Rejoicing in the Lord

We praise the Lord for the opportunities November and the beginning of December have brought.

Corinne, Emma, Thanksgiving crafts, and turkey cupcakes

During the month of November, we made a point to reflect specifically on the things we are thankful for. We are so very blessed with God's grace, mercy, forgiveness, and love. We thank Him that He loves us always in spite of our shortcomings; He has covered our sins. We thank Him for our family, both our immediate family and our brothers and sisters in Christ all around the world. We thank the Lord for the opportunity to serve Him here in Madagascar and for the work He's doing IN us and, prayerfully, through us here.

During school in November, the girls and I enjoyed making a thankfulness book and writing one thing a day we were thankful for. We also enjoyed learning about the first Thanksgiving feast and making Pilgrim, Native American, and turkey crafts.


We celebrated Thanksgiving with our friends and fellow missionaries, the Berry family (the only other American family here in Diego right now). We ate many traditional American foods, such as chicken (turkey is too expensive here), dressing, mashed potatoes, mac and cheese, green beans, pumpkin pie, apple pie and turkey cupcakes. Even though we missed our family and friends back hone, we enjoyed the day thanking our Lord together.

Adam and I both had an opportunity to teach ESL at a temporary American cultural center set up in town. We both really enjoyed being able to work in English as I taught a kids' class and Adam taught an adult class. While very few people in Diego speak English, we've run into a good number of people interested in learning.

April teaching English at the American Cultural Center

In early November, Adam preached at the Baptist church here. Teaching and preaching in Malagasy always proves to be both fun and frustrating at time. However, we are thankful to be at the point of communicating at least somewhat clearly in Malagasy. Adam and Andy (a fellow IMB missionary) have continued their teaching in Mahamasina each week and are trying to equip the believers there to become more independent in their study.

In addition to their regular work in Mahamasina, Adam and Andy go each Thursday to teach the Bible in an area of town, called Tanambao 5, that is very poor and trapped in sin. The work has been slow and frustrating at times. People seem interested and say they want to study and don't show up at the scheduled time. (This lack of commitment is pretty common in our work here.) We know that God is in control and we can only pray that He works through us as we seek to be faithful. There is one lady, Francisca, whom they have been teaching. Her family has expressed interest in learning more about Jesus, but haven't been faithful to show up. Please pray for God's Spirit to move in this area, and to keep Adam and Andy passionate and encouraged.

April's ladies' Bible study continues to meet every Sunday. Florene and Giselle are the "regulars" and the most motivated to study. Please pray for God to grow this study and move mightily in Florene and Giselle and to use them as missionaries in their families and friends' lives.

Kristine (mom) and Florentine

I also had the opportunity to help in caring for a friend's wife, who delivered her baby November 19th at a midwife's home. It was a blessing to be there and to help get needed things, but it was also frustrating. I mainly went as a learner to show respect to the midwife, but saw several things that aren't as "up to standard" they should be. The midwife has been doing this 30 years, so it is hard to approach her about this when this is their custom. We praise the Lord the mom and baby are both healthy, despite the lack of cleanliness.

Pastor Elyse (standing) and Adam in Tsarahitra, the village were Sleve lives

Adam, Andy and Pastor Elyse (from the Baptist church here), just recently returned from a trip to Sambava, a city  on the northeast coast about 11 hours away. The guys made this trip because there is a new believer there named Sleve who was converted to Christianity only a few months ago. He's very passionate and has walked up to 30 miles to different villages to share the gospel. He is doing great work for the kingdom, but still needs discipleship. They were able to train Sleve as well as share the gospel with around 200 adults in 6 villages. God's spirit is moving there and there are several villages wanting to hear more. The drive to and from Sambava is a brutal one since about 9 hours of it is what Adam said was like "white water rafting in a truck" because of all the ruts and holes in the road. But, we praise the Lord! He is at work there. He kept the guys safe on their journey as well as April, the girls, and Christina, Walker and Delaney while they were away. We also thank the Lord for answered prayer that a new missionary couple, Kurtis and Holly, who are in language training now, will be joining the work already begun in Sambava in January or February.

We are already focusing and reflecting on Jesus coming to earth as we celebrate this Christmas season. We pray God is bringing peace to your hearts as this time of year in America can be especially hectic. We thank the Lord for time to focus on Him and his coming to earth in such a humble way to save us. We are missing our biological families during this holiday time especially, but thank the Lord He is sustaining them as well as us.

We rejoice in this news: "I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord."Luke 2:10-11

Please pray for:
- Us as we are all feeling a little more "homesick" with the holidays near, especially the girls
- The people in Mahamasina to be passionate about Jesus and be motivated to lead their own group.
- The people of Tanambao 5 to be ready to hear the gospel and desire a relationship with Jesus
- Florene and Giselle to grow in their understanding of salvation, as well as be motivated to share with their families and friends.
- More ladies for the women's bible study on Sundays
- A new study April will begin leading with nursing students this week
- Sleve and the new believers in Sambava to continue sharing the good news.
- Other people in Sambava to come to know Jesus and a church planting movement to begin there.
- Us to abide continually in Christ and be filled with his power and direction for the work here in Diego.