Mission in Madagascar

by Ruth J Colvin

Madagascar is one of the poorest countries in the world. It's the 4^th largest island in the world, 1000 miles long and 500 miles wide, just east of and off the coast of Africa. Thousands of years ago it broke off from Africa, but its first settlers were from the Polynesian islands, and that's Madagascar's heritage --- Polynesian! Madagascar was a colony of the French until 1960 when this island of fourteen million people got its independence. Statistics say there's 56% illiteracy in Madagascar, but it's probably nearer 80% in the villages. Madagascar is the eleventh poorest country in the world, and their needs in most areas are tremendous. They've found that many of those with skills to share only speak English. Their people must learn English if they want to benefit more from the outside world.

Bob and I were invited by the NorthEast Synod Presbyterians USA to work with the FJKM Church in Madagascar, to train teachers to teach English to Speakers of Other Languages, focusing on the listening and speaking skills. I agreed to train eight Malagasy English teachers. I was shocked to find I could hardly understand their Malagasy English and they could hardly understand me, but what motivation! A concentrated training with lots of practical work and I trained these eight Malagasy teachers who are now teaching 42 people on the staff of the FJKM church.

Visiting prisons, a leprosy center, villages, local markets, and rain forests gave us opportunities to see daily life in this fascinating but very poor country.

In Madagascar you are presumed guilty until you can prove your innocence. If someone accuses you, you are jailed immediately, often waiting 5 to 10 years for a trial and judgment. One woman's father died, and he had no sons so the inheritance was to go to the daughter. The relatives didn't like this and trumped up false charges, bribed someone, and had her put in jail. She has been in jail for nearly five years, and the inheritance has been divided between relatives. Another woman was accused by her employer of stealing a pen and a sheet, both of which she denied. Because she was accused, she was put in prison well over a year ago with no one to defend her. She wonders if she'll ever get a trial or a judgment.

I asked, through an interpreter, what the inmates wanted most. A surprise answer was "insecticides" for the lice, fleas, insects and rats --- a constant problem. Next was "food" --- the system feels it's the responsibility of inmates' families to feed them. Most families of inmates are very poor and often miles away so it's impossible to send food. The FJKM Sisters weekly bring huge bags of rice and greens --- they truly "feed the hungry and those in prison" as suggested by Jesus. Less than half of the inmates could read, but they wanted books, especially the Bible, in Malagasy.

Most of us think of leprosy as that disfiguring disease of biblical times, but a visit to Madagascar's Leprosy Center introduced us to lepers living today. Jeannine has been there for five years, has an old rusty prosthesis where one entire leg is gone, and bulky bandages cover her remaining foot. When she stuck out both hands to grab my hand in greeting, I realized she had no fingers on either hand, just rounded stumps. Through an interpreter she asked if I'd write to her --- she wanted me as a new friend --- and yes, she insisted she could write. My questioning eyes wondered how. Jeannine pulled a stub of a pencil out and demonstrated how she could do this, holding the pencil with the stubs of both hands. What an indomitable spirit!

Quietly putting their faith to work are dedicated people in Madagascar, like the FJKM Sisters who work in the prisons and Jeanne Rohner and Dr. Nirina who have dedicated their lives to working with lepers. They have indeed followed Jesus' admonitions to feed the hungry, visit those in prison, and heal the sick.

How fortunate we are to live in America with its freedoms and resources. Let us be thankful and keep the FJKM, but we must continue to share our talents and our treasures as we too put our faith to work by helping others.