HAPPY NEW YEAR AND DECADE!

A NEW DECADE IS AT HAND!
Ten year's ago a time like this the whole world was excited and ready to usher in a new decade. As al-ways both young and old got busy. With a new decade at hand, resolutions were fresh in their minds. No sooner had the first year gone than they forgot about theirs vows to themselves.

Another decade is here and a new year too. My prayer for each one of us is that we keep in mind that ten years is a long time, and we therefore need to constantly review our plans. This of course includes putting them before God and praying that he may go ahead of us and make straight every crooked path.


ONCE AGAIN IT'S “HAPPY NEW YEAR!”
Twenty ten is gone, twenty eleven is here. Believe it or not on the 31st people died seconds to mid-night. What have you given God? Last year was noted as the second worst year ever in terms of death, since 1980. For many it was a year of disease and defeat. I pray that this year will be indeed a “happy new year.” For many are the afflictions of the righteous but the Lord delivers him out of them all. Psalms 34:19.



Thank you for keeping in touch with us through our yearly newsletters and for continually offering your prayers and support.

Continue praying and supporting Victor as he reaches Madagascar with the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Duncan Macharia is no longer part of the Madagascar missions team. He had been serving with Victor as a missionary for two years.

Written by Suezette

November 1st is a special occasion in Madagas-car and it cannot go unnoticed. No work, no school. Rea-son….tombs have to be cleaned and lunch shared with the 'dead' because in reality nobody really dies. In the early mornings and you will see people all around carrying jembes, some flowers and of course food and drinks on their way to the tombs and graveyards. A look from a distance reveals that eve-ryone is excited as they clean, chant and share drinks. For those who had their loved ones buried far from their homes and are not in a position to go all the way, had an alternative. They had to design a sort of a grave, offer food, drinks and tribute to their long gone loved ones. They wrapped stones in black polythene pa-per and set it in the grave yard. It was then surrounded with drinks which would be drank in the same venue. Doing this meant blessings for the generation.

Passing by the cemetery the next day, it was evident that it had been worked on. Flowers beautifully arranged and grass trimmed around the grave yard one could easily confuse the place for a park. It was a beau-tiful site. The fact that I knew for sure that this was a cemetery was the only reason I did not run there, take a nap and relax taking in the cool breeze. When evening comes it is a time for celebration and reflecting on what the 'wazees' said, that is if they said anything at all. Word of caution is passed around on things that did not go well during the occasion. “This mistakes should not be repeated next year or else…..” the elders threaten. Sooner or later the celebration now in full charge. Have yourself an eventful November! Victor.

ANKIZY (CHILDREN) ON THE LEAD.

Children for a long time have been the forgotten lot, the undermined and are considered
weaklings. The parents on the other hand, have been branded the scolders, only quick to point
out errors and on the contrary, very slow to guide along the way. With smiling faces and expectant hearts, the ankizy of our entire parish arrived at St.Luke's church in Ankilfaly in the morning of September 23rd bringing their friends along to attend their very first Vacation
Bible Study (VBS). It was a great time in that while they interacted with their teachers, they also had time to mingle with the guest teachers. It was a time for learning God's word, how to pray, singnig new songs and of course playing and interacting with their new friends.

Plans are underway to ensure that our children get the very best in terms of being taught God's word. It is evident that a new army is coming up because we had people coming in who are not children teachers but were keenly observing what was happening and at times worked closely with the team. Such are the likes we are targeting for the next children teachers recruitment.

Youth department

Life changes with time. In the past, parents deliberately created time to teach their children about issues concerning life. Today however, the pressures of life seem to have overwhelmed parents such that they barely speak to their children. The youth therefore, without firm foundations, grow to unequipped adults which disastrously affects the whole country at large. The church now comes in handy. Taking the responsibility of the parents, it gives instructions to the youth training it in Christ‟s light.
This years youth conference in September was quite an adventure in itself. We were packed full at the Orantes Sisters conference centre in Betsinjaka. It was very sad though, that we had to literally send other youths back home. This was because of lack of space. Others had a hard time too. They had to come every morning and miss out on the evening sessions. That was a good sign that the youth here are really thirsty for the Word of God.

We were fully packed at the Orantes Sisters conferencecentre in Betsinjaka. It was very sad though that we had to literally send other youths back home. Thiswas because of lack of space. Others had a hard time too. They had to come every morning and miss out on the evening sessions. That was a good sign that the youth here are really thirsty for the Word of God.
We had a guest speaker, the Rev. Howard Hess who exposed the camp's theme, “Set your minds and hearts on things above” Col 3:1-2. Our plenary sessions were awesome because this time round we divided the entire group into small groups in their respective ages. That ensured that issues being tackled were at their level of understanding. Interviewing some of the campers, each one had something to take home….can't wait for the next one!


After having a successful first youth camp last year, this one was a bit easier to organize
because most of the people that we had worked with in the previous year, were now conversant with what was expected and hence easily took up the leading roles and specific duties. This eased the flow of the program and I am hopeful that they will fully take charge in the next year's camp. Our goal is to raise and equip leaders who are faithful to continue the work that the Lord has called us to do.