The Village of Andremba

In August, a mission team came from the States to Tulear.  Steve was still recovering from typhoid so he was unable to make the trip out to the bush with the guys but Jodie wrote about the trip on her blog and I wanted to share that with all of you!!  Here's a recap of what happened AND an update from just the past couple of weeks too!

Jodie's blog...

The team that went to the south included Bill, JD, Grant, and 5 Malagasy believers from Tulear.  They mainly focused on the remote village of Andremba.  The first day, the Malagasy believers from Tulear led the believers in Andremba in a shorter version of the training they had received earlier in the week, going through the ten commandments and the stories that were used to teach them (the golden calf, David and Bathsheba, etc).  The believers in Andremba drank up the teaching, which lasted all day long!  How cool to see the believers in Tulear training up the believers in these remote areas!

The next day, the believers from Tulear went with the church body from Andremba to another village called Andre-Mihaga.  They walked for one hour to this remote village, which had never seen a white person before!  Grant said that a lady in a field ducked when she saw him, fearing for her life. Another disabled lady, curled up and started sobbing.  She later explained that because she couldn’t move, she thought if she cried the white man might have mercy on her and not kill her!  Even more shocking than them having never seen a white person before, was that they had never heard the name of Jesus. 

Eventually the village gathered, and a formal time began.  The church leader of Andremba, Emasike, led the time and explained they had come to share about something that had changed their lives.  He told them that a seed had been sown in him, and that seed was the Word of God.  And because of that seed, his life had been changed and he wants to share that seed with others.  He also told them that if the seed begins to take root in them, they should also share it with others.  Over the next few hours, this new village listened as Emasike told the stories of creation, the fall, Abraham…The village received the stories and wanted to hear more. He told them if they wanted, he would return and continue telling the stories from the Bible. 

What a beautiful picture of the body of Christ.  There, in this remote village, a group of people from all over the world came together to get the Gospel to these people.  Believers from one place, training up believers in a different place, to take the Good News to a new place!  This is what it is all about! Praise God for His amazing plans and for letting us be a part of it.  

Emasike, the church leader of Andremba

In September - Grant & another missionary went out to the bush. They were able to visit the five villages where churches have been started (Andremba, Kilimary, Besatra, Itamboina, and Ampotake).  Although each village has had its own struggles and successes, it was an encouraging for Grant to see how despite the challenges each face, they are continuing to press on and grow closer in their walks with the Lord and in their desire to reach others with the Good News. 

Andremba has been a particularly exciting ministry area in the last few months.  They have continued to visit this village, and now 25 people from this previously unreached village are making the hour walk to Andremba each week to learn more about God.  Emasike, the leader of the believers in Andremba, called this week to tell us that many of those have accepted Christ and are ready for baptism.  He also said that the church from Andremba has begun visiting ANOTHER village in order to bring them the Gospel.  Isn't our God amazing??!?!!!

Please keep praying for the believers in Mahafaly Land as they go outside of their comfort zone to plant the seeds of His Gospel.