Madagascar Weekend

By James R Henderson

Come with me on a whirlwind tour of our church in Madagascar. I visit them every 18 months or so, sometimes less, sometimes more often.

On Friday the 7^th Feb Angèle, the wife of Madagascan bi-vocational pastor Rigobert Rafirinagason, meets me at the airport with her children, and her son, Lova, drives us to my hotel. Everything, as usual, is smiles and laughter and I feel immediately at home.

When I first went to Madagascar in 1993 there was a small group of around 10 people, including children; in 1998 the numbers had increased to around 40 or so. Now there are two main church locations – Antananarivo and Antsirabe – each with satellite congregations. Total attendance on the island is around 160. So God has given a slow and steady increase – Hallelujah!

 Saturday is jam-packed with activity. Three services are planned. Rigobert has built a house near the Triomphe orphanage which is run by

Madame Eliezera, one of our church members who herself was orphaned at a young age.

The central group are meeting in Rigobert’s large lounge for church. From the hotel it is about 50 minutes past colourful markets, swerving to avoid massive potholes here and there. Forty-four are in attendance.

The unaccompanied singing is magnificent, with everyone harmonising…how do they know when to come in and what to do? They tell me it is miracle that has brought me to the island; I tell them that each one of them is God’s special miracle and each is precious in His sight, that they are God’s own sparkling jewels.

After services lunch is served – rice (lots of it – the Malagasy love their rice), chicken, macaroni, peas, fruit. The members sort through the used clothing I brought which was generously supplied by some members of the Krugersdorp church in South Africa. The clothing will be used by the Triomphe orphans, and also by Daniel and Josephine Rakotondrabary (our leaders in Antsirabe) who run a children’s program where they live. Everyone is delighted with the used clothing and there is much laughter and merriment.

Then we walk from Rigobert’s house to the orphanage, an idyllic scene set amidst lush trees with a river running by. All the children – 80 or so plus some adults - are waiting. The orphanage is regarded as one of our congregations in its own right. Not all the children are orphans – some have been abandoned for whatever reason, some found wandering in the streets, some left by parents who could no longer feed and clothe them.

The children are full of smiles, although some look a little apprehensive. After a short interactive story about Jesus (their sermon for the day) they all sing songs for me as I am their guest. Lots of songs and swaying and dancing. Then, to my horror, they ask me to sing to them – my turn! Help! WWJD[1]? Would He say thanks for singing and dancing for me, however I am too embarrassed to do it for you? Sadly, probably not. Sometimes this WWJD stuff really irritates me. Mortified, I take a deep breath, grimace and begin to sing a song I do not realise I know – guess it came from somewhere in the deep recesses of my muddled brain. The children all join in and we sing and clap the beat together. (See cover for photographs)

Behind the orphanage is a small village of 8 or so huts that has become the latest church plant in Madagascar. The village is called Ankararana. We walk about 20 minutes along a hilly path to meet with them. Twenty-five or so people huddle into a small dark room – it is late in the afternoon and there is no electricity. They begin to sing and harmonize. This village, along with the orphanage and the church that meets in Rigobert’s house, is forming a whole WCG community just outside Antananarivo.

Next day the excitement continues. A few years ago the Madagascan Youth formed “Les Jeunes de Monde à Venir” (the “Youth of the World to Come”), and began to evangelise through Basketball and other efforts. Then they were around 14 in number, but at the meeting on the Sunday there were 34! You could sense the camaraderie among them, they loved being together. Once again harmonised singing, and afterwards 18 year old Fano, their President, outlines eloquently their goals for 2003. A very active group with lots of planning ahead. It is encouraging to see. They are very enthusiastic for Christ and the WCG.

Over a long lunch at a local Vietnamese restaurant Rigobert, Angèle, Daniel, Josephine and I discuss plans for the future. One idea is to bring a training program to help with leadership development. Angèle and Josephine bring up the need for material for children’s ministry. Josephine has created a story-telling scroll that she uses with a cardboard box (see cover) to achieve a TV effect. With it she illustrates the saving acts of Jesus to illiterate children.

There are no connecting flights off the island on the following day so I have to stay until the Tuesday, when I am scheduled to connect to Mauritius. There are tropical cyclone warnings on the news. On the Monday Madame Eliezera comes to talk about the Triomphe. I had brought with me a donation from the United States and South Africa – she thanks God and is very excited, as now she can pay the tuition fees for the schooling of the orphans. They had no money and were praying that something would unexpectedly turn up, which it did!

Tuesday morning. 4 am. I get up to leave for the airport at 5am. Rigobert and Angèle kindly drive me there. They are so helpful, and have a passion for our people in Madagascar. I thank God for them. Not too sure that I  thank God for Air Madagascar. Why do they schedule flights at such ridiculous hours of the morning?

[1] WWJD? means “What would Jesus do?”. It is often written on badges, wristlets, car signs, etc.. 

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