I HOPE to share here my heart and passion with those closest to me in a very real and transparent way. I TRUST that you will be blessed from the inside out!
nicoler@worldventure.net
The days of electronic billing are a thing of the past for me. Here in Madagascar each month I have to collect the cash for my bill in an envelope and go to JIRAMA, the electric and water place to pay my bill.
If I am able to pay the bill early then I don't have to wait in incredible lines with over 50 to 100 people. I have found myself in the last couple of months there on one of the last days of the month, out in the rain, standing in a line that wrapped around the building and into the dirt yard.
Funny thing is that you can't pay with big bills or they keep all the change. You must have exact change so this payment must be planned out and executed well. I have to go and stand in line tomorrow and am praying that I get there early enough that I will not have to stand in line for long, will not get rained on and will not sink into the wonderful dirt/mudd yard that the line wraps through.
Through all of this - YES, I LOVE IT HERE. TIKO NY MADAGASKARA!
I have to be honest, I really miss the connivance of a dish washer. The piping hot water that comes in and not only cleans off but sanitizes the dishes for the next use.
Here we use two basins, one gets the hot water to wash with limited soap and the other gets filled with hot water to rinse. Even though I use HOT water in both basins it seems that at times things don't ever get really clean as they did back in the states. The soap here doesn't seem to hold and really cut grease like it does in the states and you get an oily film that seems to reside on every dish you own after a while.
Maybe my washing standards were to HIGH, expectations to limited?
Oh, how I miss the days when I could load to the brim an incredible washer and it would do all the hard work, only to have me come behind it later to unload it and place all the items where they belonged in the kitchen. Not only that but the time those amazing machines save out of my day... Those were the days, really, those were the days!
I have a temporary house mate in this large home here in Madagascar, she works for a non-profit agency here in Madagascar and from time to time she goes out on excursions into the "bush" areas. She has been gone for a little over two weeks and last night she arrived home, unexpectedly to me. (doing a dance of rejoicing inside :) )
It is interesting the emotions, thoughts and feelings that came to me when she arrived home, as I heard her keys in the door and her voice upon the threshold. A great friend to confide in, someone to pray with and share some of the crazy moments of life with.
I am so thankful to the Lord for providing someone to share this house with me and yet - she will only be living with me here in Madagascar until June of this year. Praying and waiting on the Lord for the next chapters, the next house mate and the next adventures.
Due to a very generous contribution from a thoughtful donor I was able to join in a ministry retreat here in Madagascar, a FOCUSED Prayer time, check up time and a forum to dream for the future. I am currently part of a team of 4 missionaries here that are also very well connected with other missionaries from all over the globe, doing just about anything that you could imagine. Two of my direct team live in Mahajunga, (up North 10 ours by bus). Then I am here in the city with Sandi, making 4 single women looking forward and involved in amazing ministry opportunities. Our Madagascar field facilitator, Rich, was here for a month to assess and help facilitate where he could. Finally, Glenn and Kathy Kendall the African directors were here for 10 days to join us in these meetings, led us in a day of prayer and joined in on the focused conversations of ministry now and in the future.
This was a great time of encouragement for all. I struggled, to be honest with where I fit in because I am heavily focused on language study and the other three women, since they are committed for shorter times are tossed into ministry directly and quickly. I keep hearing, "language study, Nicole, focus ONLY on language study". This is very hard for me when I feel that others on my direct team are thrust into direct contact with Malagasy and able to start ministries. I was reminded however that getting a deeper and more intense grasp of the language would be what made my future ministry all that more viable and effective in the future. Still working toward the future and living very much, daily in the present.
Overall it was an incredible time of growing pains, prayer, tears, encouragement, more prayer, individual meetings and focus on the future. A very necessary part of this amazing process.
Thank you for following along with me in this amazing journey, your prayers, encouragement, your CARE packages, gathering for prayer there in the states, financial support and amazing connectedness via the internet allow me to know that I am not in this alone. I am not only honored to represent so many on this journey here in Madagascar but am blessed to see how GOD takes individual focus in all the details of each of our lives.
People wearing clothes 2-4 sizes to big. It might be all they have.
The amount of trash everywhere.
Brushing and sweeping of the dirt.
Dumpster people.
places people dry their washing.
How many banks in really poor looking low class neighborhoods.
Mixture of common and Educated.
Umbrellas and the universal uses.
How many people don't have shoes.
How many people eat and drink out of the same cup/bowl.
What the water looks like that they wash their clothes in. YUCK!
Creativity in making things out of trash: kids toys, novelty bags, rice sifters...
People scrounge to find $ just to buy their daily bread.
Children playing with old cigarette butts like building blocks.
An empty box used for a soccer ball.
Boys in girls clothes just to stay warm.
18 months to 2 years old - start of an occupation: Begging.
I see a GOD that cares for each of these people, each of the needs, each of the situations. He wants to meet each person, have that personal relationship with them all and desires to use us to start that process. I am praying to be open to be emptied, to wait and to be used, however HE will use me! Thank you GOD for giving me EYES TO SEE.
There are many things in life that I consider blessings and the newest one is of no difference.
Meet Blessings, the Truck that I have been granted on loan from a very trustworthy Malagasy friend of a friend of mine.
About two months ago I started looking into purchasing a small vehicle to get around town, something small that would get me safely from point A to point B when I needed to and especially for all the night time traveling that has been coming up. I was looking small because I wanted to save on fuel, and wanted something compact, easy to park and that would not take up much room. I looked high and low for days, walked miles upon miles and went to some very amazing places checking into cars that were for sale on a second hand basis.
Long story short, as I prayed, sought out cars and prayed some more the options were more and more discouraging than they were encouraging, until one day when we were looking at 4 cars up close at a garage. Two of those "cars" were trucks but they were sort of on the I would like but it will never happen list. This particular 4x4 rose to the top of the list, quickly. Being a 2004, one would think that it would have to many miles on it and not be in very good shape anymore? NOT the case. With only 88,000 Km on it, Brand new tires, a fantastic diesel engine, extra cab (room for up to 6 people), and a shell on the bed part, along with an amazing price - it became "the TRUCK" and the ONE that quickly made all others look like scrap from a junk yard.
This particular "BLESSING" quickly became a great matter of prayer. How could GOD allow such a great Truck to rise to the top without the money to pay for it? God had graciously allowed over $12,000 in american dollars to collect for this very need but it would not be enough. The final cost for the Truck alone will be $17,500 and with insurance, taxes, registration and transfer of title it is quickly adding up to about $19,000. There is a balance of $7,500 needed to finalize the transfer of this BLESSING to me. Nervous and yet excited to see HOW GOD WILL PROVIDE.
CONFIDENT that this TRUCK, is infact a BLESSING from GOD, I am trusting that GOD will move in the hearts of HIS PEOPLE. Please join me in praying that GOD will provide another miracle in this journey that I am on, in a very practical way. I am praying specifically that the finances will be donated, graciously and anonymously so that GOD may have ALL THE GLORY. KNOWING that this is from HIM, I am excited to see how this all works out. The Malagasy man selling the truck is willing to LOAN the truck to me as I pray and wait for the final amount to come in.
Deadline for money to be in his hands in cash is Thursday, April 8, 2010.
PRAYING FOR THIS MIRACLE on such an incredible BLESSING.
I attended a Malagasy church today with another missionary visiting from up North here in Madagascar. We were both blessed beyond measure because of what was shared.
Thanking GOD for the great perspective on the scriptures shared and the challenge to live a life according to those words. To rise above peer pressure and to look to GOD as the lead in our lives. What a blessed day!
YES, I was able to glean all of that without a translator at a Malagasy service! YAHOO! Loving it!
Most people would laugh or give up or both at the day that I had MONDAY and yet I was so proud of myself, may I share with you why?
It was pouring rain and I did not let that stop me or two of my guy friends that decided to help me in this journey. We got wet on the bus {the doors and windows collect rain instead of stopping it}, then we had to walk through enormous puddles, many times getting our legs wet, not to mention our shoes. It was cold and we were all wet. I could have stopped and turned back home and done this another time but this weather is around all the time as we approach the wet season. We were there and I forged ahead.
As we found the place with all the cars for sale, I mentioned that I would go out in the rain, get the phone numbers and the basic info on each car available and come back to the "wet free ZONE" to confer with them and then we could make a plan from there. The two Men agreed a little to easily for my liking but I did offer so I got myself ready and made a way through the first puddles to get to the line of cars. JUST then a bus drove through a puddle and soaked my whole lower half. INCREDIBLE timing.
I took down info on Peugeot, Renault, VW, Toyota and Mitsubishi. All in all there were over 12 cars to look over with more inspection and to ask more detail. Many of the owners or people selling the cars were just sitting inside of the vehicles and I did not see them earlier because there was so much RAIN coming down. It must have been a site to see. Some foreigner with an umbrella, pant legs rolled up, getting all wet, as she (me) stood behind their automobiles, writing things down.
Out of the 12 we funneled it down to 4, two volkswagens and two 4x4 trucks. After thinking long and hard and spending lots of time walking and riding the bus I have come to the conclusion that a 4x4 truck is going to get me out of more sticky situations than the other cars would put me into. Originally I thought that I could just buy a transportation car for two years and when teams started to arrive I could then buy a car with more room. This is proving to be a silly idea and one that I am sure God was scoffing at! With the political situation still not resolved here I have to look to the future, mindful of what would give more protection, be a bit more intimidating, serve more useful purposes and be travel worthy in ALL situations here in Madagascar.
One has risen to the top of the list and I am praying that once we check it out at the local missionary garage this week we will know more. It is out of my price range, I was able to raise
money for a regular tiny car but not able to raise enough money for a TRUCK yet. YES, I am trusting in GOD to do one of those TODAY miracles by providing the rest of the money, laying this need at the feet of HIS people all over the globe and praying that HE MOVES in the hearts of people to give! I treasure any prayers on this matter that anyone can muster. GOD is bigger than the tallest mountain, deeper than the deepest sea, HE sure can raise up people to contribute the last $6,000 needed to buy and insure this amazing TRUCK. REALLY a gift from HEAVEN in itself.
Will you join me in praying for this to happen so that we can all give HIM the praise, glory and blessings!
Helping a friend pack up and get ready to leave Madagascar has been an emotional time.
Then while doing that another friend (Malagasy) came over and we prayed over her because she was leaving the next day to join her Husband in France. It has been a tough time of good-bye's but a blessed time of memories, impact and prayers. I know that I will see them both some time in the future, if not here on earth then in Eternity with GOD.
Doesn't make it any easier though, saying goodbye, talking of plans for the future and hoping that we will get to meet up on different soil some day.
It is amazing that I get to live amongst nature right here in my own yard! Each time a Chamelion comes into the yard my guard comes to get me because he knows that I love to get involved.
I love to take pictures and have in-fact taught him that they will not hurt him and are good to keep around. I hope you enjoy these pictures as much as I enjoyed interacting with this lil' guy.
You know that under pressure, your faith-life is forced into the open and shows its true colors. So don't try to get out of anything prematurely. Let it do its work so you become mature and well-developed, not deficient in any way. James 1: 2-4(the message) Praises: 1.) YAHOO, I have officially obtained my Malagasy Driver's license. Good for life. I am becoming Malagasy and before you know it, you might not recognize me...
2.) Money has come in for a small vehicle to keep me safe and get me from place to place. Thank you to all that contributed, I am so very blessed, encouraged and honored. On the weekly search for a dependable vehicle within my budget. I have seen 9 cars in two weeks in detail, traveled over 40 miles, gotten on buss' out of town, called many owners and looked into many, many engines and gotten a bit greasy at times. Loving the journey! 3.) I have turned in my first newsletter at the school that I am volunteering at. They love it and it will be copied and distributed this week for the children and families to enjoy. Still praying 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.) Some supporters have raised their monthly support and this has been a real encouragement to me. Thank you so much for the consistent giving that is really allowing me to focus on language study and relationships. I am still under-supported but I am confident that GOD will provide when HE desires and that HE is just asking me to TRUST, working on my FAITH, and character through perseverance.
Prayers: 1.) Continue to Pray for GOD to speak clearly to me regarding some next chapters - I am in a phase of "waiting" on HIM for direction... 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.
2.) This month leaders from WorldVenture and from Madagascar will be gathering for a yearly check in. Pray for communication, understanding and cultural barriers to be bridged. Pray for accommodations, schedule and timing to be in the Lords hands. Praying for amazing times of communication with each other as we share dreams of the future and ministry here in Madagascar. May the Lord be blessed in each of us.
3.) Monthly support is still lower than anticipated but growing. Would you consider praying that GOD would raise up people to fill the necessary financial needs, maybe that could be you? $425 monthly. I am open to talk with anyone about details of my budget and 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! Praising the Lord for how HE is working in many of you that have raised your contributions already. Thank you for being on this journey with me.
4.) Still praying for transportation! That God would lead me to the right vehicle and that it would fall within the budget of your sacrificial gifts, also be in great condition. Looks don't matter but the guts or the engine matter tremendously. Praising God for keeping me safe in the meantime.
Thank you so much for reading, praying and following this incredible journey. Blessings on you today and always,
and help facilitate where he could. Finally, Glenn and Kathy Kendall the African directors were here for 10 days to join us in these meetings, led us in a day of prayer and joined in on the focused conversations of ministry now and in the future.
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