in Madagascar, read previous newsletters, view photographs, etc. simply visit their website: http://www.projectshalom.org/
May God bless you,
Pastor Doug and Monica Cox