Toliara Update: Encouragement Edition

I have been thankful to have the opportunity to come back to Toliara to say goodbye in person, but the prospect also brings sadness because I am leaving an assignment I have enjoyed.  However, over the past 5 days, God has given me closure.  As many of you know the reason I left Toliara in the first place was because I found myself struggling with theological differences between myself and my Malagasy family.  Coming back I was able to bring my Malagasy friend Vero who has provided a ton of support.  We are the same age and we have the same heart for ministry.  Although she is Malagasy, she is Baptist and doesn’t hold to the traditions and “extras” that my Lutheran, host mama, does. 

Our first outing was on Thursday last week.  I had started an English, Bible study group at one of the Toliara Universities.  This opportunity was set up by one of my leaders’ English students with a heart for missions and a lot of connections here in Toliara.  I led one study with the University students in Jan. before going to my AIM Orientation, and then met up with the group again when I came back.  I was planning to start the English, Bible Storying in March with my leader Kara but was too stress.  She started the group with the above mentioned English student and has been leading them ever since.  It was wonderful to join her now that I am back.  God has brought several students to the group who already have a heart for Jesus and want to learn more about His Word.  God has also brought a Muslim student and others who are seeking Him.  Both Vero and I were excited to see how the Bible study has progressed and how it has been used to encourage students to reach out in faith and tell others about Jesus.  As we closed the Bible study I was overwhelmed with excitement as I heard the prayers of the students.  We were of one heart and mind as we revealed in the things we had learned from the story of Moses and his example of obeying God. 

My next encounter was on Friday morning.  I had been going through my belongings organizing what I can take with me and what I need to give away.  I had purchased a wet suit to surf with my leaders, but never used it.  Pete started a surf school and has been surfing with several of the locals every Saturday.  Recently, they moved the Bible study time to before the surfing class allowing the water to warm up with the sun.  The same English student from the story above has been working with Pete and learning how to be a missionary.  He has planned a few of his own trips to the villages around Toliara to share the Bible stories.  Because of his love for surfing and our friendship, and his heart for ministry, I decided to give him the wet-suit I never used.  I called him on Friday and he was able to come over and get the suit.  As we sat down to chat he shared how God is using him to share the Bible stories on his trips.  He also said that the areas he is visiting are trapped by witch doctors and Malagasy traditions.  God is opening doors for Him, but he needs prayers for protection and for the eyes of the people to be open by the Spirit.  Please pray with us. 

Elekim (from the story above) shared with me that Toliara is asleep and they just need to be woken up.  This sentences has stuck with me over the last few days and really hit home yesterday (Sunday) as I had the opportunity to spend time with my church family here in Toliara and to talk with my Pastor’s wife.  The church had planned a get-together yesterday afternoon to visit the family of a church boy whose brother died.  They then went to the Pastor’s new house for fellowship and prayer.  The pastor was recently given the house as a gift through a lady (and church attendee) who works for a wealthy family.  The family built the parish especially for the Pastor and his wife, even though they don’t attend the church.  The pastor invited the church members over to the new house to praise God for His blessing. 

It was wonderful to chat with the Pastor’s wife as we walked, because she shared stories of how God is working in Toliara.  Somehow we ended up talking about the Lutheran church here in Toliara, the one that my Host mama is a part of.  Sandy (the pastor’s wife) explained that many of the women in the Lutheran church study to become a “shepherd.”  Their job is to cast out demons.  I was amazed by the stories that Sandy told, because I experienced the work of a “shepherd.”  My Malagasy mama invited a “shepherd” into my room in April to cast out demons.  The priestess has to wear all white and use a Bible with red letters to cast out the demons.  I was trying to learn from the experience and their beliefs, but was very confused by their ceremony.  They made me say that Jesus was in me and that there was no more demons.  Sandy explained that they often replace sin for demons and put more emphasis on casting out demons in people’s lives, than they do on repentance.  They blame manifestation for sin rather than taking responsibility for actions.  It was freeing to hear a Malagasy woman explain the difference, because it helped me to see the difference between God’s work and the traditions of the Lutheran Malagasy.  That being said, I know that my Malagasy Mama believes that Jesus is the only way to God.  We just have a different view of repentance after Jesus.  I have struggled to understand the experience I had with the “shepherd” for the last two months.  Now, because of my conversation with my Malagasy Pastor’s wife, I am encouraged.