Malagasy Kitchen

When I stayed with friends over the New Year holiday we got to cook in a true Malagasy kitchen or over a true Malagasy stove.

I figure that the pictures could tell the story completly... Here you go... Enjoy!

Think about preparing the meals that you make at home without any special tools, knifes, bowls or pans, not to mention all americans own an oven. This is something that most Malagasy don't own and will not own in their lifetime. Everything is cooked on these rustic looking camping stoves.

In Malagasy: Fatapara is the name of the coal looking cooking surface.

My adventure today

My day started out like that of many others. Waking up, reading, praying and showering... Then as I went to lock up the house I slipped in the tiled bathroom and slit open my pinkie toe on my left foot, and received a goose egg of table tennis size immediately thereafter. I was late to catch the bus at the end of my street so I choked back the tears, grabbed a plaster (band-aid) and was on my way out the door, with my backpack loaded down, computer and camera in tow.

Volunteering at the school went by without a hitch. I finished the first newsletter for the school and was on my way to meet my language helper when I got a call from a Malagasy friend. He had two cars for me to look at and needed to meet me right that minute. (things here either take a long time or have to be done right now, go figure.) I walked across the street to a local gas station and waited there for my language helper, Narindra to meet me and help me look over the cars in question. I don't know much about Renault as a brand or as a car so I wanted to make sure that I was getting someone that could work on it if needed to check things out...

We looked over the two cars, talked to the person selling them and made a plan for one of the cars to come to a garage and get a better look over the following day. Then we were driven to a bus station and on our way into town to try again on collecting my Malagasy Drivers license. Once on the bus we realized that the driver had his papers taken away earlier that day and should not be collecting fairs. We were committed to that bus and just prayed that we would not be left on the side of the road. Plus I had a spot with room for my right knee to slide under the seat in a way where it was not threatened of being tapped or tortured since the goose egg had only gotten larger and more color since the morning hours.

We arrived in the city and had to walk about 2 more miles to get to the office that issues Drivers licenses, we walked up hill, with many other people always manuvering inbetween homeless and desperate children begging for anything that I could give. We walked under a heavily congested traffic tunnel that was leaking of what I only hoped was clean water and not raw sewage, it dripped on me many times and I put it out of my head as fast as I could. We arrived at the office, submitted my appointment paperwork and took a seat. We were early so thought that we might have to wait for a long time, but before 3 pm my name was called and I was given my Malagasy Drivers license! VICTORY!

Narindra and I decided that since we had received the license so quickly that we had time to try to see another car, so we walked up another large and steep hill to get to another bus stop, squeezed onto that bus and were on our way... 20 minutes later we found out that we were on the wrong bus and that we would have to get off and get back into town, take another bus and meet the guy with the car. We met him, talked a bit, and arranged for him to bring the car into town into a garage to get checked out.

On our way again on another bus and this time back into town to look for a few other things on the list. A fuse for a transformer, veggies for dinner the next two nights, vanilla beans (these are amazing and have revolutionized my cooking life). We tried to get into see a lady about my internet connection and then realized that it was to late. We had accomplished LOTS in a Malagasy day and I was ready to get on one last bus to take a one hour ride most of the way home and then walk. By this time I had collected a full backpack, on top of the computer that I had been lugging around all day I added about 10 kilos of other things to that backpack and a straw bag that I had to purchase just to carry the rest... working out my arms and I am not even at a gym! HA

Narindra helps me find a bus that is going to my part of town, the 114 and I get on, settled in the front seat and ease back into the not so comfortable seat. Soon my legs start burning because the engine is so hot from running all day and I can't move because there is another Malagasy sitting with me in the front seat. Praying that I don't get 2nd degree burns I loose myself for about 15 more minutes and then realize as the bus pulls off onto a dirt side street that this is not the correct 114 bus - you see there are 3 routes for the 114 and what I thought was the 114 for ambohijanahary was the 114 to ambotsilampy- clear on the other side of town. The driver let me off quickly with my load in tow and I started walking to the next bus station. What a day I have had already. Exhausted, I press on, praying that GOD will get me out of this situation without harm or incident.

I could not have been there more than 4 minutes when two Malagasy men on a scooter pulled up and started to try to talk to me. Their English was very poor and they kept trying to speak to me in French. In the limited Malagasy that I know I told them I spoke little Malagasy and no French, "do you speak English?" This is always a funny thing because they still tried to talk to me in French even after I KNOW that they understood my Malagasy telling them that I was not French and that I spoke English and (kelikely ) little Malagasy. The driver pulls out his paperwork and shows me that he is a Malagasy police man and wants to take me to my house. I explain that I live in ambohijanahary about 25-35 minutes away and he insists that I get on the scooter inbetween him and his friend and they are willing to put my load of veggies on the tiny floorboard of the scooter and the passenger behind me is now wearing my backpack. Have I mentioned that I was wearing a skirt?

I very carefully slide onto the scooter, praying without ceasing, of course and the other passenger gets on behind me. I am now officially an American inbetween to Malagasy riding on a scooter without any place to put my feet and now smelling the breath of the driver, know that he is intoxicated. What have I gotten myself into? There is not a place for me to rest my feet so my right leg with the goose egg on the kneecap is extended straight forward past the drivers foot, and my left foot is pulled back toward the last passenger, hitting the ground as we traveled over the uneven pavement. We ride for about 10 minutes and get into a more familiar part of the journey home and the scooter runs out of gas! Praise the Lord. I explained how grateful I was to get the lift and tell them that I can just wait for the bus to come this way and get home that way.

Now I am carrying the 10 kilos of veggies again and have my backpack full and on my back once more. I walk for about 10 minutes, constantly hoisting the bag from one arm to the other and then into both arms at waste level like a baby. What a sight this must have been. I make it to a familiar bus stop and wait, buss's keep passing but they are not the right one, so I am waiting. I tried calling a friend that worked close by but he could not come for another hour plus and by then it would be dark. I waited, prayed some more and my correct bus came! It was so good to be on the right bus, familiar, yet not. As I resumed the journey we rounded a corner and were stopped in the worse traffic I have experienced yet. In one lane there were 3 lanes worth of cars trying to pass each other, many motors were turned off and this was all going up hill. It took about 20 minutes to go less than one mile but I was calm, I was infact on the correct bus and would get home eventually.

As I neared home, I called my roomie, asked her to meet me at the bus stop so that she could help carry the heavy items and all was well. I was home, finally locked in the safe palace that I reside. Glad for the experience but even more so excited to eat and get to bed. Praising the Lord that I was ok, and that nothing "happened" while I was out and about.

mosquitoes/scorpions

The mosquitoes here have a long, thick tail, much like that of a scorpion. I know this picture is a bit on the blurry side but they are flapping their wings at an incredible rate, right?

Glad that we have mosquito screens on the house, a net on my bed and spray, wipes and after bitten creams to deal with these creatures from GOD.

Something that you don't want to interact with on a regular basis.

Malagasy Drivers license

After living in the country for six months one is afforded the luxury of applying for a Permanent Malagasy Drivers license. As you can imagine I was very excited about this, first off because I did not have time to apply for my AAA international Drivers license before leaving California last year. Something that I should have moved to the top of the list but alas, never did.

There is a large list of things that you must have finished to turn in to even apply for a Malagasy license but I went through the list and made the copies, had copies notarized, went to the American Embassy and had my CA drivers license translated, went to the local Malagasy office in my neighborhood to register in that area, then had letters from my Mission organization written on my behalf and finally, a letter from the American Embassy stating that I do in-fact live here in Madagascar and have for the last six months.

Once I turned in all those papers I was given a temporary drivers permit, with an appointment to come in to the office in town to pick up my official license on Monday at 3 pm. I went and they had denied it stating that I had not been living in Madagascar for the required 6 months, even though most of my paperwork stated to the contrary. We then showed my original passport to the clerk noting that I had been living here since July 31, 2009 and surely that was in-fact in line with the requirements. We were issued into an office and told that we would have to copy every page of my passport and have them notarized then come back the next day.

Narindra and I looked at each other with a look only described by defeat, and then at the same time we both had a brilliant idea! In-fact the very same idea. We would walk as fast as we could the just under 4 mile distance to the in-town frizana and have the copies of my passport made on the way, then notarized and walk back as fast as we could to turn the paperwork in. We did just that and with only about 10 minutes to spare before the office was closed for the day we were allowed into an office to sit with an official. She told us our papers were in order but that we would have to come back tomorrow at 9 am and give them to the other lady in the office to process them. Narindra explained that he had school and that we lived about an hour out of town and please could she deposit them with her for us. Narindra told me later that she had asked for money to process this request. Knowing that I did not have the money nor wanting to be known for allowing bribes he refused.

We left her office and went into the main waiting room talking about what to do next. Under my breath I was praying and begging of the Lord to have her show up again, find mercy on us and accept our corrected paperwork. We waited at the original processing window for the lady that was helping us, just to see if there would be a chance to leave the papers with her to be processed and about ten minutes later, when they were officially closed for the day, she arrived and graciously accepted the corrected paperwork. WHEW! What a day...

Next appointment in that same office is scheduled for Thursday at 3 pm. I am praying that when we arrive the license will be ready and all the red tape will be cleared up.

Rejoicing in all the steps that one has to go through to live here. Looking forward to purchasing a car so that I can be safe and I can use it to bless others, giving rides when possible and encouraging those around me! Praise the Lord, for HE IS GOOD!

Making my own sinus rinse

With allergies and sinus issues and living overseas one must become creative in creating a sinus rinse. I am so blessed to have internet sometimes to not only communicate with the outside world but to look up things when I desperately need the information.

I was able to find a recipe for a sinus rinse online with items that I do have here... Baking Soda, some people have sent me already and it comes in handy, not just for baking. Salt and water...

Praise the Lord for the internet, for thoughtful people sending care packages and for clean water!

interesting things in the Market

I have been introduced to some strange foods here in Madagascar.

I really enjoyed the "zebu" (cow), "tongue" and recently pig ears. They have many delicicies here, from brain, to hoofs, tongue, ears and many more things that I don't recognize. I decided to show you some of the pictures that I have taken in the Meat market.

If you have a light stomach then you will not want to look at the following pictures.

Purchase of a car

Thank you to all that prayed and contributed to my car fund. I have been able and blessed to spend the last couple of weeks mulling over and examining well many choices. This is a process to say the least. Hoping to actually pay and own a car here in Madagascar by the end of this Month or the start of March, Lord willing. Looking forward to actually getting my license so that I can drive it but that is in process as we speak.

I am reminded so often that I am only the hands and feet that are reaching out here in Madagascar and without many of you I would not be able to do all that I do, meet people that I meet and do the kind of soul saving ministry that I am a part of here! Thanks so much! May the Lord bless you there in your home towns, may you rise to the many occasions to bless those around you and may you SEE the Lord in those opportunities.

GOD is bigger than each of us but HE is the one that compels each of us to be that LIGHT and SALT to everyone around us. GOAL= for all people to have a relationship with GOD, Jesus and the Holy Spirit. As you grow in your personal relationship with Christ as well, you will in turn be blessed, as I am daily, beyond anything that I could have hoped or imagined.

May you be blessed today.

Caring for another person

God has given me the express honor to take care of someone that was recently brought home by helicopter from a remote part of Madagascar. She had been bitten by something poisonous and needed to have follow-up visits to a local Dr. She was getting dizzy, not able to sleep due to pain and just really needed to see a Dr. here in Tana to make sure that she was doing ok. She has recovered well now, and since we don't know what exactly bit her we needed to take every precaution.

Tonight it was a strange experience, as we took her to a local clinic. It is in the side of a business looking building on the third floor so we had to walk up many steps, in Madagascar that is a norm but people from the States would complain, that is a guarantee. When we went into the tiny clinic it was rustic, the desks were large and reminded me of desks from the 70's made out of wood with space for piles of papers and folders on patients. The room we were ushered into was larger than the waiting area, it had one of the same type desks as before and a skinny table for patients to sit on, draped with a white cloth. The Dr. asked many questions and then finally about 15 minutes later finally saw the puncture wound that had been left "behind". He took her blood pressure on both arms and then suggested that she come back in the morning for more tests. The office visit cost around 68,000 Ariary (about $35 american dollars) and then we were on our way to the Pharmacy to get three prescriptions which totaled about $10 american dollars.

All of us were very happy that she finally agreed to going in for the treatment and getting checked out, better safe than sorry...

Volunteering at school

I have been volunteering for about three weeks now at a local school here and it has been an overall exciting experience. My first job is to create and fill in a school newsletter for the parents and children of the school. Since this is just one of the many creative talents that God has blessed me with I jumped at the chance to do just this.

I have finally created one publication and we are ready to print it next week. I am praying that it touches the hearts of the parents and gives the students something great to strive toward. With so many changes going on at the school so often with staff leaving and classes have to be absorbed by others - this change seems to be on the positive and fun side. Please pray that everything I post in the newsletter will be a blessing to someone, child or adult.

As I travel around the campus I am finding that more and more students know my name and I don't have a clue what theirs is. I am trying to find a way to get to know them in more detail and remember that will come with time.

Praise the Lord for how he makes each of us with special gifts and talents. I enjoy using mine for others, what do you do with yours? I hope that you don't hide them from the world but that you are sharing them as much as you possibly can! Next week I am making curtains for the school!

The battle with fleas

I seem to be fighting a loosing battle with fleas. They seem to multiply faster than I can catch one inbetween my fingernails and decapitate it.

Sorry to get so graphic, I just have not had much sleep recently due to the increasingly large population that seem to have taken up residence in my home. When I mentioned that I needed a roommate, I did not advertise for the small and annoying black creatures to come in and call my house their home!

Last night it would have been so funny to watch me, I am sure of this.... As I was getting ready to go to sleep, I found three crawling on my face, I caught two and put them under my thumb nail while I tried to locate the third of them. I took the small bottle of baby powder and started squeezing it so that clouds of white dust were everywhere, some in my hair, some on my face, then on my pajamas and so on. This morning when I woke up there was white polka dots everywhere and a cloud of dust as I moved about. I did finally kill two of the three fleas that I had captured and pray that the third one doesn't go reproduce today but takes his final breath.

Some of this exotic life is not so exotic, it is just plain ridiculous...

Accepting Christ

Today I visited a church in an area that we call swa~son~cet, 67 hectars of land. Generally it is a very poor part of town and you must be very careful when shopping in this area.

The sermon was on prayer and 6 adults came forward to accept Christ! What a powerful morning! I am rejuvinated to see people come forward with genuine interest in KNOWING GOD and wanting that personal relationship with CHRIST.

Praising the Lord that more have come to start relationships with HIM. :) (insert happy dance)

Saturday Study day

Since it is raining here today and a nice 66 degrees I thought that I would spend the day studying!

There are so many other things that I would love to do but I am finding that the more I study the better I do and the more that I retain for later. So much for free time and hello studying.

Praying that Malagasy comes as second nature to me quickly. Thanks for those of you whom read my blogs and keep updated with me, your prayers and encouragement are blessings beyond words for me!

Hi Ho, Hi Ho, it's off to Rice we go...

Rice you say! "yes, Rice!"

Did you know that the tiny footpaths between different peoples patches or rice paddys are not very sturdy, they are actually made of older long pieces or shaff's of rice, padded down or compressed for a period of time. The more and more people walk on them the sturdier they become, all with the unforseen ability to crumble with any pressure at any time.

This last week I was given the opportunity to walk through a nearby rice patty area not to play around at all but get from one side of the area to another, what some might consider a "short-cut".

This short cut, ended up taking us the same amount of time it would have taken if we walked the very busy main road.

Rice is a main staple here in Madagascar so it is everywhere. Makes for incredible scenery and lush looking areas and through harvest time gives way to incredible amounts of activity as there is a LOT of work that goes into harvesting rice. The rice that we see in the states has already gone through so many processes to get to the table it is not even funny.

Have you ever wondered if someone walked through your rice while it was growing? Thought about the man or woman that beat the shaff's over a barrel to loosen the actual pieces of rice, what sort of life they lived, if they had clothes to wear or a shelter that would keep them dry from the incredible storms? Better yet if they used their feet to sift through for rocks and things that don't belong when it was drying on the side of the road. What about the broom that they used to sweep it up, ever wonder what else has been swept with that very broom? Just some of the things that I have wondered when I have seen them hard at work through the various steps.

I still enjoy eating rice and I am pretty sure that I eat it many more times in a week than you would ever consider.

Walking on water

On many occasions this week I have had the opportunity to walk on water...

You might scrunch you nose and ask "what is she talking about?" Over the last week there have been many issues with the tiny thing that we use here to heat the water. Back home you call this a water heater. The one here that is fixed up high towards the ceiling is about a third of the size of the crazy big ones in the sates, that most of you have.

Two of the fittings have been replaced this week and now two of the hoses need replacement, in the mean time every time I walk to the bathroom, I am walking on a layer of warm water!

I have been reminding myself that many people here don't have hot water, many don't even have water in their homes so I reflect and yet again am so very grateful for the water that I do have most days and that God is continuing to provide so completely for me each and every day!

Does every country have...

Today I found myself thinking something on my long ride back home.

Does every country have a China Town?

Things here have been a little bit tight financially so a Malagasy friend and some of her family took me deep into the heart of the city to "the chinese area". This is the area where most everything that you could ever look for would be found and the prices are just right!

We walked a little over 5 miles, in and out of traffic, up and down over potholes, curbs and sliding past people who look as if they are just going to walk right into you and not care about what happens next. Remembering to hold on to our person and pockets because in this part of town things go missing in a split second. We dropped into a few small shops and found deals on things that were on our list to purchase for the day. We finally arrived at a large shop run by guys from India. I know that because they heard me talking in English and introduced themselves to me. Most people were staring at me, this is normal here for me most days as I just can't hide my white skin, so I don't even give it a second glance myself. I do love it though when they expect me to know nothing of the Malagasy language and yet I surprise them when I talk. That will only get better as I learn more and more.

In this shop I felt so very STUPID. For months now I have been paying full Foreigner and tourist price for all sorts of items and in this small shop, items were shown from floor to ceiling and the prices were less than half of what the larger shops would have charged me. I guess you could call it the Malagasy "COSTCO" with a few differences. The store was only about 12 x12 inside, there were canned goods, noodles, baking items, toiletries and non-perishables on the shelves. When you decided what you wanted to purchase you told one of the guys sitting at a table in the middle of the room, they wrote up a ticket, giving totals. After this you take it to a window in the back of the store where someone sits on a stool - they give one copy to a storeroom clerk that then goes and collects all the items you are purchasing, you pay there as well and then you manage out of the store. You have to bring your own boxes and bags so that was a little different as well. The only issue here is that what you buy you have to be able to carry out, walking back that 5 miles to get to the friends car that we took that day.

I hope and pray that I can go there again in the coming months to purchase noodles, salt, tomato paste, chocolate, cooking items, toiletries and much more. It is an adventure, but one to be wise through and I would not do it without so many Malagasy friends around me!

I can see the blessings around every corner and am so encouraged that the Malagasy are taking me in as one of there very own.

Portable mobile clinic

Tuesday night!

What an incredible night. I was given the opportunity to join my German missionary friend in her portable Mobile clinic in the city here.

Right away once we positioned ourselves in the Tuesday night location we were updated on a street woman that had been coming to the mobile to see the Dr. She had had her baby at a local hospital so we decided to get a taxi and go to see how she was doing. We arrived and walked up 4 flights of stairs to her room. Crazy steep stairs. Elevators are only used for patients on rolling stretchers. When we walked into the room it had a stench that outweighed much of what I have experienced in hospitals back in the states and I had to keep my face straight. The room was filled with 5 women, no privacy, each with their own story to tell, I can imagine. Right away my friend and a coworker started to ask questions and hear the heartbreaking story as it unfolded. I stood close by listening but not understanding much.

The baby was born breach and because of complications the Dr.'s tried to do a ceserian and were unable to save the baby. What a traumatic loss. This lady lives on the street and doesn't have money to pay for necessary medical care, to care not only for herself but for the unborn baby. What a sad evening.

As we left we were allowed to visit the baby area and my heart was crushed seeing the conditions, so many premature babies not getting the care that they each need so desperately to live. While we were there my heart sank to watch babies that weighed around 2-5 lbs struggling for breath and life. This created a time to ponder if it is really good to live or for the babies to be taken up with the Lord right away. How could God allow this? What good comes of this?

For me, I am praying that there will be more and more people willing to come to countries like Madagascar and give of their talents so that together we can make a difference for the kingdom. Make a difference one life at a time, one breath at a time!

February 2010 Praise and Prayers

AMAZED at the grace and leading in the last 6 months! January 31st marked 6 months of living here in Madagascar! This journey has been one with great victories but also filled with incredible sadness. I have found myself learning new and amazing things and then wondering how I ever "lived" before without these experiences, friendships, CHALLENGES, misunderstandings and down right hard times. Remembering that GOD has gone before me, prepared each heart and is looking forward to watching me grow along with the others around me. I can be hard pressed but not crushed, persecuted but not abandoned - feeling the far reaching love of Christ each and every new day.


Praises:
1.) After a very long battle with Cancer, Bonnie Shattenberg was ushered into heaven, to sit with our heavenly Father. Although I am blessed that she is not in pain any longer, I join many remembering how God used her in my life and the lives of those around her. Selfishly sad at the loss. She has touched many here and all over the world with the incredible love and acceptance of Christ, for that I am honored to be "just one of many."

2.) Language learning is coming along. I have started working on sentences and am loving it. It is very hard and boy do I make mistakes, including asking way to many questions. I could use extra prayer for energy as learning different languages is trying on brain power, and exerts lots of energy while thinking. I sometimes need a nap and there just aren't enough hours in the day for that! :p

3.) I have started volunteering a couple of hours a week at a local school and am excited to see how GOD will use me. :) Please pray for lasting relationships to be forged with the Malagasy people, that I would look for and take hold of opportunities to encourage, sharpen and challenge those around me.

4.) I am so honored and blessed to be connected with so many people, walking this journey with me through prayers, encouragement and finances! I could not do this without you! From the deepest part of my heart I thank each of you. I am daily reminded of the incredible GOD we love, knowing that HE looks into every detail, no matter how small. May my life cause HIM great JOY!

5.) I have been reading about the amazing women in the scriptures and seeing new jewels all the time! Growing in my understanding of GOD, my life and this incredible journey that we are on together. I am praying that you are excited about where you are as well and how GOD is shaping you, even when it is hard and you would rather relax. Press on!

Prayers:
1.) Please pray for safety - there is a recent spike in crime here in Madagascar - nothing alarming but just to be aware and in prayer! The foreigner community keep tabs on each other and the American Embassy is keeping us aware of possible "HOT" spots (Places to avoid). GOD can and will do amazing things. Leadership and the political realm (to hold and uphold proper elections soon so that a form of order and peace will soon fill this land again.)

2.) Pray for GOD to speak clearly to me regarding some next chapters - regarding housing, learning and ministry. That as I seek HIM, HE will confirm in many different ways the path that HE desires for me to walk along. I am praying for understanding, knowledge, submission, peace and joy. There are so many options, I am praying that I don't go where I want but that I listen and hear clearly for each and every step.

3.) Monthly support has taken a drop. Please pray that GOD would raise up people to fill the necessary financial needs. $500 monthly. I am open to talk with anyone about details of my budget. Any monthly amount contributes to the greater whole! I am so very blessed to have finished last year at 100% support because of the commitments of so many and generosity of a variety of churches, individuals and organizations! Considering this a great time of FAITH, as I wait to see how GOD will answer this NEED.

4.) Still praying for transportation! Knowing that GOD's timing is perfect and that HE will keep me safe in the meantime.

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart, lean not on your own understanding, in all your ways acknowledge HIM, and he will make your path straight." Proverbs 3:5-6