New Year Greetings

Beloved brethren,

Receive warm greetings from the south. I thank God that by His abounding grace and unfailing love He has enabled all of us take off safely this brand new year.

Here in Toliara, our year began with a lot of rain without a cyclone which is not the norm of Toliara during January which is considered to be the hottest month of the year. Seemingly it is like covering up for last year whereby we had minimal rainfall.

Our ministry work started on high note as well having our annual youth leaders training last week and are looking forward to our annual men's retreat in mid February. I covet your prayers as well for this week as I will be teaching our newly admitted students of evangelism on a course on preaching.

Thanks for your continued prayer and support.

In Christ,

Victor.

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.

Interview with Victor Osoro

Back to Toliara

We thank God that after two months of support raising and visiting with family and friends in his home of Nairobi, Kenya, Victor returned to Madagascar in June 2010. Please continue to pray for his ministry in Toliara as he conducts English classes and services, disciples young believers, coordinate music and youth ministries, and reaches out to the community with the Good News of Jesus Christ.

Below: Victor with two of the young men he meets with regularly for prayer and discipleship.

Highlights from The First Two Years

Below is a timeline and summary of Duncan and Victor's highlights from their first two years in Madagsacar as missionaries:

2008
May
Arrived in Madagascar
Started SOMA mission
Engaged in Saturday services at St. Luke’s
June
Began teaching English classes
July
Mission to Morondava
Church planting in Morondava
Sept
First Youth Rally
Dec Open Air Outreach

2009
Jan
Music team records first album
Feb
Conducted Men’s Conference
April
Evangelism training
Planted Ft. Dolphin Church
May Teaching in Bible School
Held Youth Music Concert
Aug
Mission to Andranomena
Sept
Mission to Arkotutu
Conducted Youth Conference
Oct
Mission to Betaola
English classes grow to different levels
Nov
Mission to Andranomena
Regional Youth Conference (Morondava)
Sunday School Teacher’s Training Seminar
First Open Air Preaching in Malagasy
Dec
Malagasy Christmas Musical

2010
Jan
Youth Leaders’ Training
Evangelists Training
Feb
Second Men’s Retreat
Mar
New Church Plant in Betania
Discipleship Training
Apr
Return to Nairobi for furlough

Question and Answer with Victor

Victor Osoro is among the very few young men who have pioneered international missions in Africa. He has been called to serve as a missionary in Toliara, Madagascar, a neglected region in the Southwest of Madagascar. Later on in the year, he hopes to be ordained as a full time minister in the Anglican Church of Madagascar. Below is a summary of a short question/answer session held with Victor during his furlough in Nairobi during May 2010.

C.A: Now that you are home how do you feel?

V.O: (Gives a long sigh…”home sweet home… I manage to read his thoughts…”) I am excited to be back home. It feels good to speak Swahili once again.

C.A: What do you like most about your mission work?

V.O: (Smiling slyly…) It‟s an exiting adventure, a journey of faith. I handle each day as it comes...cyclones, tornados...once we traveled on water for three hours...holding our hearts close to our beings we sailed through...swimming was a skill we had not acquired while in Kenya. Mmmhhh...talk about what faith can do!!

C.A: What is your favorite Malagasy food?

V.O: Mmmmhhhh….ravin‟toto. It‟s a mixture of crushed potatoe leaves and pork as stew with rice...nothing tastes better!!

C.A: With the much success, there sure are challenges, tell us more about that.

V.O: At the beginning language barrier was a mountainous challenge. People come and pour out their hearts to you in Malagasy and you are left in the dark, expected to offer a solu-
tion to a problem you have not heard. The climate is extremely hot, hotter than famous Mombasa. The sun there is definitely closer to earth than any other place. Lately there was a coup. Politically, the country is drained. As missionaries we don't have a say as much. Prayer and emotional support is the much we can offer these people. (Victor looks extremely depressed…”this must be hard for him…” I think as I prepare to focus on a much lighter topic…)

C.A: So… any parting shot? A comment perhaps?

V.O: (suddenly, with a defiant stare he looks at me.) People will always need you, but you go where people need you most. (I slowly nod in agreement, quickly doodling down the point..) I look back up. (At this point, Victor is looking away.) In Kenya there are about 20,000 missionaries, in Madagascar there are about 200 missionaries… (a hundred fold indeed !!! I think as I jot that down.) I go where people don't want to go.

A Toolbox For Serving Christ

Exodus 4:2, The Lord said to him “What is that in your hand?” He said “A rod.” God used Moses rod to perform miracles. He wants to use what is in your hand too.

Silence, speech, talent are all great tools God has given us. Duncan and Victor have their own tools for ministry in Madagascar too. One means they are using to share Christ is the English language. To them, English is not only a means of communication, but a also a highly useful tool to proclaim Christ.

Going to church on Sunday is very rare in Toliara. For most Malagasy, Sunday is a day to do house chores, relax, and spend time with friends. To reach those who would not normally enter a church, Duncan and Victor have started Saturday services. These services are led in English and all who attend Duncan and Victor's English classes are encouraged to attend. Therefore, on Saturdays people not only learn English but also get an opportunity to hear the good news of Jesus Christ.

Music Sweeps Malagasy Off Their Feet

The Malagasy find music irresistible. They adore it. As long as there is a rhythm, dancing goes on automatically. A strategy had to be developed to ensure that music meets the needs of the people and is also used to share the Good News of Jesus.. Fortunately eve-ryone seemed to have an idea on how to play the guitar here, and as missionaries we found this quite a stepping stone.

Knowing the keyboard worked to my advantage. I have trained a few people and now we are working on the drums and the violin...glory to God a great band is coming up! This acts as an ave-nue for people to identify and explore their talents as well as to grow and their gifts and use music to praise the Lord and reach out to oth-ers. A good blend of Malagasy, Swahili, and English songs fill the air during our worship services on Saturdays and Sundays, said Victor. Thanks to music many have come to know Christ and are eager to attend our services.

Four Women Snatched from Satan's Snare

On 14th March, 2010 four women were saved from a satanic bondage. Three were addicted alcoholics and one was a chain smoker. I had gone for house to house evangelism in the area, and when I met these four women, something in my heart just told me that God was as at work. Through rigorous evangelism and prayer God broke them free from their oppression.
“Pastor please teach me how to read the Bible so I will be totally strong to fight this evil spirit” one of the women pleaded. I gladly invited her over but on one condition….she should come
with at least five friends for the lessons. That was the beginning of a new church and the Sunday Services in Betania.

A PRAYER FOR MADAGASCAR

Victor 3rd March, 2010 Update

Greetings,
The year 2010 is picking up well and we are grateful for what God is doing. At the moment,we are enjoying cool weather of around 25 degrees Celsius contrary to the normal 32 degrees Celsius. During the stay there were several cyclone alerts. Gracefully, the hit was not as strong as last year's. Thanks for holding us in prayers.

Prayer points:

• Pray for the Malagasy elections that are due later this month
• Pray that the Lord may be glorified in the process of making Toliara a diocese.
• Pray that the Lord may continue to sustain and strengthen us in our ministry here.
• Pray that the Lord will raise more partners to pray and support the work in Madagascar financially.
• Pray for journey mercies during our home visit and support raising next month- April 2010
• Thank God for the success of the youth leaders' training and the men's conference that were held in previous months.
• Thanks for standing in the gap.

Serving Christ together,

Victor.

DUNCAN'S JOURNAL

March 1, 2010 Update-Duncan

It's now a year and ten months since I moved to Madagascar to serve as an evangelist.

At the beginning learning Malagasy was a major challenge. Not being a linguist, I have been quite slow to pick up Malagasy, the main language here. My experience in communication has been a total comedy and disaster too. I am however, progressing on my improvement scale.Last month, I started a new service in Betania West where I have been preaching in Malagasy. It gets interestingly miraculous, when someone who has been speaking English, Swahili and Kikuyu all his life, is suddenly speaking hesitantly and haltingly in a foreign language. It is here in Madagascar, that I have come to realize how useless English is!

In February, I was trying to establish a new fellowship in Betania West and it was not butter and bread. I preached in all the services there and since I did not know the people there I focused on evangelistic messages followed by alter-calls for salvation. The responce was always good.

The fellowship is a roller-coaster I must say. One sunday the locals are ten then the next five and so on and so forth. Many are adults. We however, attract a good number of teenagers and children too.

When not too busy, the youth normally accompany me to minister. The congregation there enjoys gospel music and Bible questions. From March I intend to make the preaching open to all. Shortage of seats is a major handicap there. Yesterday I was excited when a mother there committed herslf to attend our main service in our church on Sundays. Every Friday or Saturday I, with a team, do person-to-person evangelism in the area.

In February I had been looking for a place to plant a fellowship. The task was a tough one. In this past week I have however, identified an area known as Betania Tanambao where starting 2nd of March, I will begin evangelizing in the area with a view of starting a church there. I hence ask for your prayers.

In February we also started a Sunday Service in Motombe, a fellowship I started last November.
It is a relatively stable fellowship that mainly costitutes mothers, vis-a-vis the one in Betania West.

Personally, my desire this year is that when the Christians I work with see me, they may see a church planter.

WORKING HARD IN MADAGASCAR

It has been a year and nine months since I left Kenya to serve as a missionary in Madagascar.

On the 14th of January, 2010 my friend and I started a house-to-house campaign, from Tuesday to Friday at an area known as Jirama. This was done wit a view to starting anew fellowship in the place since we do not ave a church there. On the 14th we scrutinized the area. We found three major streets there and we decided to prioritize the houses in one of the streets. We were especially looking for people who hardly go to church on Sundays.

Being a foreigner, I was well received. I had the chance of presenting the gospel to many people and some received Christ. At te same time I was trusting God to guide me on where I could start afellowship. Whenever we visited a house we revisited them in subsequent days to continue sharing God's word and developing ties with people from that region. One day, an elderly woman who had been an alcohol addict for five years received Christ in tears; I was deeply moved and overjoyed.

Sunday, the 31st January, after two weeks of evangelism I started a fellowship in that region tha will be held every sunday from 3 to 4pm. I will continue to evangelize in the area to strenghthen the fellowship. On the other hand thre is a Friday fellowship we started in Motombe last November. In regards to the Bishop's instructions, I will start a sunday afternoon service next sunday.

In February I will start evangelizing in an area known as Magro with a view of starting a Sunday service. I hereby request prayers and your support as I seek to start churches and fellowships in Madagascar in this present year 2010. In Madagascar, after a long summer the rains have now come and in this season cyclones are commonly expected, so pray for God's divine protection as we serve as missionaries in Madagascar.

Sunday School Teacher Training

2010 Ministry Plans

Victor's Ministry Plans for 2010

Youth start of year party & evaluation January 3, 2010

Youth leaders seminar (Madio rano) January 16

Annual Men’s Retreat February 12 &13

English class vacation March

Diocesan mission week March

Support raising and home visit (Kenya) April-May

Annual youth music concert (Ankilifaly) May

Sunday school teachers’ workshop (Ankilifaly) June

English class resumes June

Diocesan staff training and retreat July

Children’s Vacation Bible school (Toliara) August

Annual Youth camp September

Youth leaders training (Sakaraha parish) October

Preparation for Christmas Events November

English class vacation November

Christmas concert (Ankilifaly) December

Victor's New Year's Message

Happy 2010!
Every new year comes with its surprises, challenges, upsets and of course good tidings and successes! I do believe that this time round, holding on to Jesus, He will uphold us in all righteousness and keep us from hunger during famine and most of all hunger and thirst for Him and desire to become more like Him.

Personally I am doing really well and looking forward to an exciting year with the Lord. This year my ministry is more focused on trainings, with the first youth leaders training being held this Saturday and a men's workshop in the coming month.

We are hoping to visit Kenya around March - May. Keep us in prayer that the Lord may provide the finance required for that to happen. Thanks for your continual support and prayer.

In Christ,
Victor.

Church Planting Plans for the New Year

Happy New Year!

It is now one year and eight months since I came to Madagascar to work as an evangelist focusing on evangelistic missions and church-planting. I have established myself as a major organiser of evangelistic missions in the diocese of Toliara and last November I started a Friday fellowship in a place called Motombe which is doing well and is a major part of my quest to become a top church -planter in this diocese.

In church-planting, my plan initially is to start Sunday - services around Toliara and mid-week fellowships to feed existing churches with new Christians. As far as January is concerned I am trusting God to start two new mid-week services in two different places. In one of those places I wanted to start a church but the place is too near to an existing church.

What can I say except that I covet prayers since starting new fellowships and churches takes the grace of God but also besides that I also request for monthly-support through Church Army Africa in Nairobi. We urgently need funds to facilitate the work that we are doing here in Madagascar.

God bless you and have a great 2010.

Victor and Duncan Need you to Pray for Them

November will be a very busy month for Victor and Duncan ,starting off with a mission around Toliara and youth leadership seminars and sunday school teachers workshops in Morondava.

Victor outlined some of the things that He would like us to pray for.

He says that we pray that the Lord:

• grants them favor with the weather because they are getting to a rainy season now.
• draws people to Himself in the mission,
• grants them safe journey mercies to Morondava which is around 2-3 day journey by road.
• works in the hearts of the youth leaders who will attend the seminar that their desire will be to become leaders of integrity.
  
• prepares the teachers who will be trained that they may become instruments and that He will use them to transform the lives of the children.