January 2008

Dear partners in the mission

As promised in my previous newsletter, here is some feed-back on my visit to Madagascar which unfolded without major problem, thanks to God’s gracious Providence.  The extensive travelling on the main roads of this large island took me and Rev Cilliers - my partner in this trip - to some of the main cities and harbors of Madagascar: the Nosy-Bé island (in the North West), Antsohihy, Majunga, Tamatave, Antsirabe, Fiananrantsoa and of course the capital city Antananarivo.  All in all, the condition of the roads was very satisfactory, due to recent improvements, notwithstading the long hours spent in bush taxis amidst poor operating conditions (mechanical repairs had sometimes to be effected by the drivers half way through the trip, on the side of the road and with most elementary tools).  Needless to say, medication against malaria is a must, as mosquitoes bite you over and over.  Reading the local press, I was shocked to find out that a given area had recently been struck with an epidemic of bubonic plague, a disease I thought had long been eradicated from the surface of the earth...  Leprosy is also still present on this island, though on a limited scale. Just as shocking was the sight of street children aged 4, 5 or 6 begging for food or money; some of them even carry babies less than one year old, most probably the children of the slightly older generation of street children (may be 12 or 13), entrusted by the parents to their youngler siblings. The country being quite green, agriculture - mainly rice and fruit - allows for people to be fed adequately.  Also, cattle breeding is practised extensively: the famous Malagasy zebus are everywhere present, in particular on the roads, accounting at times for serious traffic accidents. 

 Being able to see the terrible material and spiritual condition in which so many people live, made me aware again of the urgent need to preach the liberating Gospel of Christ, which only can transform for the better the social and cultural landscape of a beautiful country like Madagascar.  The resources of the country are enough to provide for everybody. However the mentality of the largest segment of the population, deeply entrenched in backwards paganism and unwilling to change traditions and rituals marked by the fear of the deceased, certainly accounts for so much misery.  It might not be popular in the West to say something like this, but Malagasy Christians themselves stressed the fact over and over to me.

I was thankful to receive so much positive feed-back from the directors of radio stations which already use RFL’s material.  About 10 stations are already airing our programmes. A recently constituted network of Evangelical local stations (about 30 of them) is about to start using them as well, thanks to the pledge of its coordinator, a former government minister having served his country in several capacities and presently teaching information technology in one of the country’s universities: Professor Rakotonirainy even asked me permission to translate the messages of RFL in the Malagasy language so as to to reach out to those who do not master the French language so well.

 Does the Church in Madagascar do what is necessary for proclaiming the liberating message of Christ’s universal dominion?  While the strongly implanted Roman Catholic church excels in social and educative works of all kinds, the main line Protestant denomination (with more than 4 million members) tends to indulge in self-centered activities and politics at its top structure level (an aberration in terms of Reformed Church polity, by the way not only in Madagascar but in many other parts of the world...)  This denomination can count on the support of the president of the country, himself one of its members: a support that can be a blessing, but also turn into something detrimental if not properly  dealt with.  A movement of internal reformation can be perceived though, and I hope to be able to modestly contribute to this healthy movement wherever I can.  I was invited to teach at several seminaries of this Protestant church, but unfortunately my schedule did not allow it this time.

 Dear friends, there would be so much more to report about...  I trust that after having shared these few things with you, you will be convinced that the mission of RFL in Madagascar as elsewhere is meaningful and deserves to be supported by your prayers and otherwise.  It is exciting to serve our Lord in such a way, always remembering that we do not preach ourselves or our own ideas, but are called to take every thought captive to make it obedient to Christ (2 Cor. 10:5).  Of course we must first take captive our own thoughts before starting preaching to others.  Otherwise our mission will be devoid of any meaningful content.  Please keep praying that my thoughts will be at all times guided by the Holy Spirit as I proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the glory of the Father.

 In his three times holy Name

 Rev. Eric Kayayan