Madagascar

My son Ted is returning home from spending nearly 2 years in Madagascar. What a fascinating place! It is the home to 13-17 million people of mixed racial and religious background. A French colony for years, official government business is still conducted in French, but the people speak Malagasy. According to Ted, it is a language that lacks many of the terms we use and so expressions must be created from a combination of words.

Ted loves the Malagasy people. He often spoke of their simple, fun-loving ways. He loves their jokes and games. On his birthday some friends got together to play games and eat. They celebrated his birthday by cracking an egg on his head and then pouring flour over it.

He and his missionary companions walked up and down the hills and roads looking for people to share the gospel of Jesus Christ. Many do not have addresses, and are found only by following complicated directions.

A fair-skinned American being a novelty, some of the parents would tell their children that the missionaries had horns or some other nonsense. Since an American who was fluent in Malagasy was so unusual and unexpected, Ted would join in the gag and call out to the children that he felt very hungry and would enjoy eating a malagasy child.

We're excited to get him home this Thursday night after 28 hours of travel. Then he and his brother Mark will both speak in church this Sunday. Ted to report his mission and Mark to say goodbye as he leaves for 2 years in Chihuahua, Mexico.

Bittersweet.