Snails on a Plane and Searching for a New Home

This is missionary Duncan Macharia in Toliara, Madagascar. It is now 19 days since I landed in this country from Kenya. That in itself was a miracle since I had never flown before and on 1st May, I flew in two planes from Kenya via South Africa. In the second flight I even ate a snail!...and enjoyed it. For the first week, Victor and I stayed with our host (Bishop Todd) in the capital Antananarivo because there was a conference taking place there of which, the Bishop was a facilitator. We shopped in the city and there were many hawkers we expected to find Kikuyus there but there was none SHOCK! In fact except for one Kenyan who was in the mission team and has already left, there is only one other Kenyan (an English teacher), that we have met so far.

Newspapers here, are either in French or in Malagasy, and in radio, you only get BBC inEnglish but in Toliara where I am presently, even BBC is not available. So to a great degree, I do not know what is happening in Kenya except bits and pieces through the internet. In Antananarivo, two things stood out to me: one, that I am black because most people here are light-skinned thus they stared at us often and two, that English is dreaded here, since most do not know it. So clearly, without a local guide things would have been even more comical. Sign language helped a lot. Enough about my experiences, I am now trying to settle in Toliara. I have made significant progress towards getting a long- term visa without which, we will be back in Kenya by the end ofAugust. By next week, my application form will be with the ministry of interior, who holds the key as to how long I will be here, so pray that he responds positively. Getting a house is proving to be tricky for the houses are either too expensive or we find somebody has moved in by the time we go to check the house. So pray that God provides a house as soon as possible. This week on Thursday, we plan on learning Malagasy. This will be done five days a week until we master the language reasonably. I had my first opportunity to preach last Saturday in an English service and am working on my ministry goals for the next four months. Pray that God guides me on this. Peace.

Beginnings in Toliara

Duncan and Victor have arrived safely in Toliara. They’ve been involved in missions efforts with a team from SOMA and have been staying with Bishop Todd McGregor. They hope to move into their own places later this week. Pray they find secure housing and a good location.

Duncan and Victor are continuing to learn and adjust to life in Madagascar. They have started their ministry work and are currently leading an English service on Saturdays in Toliara. Victor is in charge of the music and creative worship and says: "We went straight to ministry even with the evident language barrier. We will have a lot to do especially to continue what the Lord has already began here at St. Lukes Ankilifaly"

Madagascar Missions Video

Our Team

From left to right: Bishop Todd McGregor (Toliara),

David Chaves (Nairobi), Rev. Steve Maina (Nairobi),

Capt. Victor Osoro (Toliara), Capt. Duncan Macharia (Toliara)

Commissioned to Serve

On Sunday, 17th February, 2008, two Church Army evangelists were commissioned to serve as full-time missionaries in Madagascar. Duncan Macharia and Victor Osoro are graduates of Carlile College in Nairobi and are being sent as missionaries by the Province of the Anglican Church of Kenya. They will work in primary evangelism, church planting, and the training of evangelists in Toliara, Madagascar. Toliara is one of the poorest regions of the world and is home to many unreached people who have never heard the Good News of Jesus Christ. Duncan and Victor will

serve under Bishop Todd McGregor of Toliara region

and hope to leave for Madagascar in April of this year.

The Commissioning at St. Luke’s Church, Kenyatta, was a joyful celebration that inaugurated a new era of missions in the Anglican Church of Kenya. It marked the first official sending of full-time missionaries from the A.C.K. to serve in another Province. The commissioning was led on behalf of Archbishop Benjamin Nzimbi by Bishop Dena, who encouraged the congregation to make a commitment to support the missionaries in their new calling. The service was run by Rev. Canon Dr. James Mwaura, Vicar General of All Saint’s Cathedral Diocese. Also participating in the

service were: Rev. Steve Maina, Secretary General,

Church Army Africa, Rev. Canon Rosemary Mbogo,

Missions Coordinator, Anglican Church of Kenya, Rev.

Cannon Dr. Balongo, Administrative Secretary, All

Saints Cathedral Diocese, and Rev. Patricia McGregor.

During his sermon, Rt. Rev. Todd McGregor expressed his gratitude to St. Luke’s for being willing to send missionaries and compared it to the Biblical church at Antioch. He acknowledged that the Anglican Church of Kenya was taking a major step in faith and that it would serve as a model for other African nations.

About Duncan

Duncan Macharia grew up in Nairobi, Kenya and developed a Christian faith with a heart for evangelism and a desire to see people come to Christ. He studied Theology at Carlile College in Nairobi and has extensive experience in parish ministry and open-air preaching. After much prayer, Duncan felt called to go to Toliara in Madagascar to train evangelists and do church-planting. He has been commissioned by Church Army Africa and appointed by the Province of the Anglican Church of Kenya and the Bishop of Toliara Region to do this work. Toliara is a remote place and the work there is demanding since the region is very large, over 1000 miles. Duncan is excited about serving the Lord in a new place, please pray for his ministry in Toliara.

Contact Duncan in Toliara, Madagascar at: duncanmacharia@yahoo.com

About Victor

I came to faith when I was 12 years old. I was still a Sunday school child and I remember when our teacher asked if there was anyone who wanted to give his/her life to Christ. I raised my hand. At that time I had no idea what the Lord wanted me to do in my life or how he might desire to use me.

While I was in high school, it became clear to me that the Lord was calling me to Christian ministry. I began to work with the children and youth ministries and became very active in my church, Holy Trinity, Kibera. I served as a children’s ministry coordinator at the local church, parish and deanery level and also as a youth coordinator at the parish level. I also served as a deanery evangelist and helped in networking and forming partnerships with various churches, both within and outside our diocese. Through these ministries I discovered that I had various gifts and a special passion for evangelism.

After high school, I wanted to continue to grow in my faith and explore opportunities for evangelism. Eventually, God led me to study Urban Missions at Carlile College. During the three-year program, I learned about creative, contextual and relevant approaches to Christian ministry. I gained knowledge and practical experience in missions, outreach, and evangelism. I continued to serve at my home church in Kibera until recently when the Lord impressed upon my heart the call to serve Him in a new place, the Toliara region of Madagacar. I will be working as an evangelist and am excited to go and establish new communities of faith in a new context.

Contact Victor Osoro in Toliara, Madagascar at: vickosoro@yahoo.com

Toliara, Madagascar

Madagascar is an island in the Indian Ocean in Southern Africa, east of Mozambique. It has a tropical climate and a population of 20 million people with a median age of 18 years. It is one of the poorest countries in Africa, with a per capita GDP of $1,000 USD.

Toliara in Southwest Madagascar is the capital of the Atsimo-Andrefana region and the Toliara Province. It is a port city that imports/exports commoditites such as sisal, soap, hemp, cotton, rice, and peanuts. The Toliara Region is the poorest region in the whole of Madagascar and one of the least-reached areas with the gospel in the world. The people in the region are subsistence farmers and speak Malagasy. The widespread religion is African Traditional Religion, and the Toliara Region has only 11 parishes and covers over 1000 miles with just 3 ordained clergy. The need for trained missionaries and evangelists is overwhelming. There are insufficient personnel, especially in the areas of worship, discipleship, and evangelism. For the church in Toliara to grow, foreign missionaries are required.

Support a New Era in Missions

John Wesley once wrote that the church “exists by missions as fire exists by burning.” Indeed, missions is the lifeblood of the church and obedience in sending out missionaries is a sign of a healthy and vibrant community of believers. The early church expanded and thrived amidst persecution through its passion and commitment for missions. By faithfully spreading the gospel across geographic and social boundaries, the church grew and experienced God’s blessing.

As the Anglican Church of Kenya transitions from a traditionally “receiving church” to a “sending church”, it will be at the forefront of world missions. Please support the A.C.K.’s efforts to send Duncan and Victor as pioneer missionaries to Madagascar. Your prayers, moral, and financial support are especially appreciated.

Fundraising Goals

Project Expenditures (monthly costs*)

Monthly Stipend 30,000 (15,000 for each missionary)
Ministry Budget 30,000 (15,000 for each missionary)
TOTAL for 36 months: 2,160,000 (1,080,000 for each missionary)

Project Expenditures (start up/maintenance costs)

Transportation 410,800 (205,400 for each missionary)
Documentation / Visas 134,400 (67,200 for each missionary)
Resettlement Costs 60,000 (30,000 for each missionary)
TOTAL Start-up Costs: 605,200 (302,600 for each missionary)

TOTAL PROJECT EXPENDITURES: 2,765,200 ksh
PLEDGES AND CONTRIBUTIONS: 1,269,533 ksh (as of 25th April 2008)
FUNDRAISING GOAL: 1,486,678 ksh

*all costs are listed in Kenya Shillings