June 2, 2007
Dear Friends,
We apologize that it has been so long since we have sent any news. In the last few months we have been through a lot and have found it hard to write. Between a computer crashing which left us only one computer between us to use, challenges in ministry, and more, we’ve felt rather overwhelmed lately. We’re reminded of the old saying, “When it rains, it pours!” Well, it’s been pouring here even though the rainy season has come to an end! We know though that such is part of the normal rhythm of life and we don’t need to despair because we serve a God who “works all things together for good for those who love him and are called according to his purposes.”
Even in the midst of the challenges as well, there are always the bright spots and we’d like to share a couple of those with you before we share the challenges. First, a story about one woman whose life has been touched by Monica’s ministry of Manna for Madagascar.
For many years, Sahondra and her husband struggled to find jobs. When they did find work, it was for people who took advantage of them and paid them next to nothing. For two years, Sahondra worked for an embroidery exporter who paid her $.50 a month (minimum wage in Madagascar at that time was about $23 a month.). Sahondra accepted the work because she was desperate and saw no other options. Yet she describes the suffering they experienced. “We ate nothing but leaves with our meager portions of rice, and only once a week we had beans. I could only buy a little laundry soap maybe once a month so I couldn’t wash clothes very often (washing done by hand). We never bought sugar or sweets. Never!! We took out loans all the time, even though we lived with my husband’s parents. There was no electricity. I was always sick and even had trouble working.” Sahondra later found work washing clothes and ironing for someone but still only earned $5.50/month and the hard work made her even weaker and more sick.
She describes both of her employers as wealthy Malagasy people who take advantage of poor Malagasy people who have no other choices. Unfortunately, her situation is way too common. Whether it is wealthy Malagasy bosses or rich foreigners taking advantage, the extreme poverty of so much of the country makes the average person an easy prey. I struggled to comprehend that reality. “But that is illegal to pay so little. There is a minimum wage!” I protested. She just laughed with that look of, “of course you wouldn’t understand. You’ve never been desperate like that.” Immediately I remembered that my western reflexes don’t always work here. Yes, there is a minimum wage. But if she were to complain or turn in the boss, the only one who would suffer is her. She’d be out of work. Bosses can buy their way out of a legal threat and then one of the hundreds of other Sahondra’s willing to work for almost nothing would move in and take her place. So what option did she have but to spend hours each day slaving over gorgeous hand-embroidered tablecloths that found their way to Europe to be sold for a handsome price? How many of those European shoppers would have bought that tablecloth if they had known the conditions under which Sahondra struggled to produce it? How many would have agreed to the exorbitant price if they had known that most of that money would be lining the pocket of the equivalent of a slave trader?
One day, Sahondra learned about the possibility of working on Manna orders through her neighbor, Lova. She quit her washing job and started working on a Manna order. Yet she could only do the handwork parts of the orders because she didn’t have a sewing machine. When a recent order from Manna came for 1500 tote bags, she decided to get an advance on her salary to help her buy a sewing machine. Thanks to that purchase, she is able to do every part of the production process with her new, hand-crank sewing machine of which she is unashamedly proud and thankful that her work with Manna has given her that opportunity!! “If I was doing any other work I would not have gotten a machine,” she confided. But there have been even greater changes as well. Saholy, her husband, and 10 year old daughter are proud and honored to be able to pay rent on their own home. Sahohly beamed as she delightedly boasted that, “we can eat meat two times a week now!” She adds that she can wash clothes whenever she wants. “I can buy oil by the liter now!” she exclaimed so proudly. “And we can even have snacks now and then! I’m healthy and strong all the time! We’re not suffering anymore! We are very, very blessed! Manna really is an organization that saves the poor!” Her smile and enthusiasm as she speaks say even more than her words…the joy, the appreciation, the pride in her home and her work.
Project Shalom:
The work among M*sl*ms in the capital city is progressing slowly and requires patience. Nonetheless, the Lord is working powerfully in the hearts of many and there is already some wonderful fruit. One congregation has officially endorsed having a task force of their evangelism department dedicated to this work. I (Doug) meet regularly with this task force to teach them, pray with them and counsel them in their own outreach while planning ways for the whole congregation to get involved. We wrote about one member, Mme Saleh, last time. Another member is a private school teacher and has been discipiling one of her M*sl*m students throughout this academic year. Last month she asked me to visit her class to offer an hour of Christian teaching and proclamation, especially to encourage this young boy. In fact, he has already put his faith in Christ, but has been blocked by his family from entering a church or accepting any outward signs of being a Christian. It was wonderful to meet with him. I gave him a tract in Arabic (he is most comfortable in Arabic or Comorian) and continue to seek ways to encourage this boy to experience and explore his new faith while hopefully maintaining family ties. One prominent leader in the family’s faith community, privately a believer as well, has agreed to talk with the family and help protect the boy. We ask you too, to lift up this boy’s faith and physical protection in prayer.
Another recent encouragement was meeting a M*sl*m man from the Comoros Islands who came to Christ about 15-20 years ago. He was a leader for M*sl*m youth across the Comorian archipelago, but when he found a Bible he was convicted to read it. As he read, the Lord moved him to faith and he could not deny the Truth that he discovered through Scripture. He tried to maintain living in the Comoros, but after being persecuted for almost two years, he fled to Madagascar. Here he became an evangelist among M*sl*ms. Recently he went back to the Comoros for a one month visit and his family (well connected in the govt. there) offered him a position as a government minister if he would simply deny Christ. He refused to deny Jesus as his Lord, and returned again to Madagascar. Just over one month ago he moved to a neighborhood close to our house and will be joining the church where the Task Force on Shalom is working. He was recruited and gladly accepted joining our task force. Just last week I asked him to help me translate a tract into the Comorian language for use in a hospital. I’ll meet him again today to see how the translation is progressing. Praise the Lord for the team God has assembled here!
Meanwhile, I continue to teach and preach in a variety of Lutheran churches, trying to mobilize many “people in the pew” to approach their M*sl*m neighbors. Frankly, there are many more Baptists, Pentecostals, and non-denominational folks who are more eager to actually jump into the work than there are Lutherans. Thus, I’m offering classes, counsel and partnership quite ecumenically these days. This work is a joy, but there have also been many distractions and worries in our home for several months. That too is a reason we write today…to ask for prayer.
Prayer Requests:
There have been a number of challenges from a crashed computer to frustrations in ministry. We’d like to share with you our prayer requests that have to do with those challenges we’ve been facing. First, it seems our son, Ben, has been moved around so many times that he is having a lot of trouble emotionally. We hope it is just a phase he will pass through but we covet your prayers for him and our family as we try to sort these things out.
In addition, in spite of the wonderful progress Manna has been making in terms of finding markets, providing opportunities for women, and making significant changes in people’s lives, the organization is facing a very difficult time. The problem is that the board which has been asked to oversee Manna, has suddenly become very divided, with two groups of individuals in total disagreement about how things should be run. Only God knows people’s hearts, but it appears that those in the more powerful group are seeking advantage for themselves instead of looking out for the interest of those we are trying to serve. The rest on the board are trying to help them adjust that attitude, and convince them to return to the goal for which this organization was created. At this point though I believe nothing short of a miracle will make that possible. Considering all the potential this organization could have if it survives, we would like to ask you to pray for all involved at this time because God is not limited by the human selfishness and greed that would otherwise limit what can be done.
Within Project Shalom as well there have been challenges and we struggle to navigate the cultural waters that affect how things are done. Recently there have been problems with some of the staff of the Shalom health clinics up north and we ask for prayers for wisdom and discernment in how to deal with these situations.
As I (Monica) write, my brother and his family are traveling here to Madagascar for a visit so we will be touring around and showing them a bit of our lives and ministry here. Then, in July, I will be traveling to the US alone for the celebration of my parents’ 50th wedding anniversary as well as taking classes and attending a handcrafts conference. During that time, Doug and the boys will be traveling up north to do some follow up with evangelists and clinic staff up there. They will be accompanied by our niece and nephew (Jim and Irene Jordan) who are coming for the month of July and will be able to help out with some ministry and child care/entertainment while I am away. We covet prayers for safe and hassle-less travel for all of these situations as well.
As always, we appreciate your support, prayers, and encouragement. We know that God works during trying times, and holding on in faith builds character…so our hopes are growing right now for much growth in our character!
May the peace that passes all (human) understanding be with you all!
Doug and Monica (with Ben and Jeremiah)