Wednesday, August 21, 2024 – Home!
The Mission Trip is complete and our team members are back home. The checked baggage, however, is taking the scenic route home. 😕
This Mission Trip was packed full of activity surrounding those who benefit from the support provided through Friends of Madagascar Mission. What a blessing to see these organizations, listen to their needs and dreams, and pray with them.
The need is great. God is working.
Now the team, staff, and board members begin the work of researching and discerning what are the next steps for current and potential new organizations to walk with. Please keep Friends of Madagascar Mission in prayer as work begins anew.
Thank you for your prayers!
Sunday, August 18, 2024 – Worship and a visit to Lemur Park
Our day began with a wonderful worship service at the Coliseum in Antananarivo. The Antananarive Synod of the Malagasy Lutheran Church capped off a week of celebration with a combined worship service. Choirs from several churches shared songs. Their magnificent voices were blended together for worship.
After worship the Mission Team headed for Lemur Park outside of Antananarivo. This is a private park that is working to help restore lemur populations. There were good opportunities to see many lemurs up close. A couple chameleons and a few turtles were found too. The tour was capped off with a good meal together on the patio at the park.
Please pray for our team as we prepare to discuss our experiences and plan our next steps. Please pray for safe travel back to our homes soon.
Thank you for your prayers!
Saturday, August 17, 2024 – Learning about Local Missions
Wow! What a day! We toured the location for the local Friends of Madagascar Mission work space. Then it was time to do a bit of shopping. From the stores the team journeyed to Hope Lutheran Church School. The children were served their lunch and welcomed us with a song. The school principal led a tour of the school office, library, and first-grade classroom. After that we were off to Thrive Madagascar to meet their team and learn about their mission.
We felt God’s leading in our meetings today. Our new friends are working for the Lord to care for the lost sheep in Madagascar. Pray that God will use them and Friends of Madagascar Mission as we all work to improve the lives of those who live here.
Thank you for your prayers!
Friday, August 16, 2024 – Summit F
Today our Mission Team met with the Prison Ministry Madagascar and the Ministry of Justice to discuss several items. It was a day full of conversation and presentations.
We also met with Rev. Dr Denis Rakotozafy, President, Malagasy Lutheran Church.
We express our Thanks to God for today’s meeting. We pray good progress will be seen with our collaboration. The Mission Trip Team visits more locations tomorrow. Please pray for our team as they learn about other mission projects in Madagascar.
Thank you for your prayers!
Thursday, August 15, 2024 – On the Road Again!
Today our Mission Team traveled from Antsirabe to Antananarivo.
We spent time at the nursing school and the School for the Visually Impaired in Antsirabe.
After we arrived in Antananarivo, we met with Pastor Kristin of the ELCA in Madagascar.
We give our thanks and praise to God for another good day of travel and meetings. Tomorrow we enter more meetings and appreciate your prayers to support all those in important discussions. Thank you for your prayers!
Wednesday, August 14, 2024 – Travel Day and a Toby Meeting
Today our Mission Team traveled from Fianarantsoa to Antsirabe. It is a long trip on minimally maintained roads. There are lots of twists, turns, and potholes of all sizes!
Shortly after we arrived, we visited a toby in Antsirabe. Toby is pronounced “toobie” in the Malagasy language. These locations care for the mentally ill and poor families. These locations are such a blessing to those who need special care.
Prayer requests include thanks to God for a day of safe travel and for a good meeting with the toby. The FOMM Mission Team appreciates your prayers for strengthening our minds and bodies as we continue to make contact with organizations we partner with and those organizations who wish to have FOMM come alongside them.
Tuesday, August 13, 2024 – Evangelism Summit Day 2
Today was a big day for FOMM at the Evangelism Summit. Messages and presentations were given by Lee Laaveg, Sue Gunderson, Meta Kaurin of Nofy i Androy, and David Isaacson. The evangelists and FLM staff learned about many of the projects FOMM supports.
The FOMM Mission Team was blessed by a concert in the prison. The women’s and men’s chorus, along with a local college group, shared joyful songs to praise God. What a beautiful day with strong and great music for the Lord!
Prayers are welcome for the safety of the evangelists, synod staff, and the FOMM Mission Team as we all begin to travel to our homes or next locations. Many thanks to God for a successful summit and a beautiful location for the meetings!
Monday, August 12, 2024 – Evangelism Summit Day 1
What a day! We spent the day at the Bible Camp with evangelists from all four synods we support. In addition, there were representatives from the Malagasy Lutheran Church (FLM) who spent the day in meeting with the evangelists.
Friends of Madagascar Mission group members enjoyed the morning presentations, took pictures of the evangelists in the afternoon, and enjoyed a beautiful day making connections with evangelists, bible school students, and FLM staff.
Prayers are welcome for the Evangelists, FLM, Friends of Madagascar Mission Group, and those who are living and working at the Bible Camp. God is faithful!
Sunday, August 11, 2024 – Worship and Meetings
Today we attended worship at a church and in a prison. Pastor David Lerseth baptized 7 inmates at the prison today.
Later in the day we visited with the student evangelists at the evangelist school.
Our schedule has been tight and our internet connection has been inconsistent.
We will update this journal page daily as we can. Thank you!
Saturday, August 10, 2024 – Travel and Meetings
Today we traveled from Antsirabe to Fianarantsoa.
Did we mention travel is slow in Madagascar?
The Mission Group enjoyed a meal together.
Friday, August 9, 2024 – Travel and Meetings
Today we traveled from Antananarivo to Antsirabe. Travel is slow in Madagascar. Upon our arrival we were fortunate to visit several locations.
Thursday, August 8, 2024 – Productive Meetings
Today the Madagascar and USA Friends of Madagascar Mission teams met in person. David Lerseth provided the leadership and inspiration for a good working relationship.
Pastor Samoela Georges shared information about The Fifohazana Movement, Madagascar’s Indigenous Christian Movement, in Madagascar. Afterwords, we enjoyed a lunch together with Pastor Georges and Fifohazana staff.
Wednesday, August 7, 2024 – The Mission Group is in Madagascar!
After two long plane trips, the Mission Group is now in Madagascar. They will start Thursday morning with breakfast and meetings. Stay tuned!
August 6-20, 2024
Friends of Madagascar Mission will be leaving soon for Madagascar for a “Global Mission Education Trip”. Our trips are for the purpose of engaging with the programs and projects that we support with prayer and financial support.
(The picture is of the group who participated in the trip in 2019, together with some of our Madagascar friends.)
We will be holding 6 summits. During these summits we will discuss FOMM’s relationship with the programs/projects, review our support and discuss the future goals. Some of the summits will be with small groups and the evangelism summit will have 100 people involved.
We invite you to follow us on our journey as we post a brief report each day of what we have experienced in photos and short descriptions/impressions of the day. Please keep us in your prayers and thanks for your interest in following us.
PEACE IN CHRIST!
The Rev. David P. Lerseth