A Malagasy Wedding

This last weekend I found myself invited to my first Malagasy wedding since I have moved here. It was filled with fun, excitement and a bit of the unknown...

A few things that I noticed while I was at the event.

It is very important to dress up - matching jacket/skirt or jacket/pants outfit. Most people have custom made clothes because they can't afford store bought clothes... YOUR very best are necessary to save face in attendance.

It is very important to do a receiving line and greet all of the visitors, giving words of wisdom and Malagasy proverbs. Three times this happened. When people were leaving the church, as we entered the reception and the couple went around to every table.

Any gifts of money are presented in an envelope and then received with two hands out of respect for the giver... Older tradition states that if you receive money with two hands then you won't pull out a gun to shoot your giver with the other hand.

Some Malagasy love the oldies in American music - first dance for the couple was "my endless love" a song that I remember from my early childhood years...

The cake is a critical part of the ceremony... One large cake is for the parents of the groom, one for the parents of the bride and it's presented to them ceremonially, through the wedding. Then the smallest cake at the top is given to the groom and he is to travel the room looking for the one woman that he would like to "give his cake to". The Bride received it here of course...

They don't tend to smile during picture taking.

Music is played at a very high level throughout the entire time and Kareoke is something that families practice and have ready to present as part of the entertainment at the reception.

Food and cake was made entirely by the brothers of the bride.

The entire day people were served by the family of the bride and groom. The family gets very involved and love the opportunity to serve others at the joyous event.

It is a huge honor to have a "vahaza" foreigner - attend your event. In this case it was me and I was the only one.

wedding cake

Food at the wedding is very important here along with the wedding cake.

The food at the wedding is prepared by the family of the bride and groom, at least at this wedding. It was very important for them to have starters or snacks (chips and soft drinks) while everyone filed through the receiving line into the reception hall.

Then once the food started arriving I noticed how they went to great detail to make everything special for everyone. First the plate of the salads. Pictured here... Lots of color and lots to offer. I was thinking that this was the meal until someone told me that I needed to save room for the next course.

The main course was RICE, of course and then there was

CHICKEN, all parts of the chicken, Rice water was available and then there was also pork or beef, it was hard to tell in the juices that flowed around the meat.

One of the children there wanted the chickens foot to chew on. This reminded me of my first missionary journey overseas to Hungary when we were often

offered the "claw" as we had named it. Here you eat what meat you can find and then you gnaw on the bones until they are all gone... oh and if you get to some of the marrow then sucking that out of the bones is also a treat.

Don't worry I have not gone native, I just observe on this one, I don't partake.

So, the cake - the amazing cake... NOW when I talk about amazing cake, I am not talking about the taste (they all taste of egg, flour and water) of it at all, just talking about all the meaning behind the cakes.

The top cake, smallest on the tiered cakes - the Groom takes this cake and travels around the room

with it until he finds the single woman that he would like to give the cake to. It went to the new wife... I am still curious about this tradition and will have to ask more later.

The next two tiers are of equal size because one goes to the family of the groom and one to the family of the bride. This cake they keep at their home for the week after the wedding and if someone stops by their home they are able to offer

the cake, proudly, as an announcement that their child was just married. This is also an honor to give to people who missed the wedding.

The flat sheet cakes are for all the people in attendance to eat with each other there and not one person doesn't take cake and a large slice of it at that. CAKE is always eaten, it is like a great honor or something...

The last picture here is of the actual person who made all the cakes. He is a

friend of mine, married into a family that I spend time with. Frank, woke up that morning about 4 to make all the cakes and set up for this fantastic day.

His sister was getting married and he would do his best on the cakes. What a great design and creativity.

OOPS! I forgot...

I just made a boo boo. I called my mother in the States and forgot just for a minute how to tell what time it was there when I was calling - so it was in the middle of her night.

So sorry MOM but it was great to talk with you and I am so very blessed to hear your voice!

I will try not to do that very often!

Playing CHICKEN

Do any of you remember that movie, came out in the 80's or early 90's called FOOTLOOSE... There is a scene at the start of that movie where some teenagers and the pastors daughter play chicken with another car. Two cars driving directly at each other in hopes that the other will get chicken and swerve to miss them first..

This seems to be an every day happening here. The roads are small and even on small roads with only enough room for one car to drive down cautiousously along with people, scooters, ox carts and any other strange sight for that day, You have two cars going in different directions trying to pass each other without running over the local veggies that are marketed on the ground...

Every day that I get into a vehicle, if I am driving or not, riding the bus or not or even walking - I am praying that this will not be the day that I become the CHICKEN, or road kill because someone took playing chicken a little to long and did not swerve out of the way in time.

I think that if anyone can drive here they can drive anywhere... Have you read about how I caused a sigalert in my area. Backed up traffic in 4 directions for over 45 minutes... This is a land of firsts for me and I am loving it more each day!

Support is JUMPING

I just found out today that my support jumped from 84% to 87% and now it is at 91%... For some those are just percentages!

For me those are direct answers to prayer. This last month I found myself praying that GOD would reveal himself to me by bringing new supporters to TEAM MADAGASCAR and stirring the hearts of those that already give to possibly, if they can, raise their support.... Well, it is with great JOY that I share this news here...

Would you join me in Praising GOD that during this very difficult period of time for most people that HE is still victorious and in Charge of all the finances... Nothing to worry about or stress about... It is all FAITH and TRUST...

FAITH & TRUST are two things that GOD has been working on in me, restoring and refilling from deep within...


What has GOD been working on in you? I would love to hear!

Local recognition

At the local souviner market they are starting to remember me when I arrive as the "girl who lives in Ambohibo" Funny because I don't live there but close by in another area... Two of my German friends and I took the bus into swa son cet (67 hectars) and it was market day so you can be assured that it was very crowded, but that is my favorite day to go because of all the people...

GOD is good and as I accompanied my friends in the market looking for unique things of Madagascar I was reminded of the creativity of GOD... Some things looked similar but they were infact different and that is exactly how we are. I love that! GOD is good in all HIS ways, Creativity being my favorite one!

When you look around you - do you feel superior because you are a one and only edition, or do you feel special because GOD made you, just the way you are, to be a blessing to others!

I am feeling very special today, glad to be the woman that HE is making me to be day, by day!

Hugs to you all - I am blessed by the creativity that GOD shows in YOU.

Saying Good-byes

I have been off to the airport 9 times since the first week of March this year... So in the last 4 months or 181 days I have had to say Good-byes to some great new friends and encourager's, 14 people in total.

I don't know about you, wherever you are right now... I just know from when I lived in California that this was not a regular occurrence and if someone went to the airport they were just going somewhere for a week or a couple of weeks. Every so often would someone would be gone for a month but nothing like this.

It has been great to get to know all the different people that GOD has put here. Some have made public confessions of their inward faith. Most work in very different ministries and jobs. Yet God has allowed us this season in life to connect, to pray with or for eachother and to walk this life "together".

I have been blessed to make life long connections with some of these people and look forward to when, if I get to see them again while I am still here on this earth. Some of them talk with me or try to communicate with me (if the Internet allows) on a very regular basis. That is a HUGE blessing.

SO, instead of being sad or down... I am choosing to live on the extravagant side and REJOICE because I was blessed for a time with these people in my life, my immediate daily routines and experiences. We each have the memories and the pictures and in some cases the video (Chicken Dance) that will always bring a smile to our faces.

ON the happy side of thoughts - I will be blessed with the arrival of 4 of my friends some time in the next 60 + days - people that left either for vacation time, ministry or visits with supporters. It is lonely here without you but I am excited for all that GOD is doing in and through each of those 4. Looking forward to new prayer times, ministry opportunities and the exciting road or adventure that GOD has out there for us.

Things that make you go hummmm...

Since I have been reflecting this week to the differences to living in the states and living here I have come across some things that have made me go hummmmm...


Light switches are outside the bathroom and shower area but inside of bedrooms and other large community rooms.

Living without a microwave or Television..

Having to search out the news on the internet instead of just turning on the TV and having it on all channels like back in the states...

Streets are empty after 9 and life is closed down for the night... Most places

People here love karoke. It is at weddings, local hangouts and most peoples homes if they are wealthy or not.

I have to use my brights when driving just to see people walking in the road. Brings a new meaning to avoiding "ROAD KILL"

Fungus - diagnosis

Here in Madagascar I have been treated recently for allowing myself to attach to a fungus. It was growing rapidly on my face and neck and yet I was on antibiotics for something else, so I thought that it would just go down or take care of itself.

I was not correct! After 10 days of trying different topical creams, ointments and care it was there and brighter than ever. I went to see the Dr and then went again to see him 2 more times in the following days.

I had received a fungus and I was told that it is very common here in the conditions that we live in. People living in very small quarters, sharing shoes and clothes are bound to contract something like this and it is very contaigeous.

I have two friends that are in a large Malagasy family that I spend time with... Here are the pictures of one of their funguses... Three of the people in this family that are infected have children and two of them have children under one year old... I am praying for someone to help with this. Help diagnose this correctly and then be able to give the correct medications to the family so that they can all be rid of this itchy irritant.

I know it is difficult to get rid of it, and that it itches all the time, it is ugly and really a pain to treat but making sure to not get it on others and spreading it around is a huge thing and it mostly happens due to ignorance...

my word and my oath

When you make a promise a word or an oath to someone is it really your word tried and true or just a guideline (like the pirates mention in Pirates of the Caribbean)

I know that I am a person that doesn't make an appointment or promise to attend a function, give money to some event, commit to a certain amount of money to tithe unless I have made a promise, from my lips, in my heart or to another person. A promise in my heart, a word given that crosses my lips or even something in my heart that no one else hears except for GOD.

In this last year I have tried to keep my mouth shut and not over commit to things. Commit to things besides my language learning... I have been asked to teach English to different groups of people, to commit to weekly meetings with different groups of young people. I have been asked to join this church, or this orphanage, or this study group. I have had to weigh my words and commitments very heavily. If I do one thing then they will all want me to do things. Can I afford to do this every week.

I think that we as americans, or I - used to make commitments to easily and not think of the outcome down the road. If I offer to give in tithes to GOD, weekly or monthly and do it for some weeks and then stop then there is possibly a pastor somewhere that will not eat this week or his wife will have to work, maybe a ministry that counts on that money will suffer or be under financial strain?

What about the group of people that are working toward becoming fluent in a language and I offer to meet with them - weekly and things keep coming up... Does that reflect well on who I say that I am and who I say that I represent?

Here in Madagascar if you say YES to meeting this week, it quickly turns into meeting every week, for hours at a time even if you did not commit to that. Clarity and commitment are so critically important here and all over the globe. When you commit to someone, something - you are placing value on that thing, person or place. You are saying that "I believe in what you are doing, what this place represents and what this person stands for. When you fall through on your promise, word or oath it has a ripple effect that you might not ever feel, see, taste or touch but it is there. Impacting people far and wide.

I have learned to let my "YES" be "YES" and my NO, be a simple no or not right now... I want ot be better at this, and am praying that the challenge, all be it very large will be one that I can accomplish all while building my character in HIM.

helping with a wedding

I received a phone call today from a Malagasy friend. Her sister in law is getting married and she wants me to help her with ideas and decorating the place for the reception.

I have a LOT of experience with this in the states but not here and I don't want to take over.

Please pray for me to be quiet and a great help, although not financially but just in an extra pair of hands and possibly making things work once I have a better idea of how this really works.

I have only been to one wedding here in Madagascar and that was back in 2006. This has to come together quickly as the wedding is at the end of the month...

I could use all the prayers you could muster~!

This is a great opportunity to show love though helping and the time that I will be spending with the bride and the others that will be helping in putting this event on...

grease burn

I have been wanting pop corn for days now and yesterday a friend gave me some Malagasy corn. I asked if I could pop it and she said that I would have to try and see if it worked.

Well, with all the cooking that happens around here it is inevatable that something would happen and today was the day..

As I was checking on the pop corn the lid started to fall off and since I am not as quick with my left hand as my right, and my right hand was occupied... I missed catching the lid and a nice burst of oil came out and landed on the top of my thumb and the palm of my thumb...

I am now nursing it and praying that it will not scar nor turn into a huge bubble either...

Please pray for me and for GOD to keep me out of much pain and have a speedy recover of my left palm and thumb... It is already tingling warmth from within...

BUMMER

woman's breakfast at church

What a blessing this morning to attend a breakfast set up for the women of Tana City Church here in Madagascar! There were roughly 30 Malagasy women and about 4 foreigners, just the odds I love. I met 4 new wonderful Malagasy women and spoke with them a tiny bit in Malagasy... Then they told me, "we can speak in English if that is better for you". I stayed up for the challenge of trying to speak to them in their native tongue but the limited words and sentences that I have so far did not assist me in this and my new friends were gracious.

I am blessed to be here and have these opportunities~

The Pastors wife shared about the woman who took the alabaster jar and anointed Jesus' feet with oil... How she was bold enough to want to give the best she had to her Savior no matter what others thought of her.

THIS will sit with me - I desire to give my best to HIM daily, do I? Well, that is another story. I can strive to give HIM the best and in the process be blessed with the amazing love that HE gives to me so freely.

What do you have to give? Do you give it or do you keep it to yourself?

Send off's

Tonight marks the 6th time I have been to the airport to take people that are leaving the island since May. That is a lot and my heart is hurting...

I am getting really familiar with the flight schedules, late night pick up's and drop offs and all the details that are involved.

I am praying for each person that departs here and goes on such long travels to get where they are going... May the Lord blesses each one and may we all see HIS reasons, provisions and light through each circumstance.

Saving Face

What does this really mean?


Do people lie to keep a disgrace, dishonor or shame from the light of their family or from others so that their family will not be disgraced? Do they lie because they know what they are doing is wrong? Do they lie to get something they want or to please the listener even if they really don't know what the listener wants to hear?

Is telling a partial truth the same as lieing? Is there ever a time that it is ok to lie?

As I spend time here in Madagascar I am faced with my biggest challenge, being able to see past the face of a person, listen past the words and see into the heart and soul of them. When they say one thing what do they really mean. I am used to straight shooting, maybe because lies have hurt me so much in the past? Maybe because it is difficult to know what someone is feeling or wanting unless they tell you directly, right?

*****Please don't misunderstand me, I know that ONLY GOD can really see that deep into someone and with enough practice even the nicest person can turn out to have made a life out of lies. ONLY GOD will ever know any one persons motives or thoughts and for that I am ETERNALLY GRATEFUL!

Funny thing, which is really not so funny at all is that one lie, usually leads to another and another until it is spinning it'self out of control and it is so far from the truth that one wonders weather there was ever any truth involved at all or if what they were telling fibs for was ever really that important to begin with.

In this culture it is common to lie, really I think that in America it is common to lie as well it is just very different here. Most of the time I think that people lie here because they want something and they are not ashamed to lie because it is a custom from the generations past. What makes that any different than lieing in the states... It happens most of the time so that people can get what they want. They will even lie over something so simple as "did you understand what I just said?" This making communication VERRY DIFFICULT at times.

Do any of us really ever know what we want and what is best for us? Could it be that our human nature is trying to control the game of life on automatic pilot, without the soverignty of GOD to rule over us... I am more convinced than ever that WE NEED THAT DIVINE INTERVENTION. WE NEED A DIRECT LINE of communication with GOD to change, to work on ourselves and to "SAVE FACE" without hurting those around us.

THE TRUTH WILL COME OUT, WHEN IT DOES WILL YOU BE READY for the consequences, for the wake of bodies that you will have hurt, injured or devestated?

I think about this often here - what do you think about this?

Do Secrets count as bold faced lies and do they carry the same weights with them?

There is a new wind

I am feeling a new wind here in Madagascar. I have been praying about up coming changes and I know that they are on the horizon. A good friend just shared a picture she received about me and it was so encouraging, I am looking forward to how it comes to light in GOD's timing.

This is the second time in just 12 days that my large 5 bedroom house has been filled with visitors. It is so good to have others around even as I am busy with language learning.

Language is coming along nicely.

Women are getting motivated by GOD to draw each other into deeper relationships.

Opportunities to help people start working toward business and bettering their families futures.

Spending time with Malagasy people and learning a LOT about TRADITIONS, CUSTOMS, COMMUNICATION, EXPECTATION, DISAPOINTMENT, SAVING FACE and SUPER HOSPITALITY.

My Belly's a jumpin!

At least the legs that I ate tonight used to be jumping!

I was blessed tonight to eat frog legs. They were so very good! I wish that my camera had not broken because I wanted to take a picture of them so badly.

So, close your eyes and try to picture a very well fed Frog, jumping through mid air with his lil' legs extended --- Poof - he just jumped through the fire and is now cooked and sitting on my plate!

YUMMMM...

Has to be on the list of fun things that I have eaten...

Just this week I had tongue, duck and Frog Legs! What an adventurous week!

Are you being adventurous in your eating?

TOP 10 CULTURAL DIFFERENCES

In Madagascar I have been learning so much as I watch, listen and wait to ask questions.

This last week a group of people that have been meeting with me regularly to practice English and Malagasy were asking me some of the things that are common in my culture back in California. It was a fun and funny time as we struggled in trying to find the right words to help each other understand what we are used to.

This is the list that we came up with for what is the "NORM" here in Madagascar. You might enjoy comparing it with your "NORM" in whatever part of the world you live.

10. family eats together sometimes 3 times a day. All together, in one room, one meal.

9. Children sleep with Mom and Dad in the same bed until they are almost 7 years old.

8. At the age of 5 most Malagasy children are responsible for another person (younger sibling) or have another responsibility - like walking the cows or goats, collecting water from the local spout, doing dishes or the family wash.

7. Most Malagasy live with their family until they are married, and even then some still live with their husbands families.

6. Rice should be eaten at least twice a day if not three times a day. NOT just a cup full but a plate piled high.

5. Families share clothes and shoes (with this comes the bonus of funguses and diseases)- depending on what they can afford, even if the clothes are way to big! More than one pair of shoes is a luxury!

4. The money that they make working will buy the food for the family to eat... Day to day or month to month. CASH ONLY no credit cards. If they don't have money they don't eat.

3. In some areas here (not in the capital) it is a sign of wealth to have more than one wife. For every 7 cattle you own, you may have another wife and children... This is mostly in the south...

2. Children around the age of 13-15 are getting married and having children of their own - because it is the culture and expected of them

1. Malagasy people are generally very happy people, even with the very little that they have... They have LOVE.

Missing...

For almost 10 years I knew that God was asking something enormous from me and the time finally came for me to actually “DO” what HE was leading me to “DO.” July 2009, I packed up my remaining worldly possessions and got on an airplane into the wild and unknown of MADAGASCAR. I had been there twice before for adventures but I knew that this time would be VERY different, African living for me was going to become reality, and soon a life that I could never imagine NOT living.

I lived in California my whole life, from San Clemente to just across the Los Angeles border. I was aware of the dangerous spots and the friendly spots, had friends and family in many nooks and craneys along any route and knew this to be “HOME”.

So far I have lived in Madagascar just under one year now and have learned a LOT! For one thing, you can’t believe what you read! That is for sure! There are over 19 million people living in Madagascar and roughly 3 million of them around me in the Capital city. The books produced strange and crazy or even mystical creatures, stories and wonder. As I have lived here for this year I am noticing that much of what I studied and read is good information but for the areas outside of the very city that I live in day in and day out.

As I have spent time with Malagasy people I have come across jems… I love a good bargain and living as cheaply as I can so when someone mentioned that there was large outdoor market for veggies, meats and just about anything else you could imagine, I had to go there. I quickly found that I was spending about half the money for three times the quantity of foods, almost the Costco of markets here. Now you have to be very careful because there are many people that watch you very carefully to see if they can steal something from you and I have not ventured into this market without Malagasy friends as of yet just to make sure that I have my bearings. Yet on the other side of things it costs a LOT to have Electricity, or peanut butter or meat of any kind. This is where the cheaper outdoor market will help off set costs a little.

Should you live or ever travel, abroad, you’ll possibly get the chance to dispel a few myths yourself, probably even the one about all Americans being loud and obnoxious. There are some that are very easy to spot and then there are some that you wonder about for days, weeks and months only to find out that they are infact Americans that have taken to blending in well in this host culture.

The universal truths will rise to the top. Lines for ladies rooms (when there is a ladies room), men showing off to win the favor of women, Men are most of the time stronger and women feel or are more emotionally intune with their feelings. Traffic is traffic no matter what country you live in and the desire to be plugged in on the internet is just as strong here, just most travel to internet café’s and don’t stay online all day to play games or afraid that they will miss something.

There is always the appreciation for all the things that you have left behind. I miss my friends and family, to be sure, my old routines, the local shops and being able to get what I want at the drop of a hat, but I expected that. The truth is that I miss things about California that I did not think I would miss. I miss the smooth pavement when driving and not having to swerve to miss, people, ox carts, bicycles and market stands that crowd the road. The smell of the ocean or the crisp air in the fall. The way people decorate their homes for the holidays, some more than others. I might even be challenged enough to say that I miss the neighbors barking dog because that is nothing to the noises I face here. Heaters, carpeting, and my hairstylist for sure. Mindless television shows and the Never ending Hot water coming from the tap for a long shower.

Convenient things, like Wal-Mart and the local Albertsons where you can walk in and get just about anything you needed. I never thought that I would say this or admit it but I miss the conveniences of FAST FOOD places and the ability to be eating in 10 minutes or less once you have a craving or large hunger pain. I miss hamburgers, hot dogs and subway sandwiches. Taco places of every shape and size.

Please don’t misunderstand! I love it here in Madagascar and have come to love the differences, the fact that what you buy in the local street market is infact fresh vegetables, without pesticides or hormones. I love the different veggies that I come across and get to try. I love that most every meal is FRESH, from market to sink for a good washing to stove. I love driving in the traffic here because I only remember to well the traffic in CA and this is really nothing even when it seems like eternity. I love how close families are and how they eat together almost 3 times a day when possible. I have been blessed to be able to feed wild lemurs, and see all the creativity of God with the different types of Star fish in the ocean.

I have been blessed with many new friends and some very special here that rise above any I have ever met. Never a dull moment and always filled with so much passion. People here are creative and unified to a common purpose or goal.

I do have a better perspective on home now – knowing that HOME is going to be where I rest my head, either here in Madagascar or there in the States somewhere, even all the places in-between. The strong desire to know and be known still fills my heart and propels me into each day. Wondering and then knowing the struggles in life are the same: the need for jobs, to have money to buy food to provide for your family. Above all of that will rest LOVE. In the states we just take it overboard and sometimes need to see how the other part of the world lives.

The Simple things have become more obvious and more cherished might be just where we are supposed to live. I am enjoying and sometimes struggling to find the simple life that I should live. What about you?

JULY 2010 PRAISES and Requests

This last month has escaped me, with the internet not working consistentally and so much going on here it is oftentimes difficult to connect to the outside world. Thank you so much for your love and patience!

I recently went to look something up in my Malagasy dictionary and found the word "Jireo" so while making my sentences I started to use that word. My teacher had a great laugh because "jireo" means look - the dictionary was trying to tell me to LOOK at another word for the definition...

I has been great to connect with so many Malagasy friends but it is also my greatest sorrow because my relationships are only at the surface level with many of them. I am longing for the deeper relationships where nothing is expected, along with no judgement. Glad to have so many of you, your prayers and such an amazing Heavenly Father! He knows what I need. That is the best!


There were a few weeks where I was Crying all the time... missing family and friends back in the states and across the globe. GOD has faithfully brought me through it and I am doing well in language study. Forming sentences and talking with the locals more and more.

Thanks so much for your prayers and support. Even though my financial support is under by $400 a month I am living the life of a fully supported missionary overseas... GOD is good!