Update Time: Vacation and Continued Work

Vacationing in Andasibe

We have just had some much needed vacation time with dear friends, getting to see lemurs and crocodiles and some beautiful rain forest. We celebrated our Risen Savior on Easter with our friends in a small chapel at the lodge in the rainforest where we stayed. We also got to go to our annual meeting and see all of our fellow missionaries from nearby places. This was much needed fellowship and sharing time for us. We relished the preaching and worship in English with a large group. We also have enjoyed cooler temperatures.Currently, we are in Johannesburg, South Africa taking care of some medical appointments. All of this has been very helpful and refreshing as Diego is VERY HOT most of the time and many times feels very lonely.

Ring-tail lemurs

We just celebrated Adam's birthday on April 10th and  Emma's 9th birthday on April 14th. Since we are in Johannesburg right now, we have been able to eat at McDonald's and go to the mall, among other things that give us a little taste of our home culture. It was a very fun day getting to do things we haven't done in a long time to celebrate Emma's birthday. We are really enjoying our down time here, but at the same time we are continuing to homeschool here so we can get done in time to prepare to head back to America in July. Friday is a favorite homeschooling day lately as we have begun our weekly review with individual questions suited to Emma and Corinne individually. For each two correct answers, they get one M&M. This helps Friday be an extra fun day.

 Corinne learned how to ride a bike without training wheels, so the girls have enjoyed riding bikes with the neighbors.

Saying goodbye to some dear friends who live in Antsirabe

We have experienced challenges in the last months including slow progress in seeing people ready to surrender to the Lord, experiencing spiritual and emotional attacks, and having our home broken into. We had someone cut through the burglar bars, ransack our home and steal things including most of our electronics, bags, and money. While the things lost were inconvenient, it was more the emotional weight of feeling attacked, vulnerable, and not knowing who we can trust afterward that was the hardest. Also, we lost many irreplaceable pictures and videos. We thank the Lord for giving us strength during this trying time. Thankfully, we were able to replace our things through our insurance.

April has continued to meet with Florene and Giselle. They continue to desire to study God's word, which is encouraging. They learn the memory verses most weeks, as well as ask and answer questions. Both have begun to have personal time with the Lord and to read His Word each day. Florene has depended on her daughter, who is married to an Italian man, to send money for her, her four grandchildren and her grown son. They have also asked us for money on numerous occasions. We have given them much, but I recently taught them about God making them and giving them the ability to work. I spoke much more strongly than I would have to people I didn't know, but she received it well. Praise the Lord, she has begun to seek work and wash clothes for neighbors. Her son has begun to make and sell yogurt. Giselle and her husband also have opened a small convenient store to make money, which is an answer to prayer as they have been without consistent work as well. Praise the Lord for His work in their lives. Please continue to pray for Florene and Giselle's families to know the Lord.

April also continues to study the Bible with a group of nursing students she began meeting with several months ago. They are able to read, understand and ask many questions, which is refreshing. (They are from many different faiths.) April shared the gospel very plainly with them on the last meeting...that we are saved by repenting of our sin and asking Jesus to be our savior, not by good works. Many faiths here are based on salvation by good works, so this was new to some of them. They didn't understand that Jesus fully paid our penalty and it is only by His grace we are saved, not by going to church, communion, good works, etc. Please pray for God to continue to speak to their hearts with His truth.

April hosted the ladies from the Baptist Church, as well as some other friends, one Sunday in March. She shared her testimony and discussed how we are called to love God and people. In their culture, many times, the ladies have much jealousy of each other and don't love each other or welcome new people. They also made sugar cookies together and April shared simple recipes with them. It was a very fun time of fellowship and worship. Please pray that God will move in the believers here and help them to love each other better.

Charlene and Augustine at the ladies' time.

Adam and Andy continue to go to Mahamasina to encourage the leaders of the Bible study there. The guys are seeking to encourage Jocelyn and Teofil, the leaders, to be more independent so this can be a truly Malagasy led group. Attendance has really struggled there, but Jocelyn and Teofil remain faithful to going out and sharing. Please pray for them as they seek to gather more people to hear the Word. Please pray for wisdom for Adam and Andy in how best to help them.

Adam and Andy also continue to go to Tanambao 5, a really rough part of Diego. They have some faithful people who desire to study, but many just don't care. One guy they shared with said he knew he was going to hell, but did not care. There is much debauchery and apathy there. Please pray for Francisca and Luis, the faithful believers who live there, to be bold in sharing daily. Please pray for guidance for Adam and Andy in this area of town as well. Pray for God to break people's hearts for Him.

Adam also preached at the local Baptist church in March; he does very well communicating in Malagasy. He preached on Romans 8:28 about how God is working ALL things for the good of those who love the Lord, no matter how hard or sad these things are. This is a promise for us all to cling to in the struggles in this life, which we all have. Thank the Lord for His promises. He is working all things for our good and all will be made right in the end.

We thank the Lord that even when we don't see great fruit as a result of our labor, we have God's promise about His Word that never changes. "so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it." Isaiah 55:11

We return shortly to Diego and then will return to the U.S. July 26th. We look forward to seeing many of you and hugging you then!  Please pray that we will have wisdom in finishing our time well there. Please pray that God will prepare the hearts of people and guide us to them who are ready to hear about His love. Please pray for wisdom for us as we feel God is leading us back to the States to serve Him there, but are still seeking opportunities to do that.

--April