The significance and burden of "going" has begun to weigh more heavily on us as we draw closer to our departure for Madagascar.  We have become more acutely aware of the logistical, educational, cultural, emotional, and spiritual burden that is wrapped around this two letter command... Go!  We have realized that we cannot be self-reliant in this endeavor.  We need partners who back us up through prayer, emotional support, and finances.  In essence, we need to be Sent. (Rom 10:13-17)
 
We are fortunate to have a growing group of individual and church partners who are meeting us in this need.  Our home church, First Covenant Church, has taken us in like family and committed to Sending us.  They are constantly encouraging us and supporting us in this endeavor in a myriad of ways.  A new church partner is Faithbridge UMC in Houston, Texas.  This church has eagerly jumped into partnership with us to promote health and healing in Madagascar.  We look forward to a growing relationship with this church as they Send and we Go.

Picture is of our family at First Covenant Church, Anchorage, Alaska

The end of January found us in Littleton, Colorado for a WorldVenture conference.  We arrived in balmy 70 degree weather and met Mandy's mother at the airport.  It was great to see her and she was an incredible help since she hung out with Oliver while Mandy and I were in meetings.  During this conference we covered issues related to our fundraising and the myriad of details involving transition to life and work in Madagascar.  It was encouraging to gather with couples from around the country who are at the same stage in preparations to move internationally.
 
A highlight for us was spending some time with Jamie and Alissa Shattenberg and their two daughters Isabella and Eliana.  The Shattenbergs are our friends and partners in ministry who will be traveling back to Madagascar with us.  Jamie is the Madagascar director of a reforestation program called Eden Projects and has done some extensive work with the local church.  Alissa is a nurse practitioner who plans to be involved in health care education.  This picture shows us at the Denver aquarium during one of the fleeting moments that we could get all seven of us in one picture frame.

Madagascar has been hit by both physical and political cyclones over the last few weeks.  First came the news that two cyclones were bombarding the island from two different directions.  This event is heralding the beginning of the storm season for Madagascar.  Over the years this country has been devastated by multiple storms.  Fortunately, the immediate impact of the recent cyclones have been minimal with only around 20,000 people made homeless.  The long-term repercussions have the potential to be devastating.  The palm leaf and mud brick homes can often be rebuilt quickly but the decimation of crops can spell out starvation later in the year.
 
The political storm that has hit Madagascar over the last week seems to be a battle between Ravalomanana, the president of Madagascar, and Rajoelina, the mayor of the capital city, according to various reports from BBC and CNN news.  Demonstrations became violent causing the deaths of over 100 people across the nation and the destruction of many shops.  These are tense times for the Malagasy people as they grapple with the turbulent politics of a young democracy.

*Cyclone- The Indian Ocean equivalent of hurricane.