MADAGASCAR (Back)

Nothing can prepare you for what you will experience when you land in Antananarivo, the capital of the Island of Madagascar. When your eyes catch the first few buildings from the aeroplane, you get the impression that this will be a new experience, but as you get off the plane, you start to experience a country that was left behind somewhere in time.

Madagascar can bring forth different kinds of emotions. It is not always easy when things work a bit differently from what you are used to. Sometimes, as you look at and experience Madagascar, it will bring forth strong emotions. At times Madagascar looks like a young virgin girl that has been raped and left naked to fend for herself in obscurity and darkness. Other times a friendly gentle smile of a Malagasy man or woman will touch your heart and their warm friendliness will make it difficult to forget the people or the island.

Maybe there will someday be a way that you can make a difference to help this island and its people.

A VISIT TO MADAGASCAR

As our Air Madagascar flight was approaching Antananarivo, I could see the city from a distance. Around the city I could also see small little double story houses that gave the impression of small farmhouses.

As we went through customs, I had the first opportunity to practice my French. Bonjour. Bonjour. The customs officer wrote down my information on a list. No computers, everything very basic. It reminded me of South Africa 30 years ago. Even the customs kiosk looked like something out of my childhood days. "Interesting", I thought to myself I am sure at that moment there must have been a frown on my face. As I picked up my luggage, I saw all the people looking at me with such expectation.

This is just an introduction to give you an idea of what I experienced in Madagascar. Madagascar is a very poor country, but the people are beautiful, gentle and an experience to experience. The need in the country is great. The beggars are everywhere in the capital city. Sometimes they will walk with you a few hundred meters begging, begging and begging without stop. As you walk the streets and especially in certain areas, you just hear the words: monsieur, monsieur, monsieur, as far as you go. The one boy followed me as I left my hotel and two blocks further on, he was still next to me. I then turned around and walked back to the hotel and all the way he was still following me. When I stopped infront of the hotel I looked at him and he kept on repeating the words: "J'ai faim" ("I'm hungry") for a couple of minutes non-stop. Experiences like this will have an effect on you. After I returned to South Africa, I looked at the food in Woolworths and just felt too guilty to buy any.

MADAGASCAR IS CALLING YOU

During the 19th century, many missionaries worked in Madagascar. Even though ancestors still play a big role, even among Christians, 45% of Madagascar professes Christianity.

Do not only see Madagascar and the need there, but realize that there are things of Madagascar in many countries - even in our own countries.

A few thoughts:
Start where you are.
See the need of the world, - it's not only physical.
Madagascar is calling the body of Christ to mobilize, to impact the world.

Your "Madagascar" may be in Europe, America or Asia.
Even the richest countries in the world can be poorer than Madagascar.
The poorest people in this world are the people that are without Christ.
We are moved by poverty in the physical.
Are we moved by the spiritually poorest countries in the world?
There are a lot of spiritual hunger and thirst in the world.
You can win the whole world, but you can loose your soul.
If we look at our own lives - there could be an even greater spiritual poverty in our personal life than in Madagascar.

Statistics

http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos/ma.html#Intro

Video

Download Madagascar Video. Driving in Antananarivo. (6,298 KB
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