Week 18 & 19: One Visitor, Many Goodbyes

Well it certainly has been an interesting two weeks. Last week started off pretty slow, just getting things ready to leave and finishing off work stuff. Then my mom arrived and I was able to show her all around the ship and Toamasina. Unfortunately it rained the whole time she was here, but we made it work! She sang karaoke for the first time – we sang ‘Imagine’ by John Lennon and some Bob Marley songs. We rented a quad and went north, exploring different areas and getting soaked on the way back. That led to us having to return the quad dressed in our Sunday best and with a flat tire. She experienced Malagasy church and a Mercy Ships service. We had spontaneous adventures, such as discovering a buffet breakfast and being given a full tour of a palm plantation (including the factory), when all we wanted was to see the furry palm trees. But it was so amazing, and the guide took us up a mountain with an unreal view, and through a village to a bridge overlooking the river. She spent some time with my friends going to the bazaar and buying souvenirs, while I worked the thank you reception for the ship, which they hold to thank all the government, business and NGO partners who helped us while we were here.

I was in charge of the visiting media, making sure they didn’t bother our distinguished guests too much, and I would say that went pretty well! I was also helping hand out the name badges – it was fun to see the day crew in charge, and they did an awesome job. At one point I was trying to organize the name badges in alphabetical order, and that was so difficult! So many last names start with Ra (which I learned means blood), and then go on for another 15 or so letters. But I did it! My friend also gave me the challenge of naming ten Malagasy words (nailed it!) and then our medical photographer took some pictures of us. I’ve been really unmotivated lately – I tend to be an all or nothing kind of person so I struggle when things are slow. I was really wondering if I would be able to come back and feel purposeful if work was like this, but then when we were getting ready for the event, I was so happy and filled with energy! My friend pointed out that I was glowing – I was so excited to have something to do. I think if I can continue to find things to do and ways to serve, than I will be okay. But I know I also need to work on feeling purposeful outside of my assigned work, finding purpose in doing His work – loving and serving each person I meet. That work never ends, so I should never find myself with nothing to do.

Some of the beautiful ladies I had to
say goodbye to at church.

After the reception came the hardest part – goodbye. I had been kind of sneaky and didn’t tell many people when I was leaving because I hate goodbyes. I very much live in the moment so I have a hard time comprehending that this is a permanent goodbye. I ran around saying as many goodbyes as I could and tried to keep it together. I am so excited to see what all the amazing ladies that I met will do. They are such Godly women, and I have learned so much from them. Saying goodbye to the day crew was also really hard – I pray that God would bless them and open up doors for them when the ship leaves because I know they want to serve Him!

Then my mom and I were off to see a little bit more of Madagascar before we left. We stopped one night in Andasibe, stayed in a beautiful guest lodge and got to walk through the rainforest and see some lemurs. Randomly we ran into a Canadian guy from Toronto who was there with Projects Abroad, studying how poverty impacts the environment. There were 9 of them staying in that small village, doing various things from ecology to social work. It’s pretty amazing. Then we headed up to Antananarivo, the capital, and had a crazy long taxi ride to the guest house. At some points, the driver didn’t even turn his engine on, he just coasted downhill for a km or so. Today, we explored Tana on foot, starting with the old palace, which is the highest point and provides an absolutely breath taking view. This entire country is insanely beautiful – I couldn’t stop praising God, the creator of all of this. We then walked through high town, which really resembles vieux Quebec with its cobblestone streets, steep roads and architecture. I had no idea that Tana had a city centre like this.

After our lovely walk, we went to visit Akany Avoko, the orphanage which sent 50 girls to come visit us at Easter. It was so good to get to see where they live and to see the girls again. They remembered me and there was lots of hugs and kisses. The compound is basically self-sustaining, growing their own vegetables, they have cows and chickens, and they have solar power and some wind power. They do so much with so little, it’s really encouraging. And they teach the girls so many things, such as sewing, cooking, hairdressing, weaving, languages, reading and writing, etc. There are around 160 girls who stay there because they have been removed from their homes for various reasons or abandoned, and the government puts them there but provides no financial aid. That place is filled with beautiful girls, who have started to flourish thanks to the love that is poured out on them.

And now, we get ready to leave. In a few hours, we will fly out of Madagascar and return home. I pray that this would not be goodbye forever, that somehow I would find my way back here, if God wills it. Madagascar has absolutely stolen my heart and I don’t want to leave. I feel like I have so much more I can learn from these people and so much more to give. However God put this verse on my heart today: But you will not leave in haste or go in flight; for the Lord will go before you, the God of Israel will be your rear guard (Isaiah 52:12). What an encouragement. God goes before me to determine my path and He comes behind me to support me. I will walk forward on the path He has set, filled with a joy and peace that can only come from Him.

Soon, I will be home and get to see all of you in person, so I am going to take a break with my blog and resume it once I get to Texas for on boarding!

I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws. Then you will live in the land I gave your ancestors; you will be my people, and I will be your God. – Ezekiel 36:26-28