Shoes and their recipients

Recently I received a package from a sister back in the States that had cleaned out her closets at home finding some SHOE treasures to send my way...

These are some of the pictures of the shoes donated and I hope to post some of the recipients of those shoes and the smiles, and joy that they brought all the way from Texas... It was such a blessing to be able to give to so many different people and the

smiles that they gave in return were incredible blessings! Praising GOD for how he works.

Thank you so much for sharing your shoes with us here!

technically held hostage

For the last two weeks I have not had access at all to my gmail or my blog because someone hacked into my account and changed the passwords...

Just today I have been able to access these and catch up on emails and just now will start to write about my amazing last couple of weeks traveling around Madagascar. Cultural experiences were at an all time high with language learning falling into slot number two.

Please be patient with me and I will try to get it all out to you in the coming days... GOD is good, protected me over many miles of driving from the south to the north and back again. Small winding roads with drunk drivers, and people walking in front of us all the time, not to mention the ox carts going to market and people taking from their fields into larger towns.

I am blessed beyond measure at the great fruits that are being shared with me all over this blessed land. Opportunities abound, everywhere I look and I pray that people will join me in helping Malagasy achieve their dreams in business all while sharing CHIRST with them. His great LOVE for them, Peace in living a life glorify HIM and blessing HIM with everything that we are blessed with from family, to friends to success in business to how we love on others.

Prison

One day I had the opportunity to drive a car full of adults to a near by Prison to feed and encourage the prisoners. There was a group of about 400+ including 23 women and one 3 yr old child... It was difficult to understand everything but it was so very moving the parts that I did comprehend.

At the start of our time with them all the prisoners broke out in song about how sorry they were, how they were pleading for forgiveness for the wrongs they had done and wanted GOD to lead them in their future. I cried as the words were translated to me quietly as we stood there in awe.

Something about Prisons here in Madagascar is - if you are accused of a crime, weather you did it or not you are sent to prison. While you are there, family has to come to feed you, clothe you and provide toiletries, blankets and bedding for you. Most sleep on the concrete floor, few if blessed have a straw mat to sleep on and even a cloth to cover themselves with. Many did not have shoes, and not even long pants or long sleeved shirts. If you don't have family here or near by then you just don't eat, don't have proper clothes or sundries and you go without. It was very evident to us who had family or visitors caring for them and who did not.

Amazing as well was that it started to rain while the pastor was giving a message, we stayed as a group standing in the rain, the pastor continued preaching and most of the inmates did not move for cover. If they had a jacket, or blanket they were already wearing it and they just sat, fixed on the group of us, and hopefully the message that was shared both in French and Malagasy.

I was allowed to take some pictures but only without faces of the inmates... I pray that when they are posted to this blog that you will take the time to pray for the men and women here in the prison awaiting a judgement. 44 have already been sentenced to life in the prison - they will die there... The youngest being held is 16 and the 3 yr old is just there for the winter break visiting his mother.

Time in Finarantsoa

An opportunity came my way to join about 800 Malagasy believers at what they called their "congress" this month.

It is something that happens every 5 years where churches from Spain, France and all over the island of Madagascar are represented, to rejoice over the great things that GOD has done and the people that HE has brought to himself through this association of believers.

Since I am not fluent in Malagasy yet this time was more of a cultural experience for me. I lived in a room of a school building with 20 other women and children for 5 days. It was crowded, and reminded me a lot of junior high. The women stayed up late chatting about life, family and responsibilities, then woke up VERY early to start making themselves presentable for the men in their lives. Most days they were dressed up in beautiful executive style skirt outfits, and many of them even wore their best fur coats (imitation of course and many of those were not in the greatest of condition either).

We slept like sardines on rice bags filled with hay, that I think I was having an allergic reaction to each night. We experienced late night excursions into the dark to relieve ourselves, being stepped on, rolled over and laughed at. The community shower was a spectacle, or we were a spectacle and sleep was few hours each night.

The blessings were playing and leading the

children while the adults were challenged spiritually to keep pressing forward. I was quickly named Auntie Nicole in French by one little girl and quickly about 8 others followed suit. I knew enough Malagasy to help them get into their bible class, sing some songs, go to the bathroom, get fed, go to sleep and have good play time. I even caught one child hitting another with a tree branch and I could tell them in Malagasy that "I saw you hit" this child.

It was an experience of a lifetime and I survived it all! I did not have to bail out and stay with the local missionaries in their home with electricity, a private shower and more of the food that I have come to know and love here.

Praise the LORD for all that HE did and is still doing!

AUGUST 2010 ONE YEAR anniversary -

It has been one year since I first moved to this amazing country, can you believe it?

A long time ago I was reading a passage in Samuel about Ebenezer stones, and placing a stone to remember all the greatness that GOD did for them during the battle. Life here is not a constant battle but it is sometimes and there have been many answers to prayer along the way and I want to remember all the amazing times that HE has provided even when it was not the answer that I was looking for.

I thought that it would only be fitting that I share the Ebenezer Stones here with you from this first year...

Finances coming in last year so that I could actually leave for Madagascar.

God has provided a church and a mid week group here for me to grow with

Opportunities to check out ministries and other parts of the island. Finaransoa, Manambolo, Ampefi, Montasoa, to many areas here locally.

I have made many new friends and feel loved by the incredible Malagasy people.

The provision of a house large enough to host others, to be safe and well protected.

I have met and been taught by many amazing people here and just love it.

The contact with friends and family back in the States has been incredibly welcomed, I am blessed to have the ability to connect through the internet and not just through the mail.

Care packages keep arriving - such a huge blessing and reminder of GOD working in all of us together to help stretch, grow and encourage each other.

Being able to help three people work toward starting a new businesses

Most of the finances to purchase an amazing truck for ministry use.

Others that value me, even if everyone does'nt

Family that have been incredibly understanding and helpful since I moved here

Ability to laugh at my mistakes and this happens often

Learned to drive a different type of car

LIVING BY FAITH EVERY DAY. Just this week I had to buy 4 mattresses and I don't know where the money will come from but that is a wonderful part of the journey. I was woken up in the night, 3 different nights - sensing that GOD was telling me "your house will be full in the coming days".

I am really looking forward to all that HE will do, all that HE is doing and all that HE will do.