Mud butter

I (Andy) want to thank everyone who prayed for me on my recent trip out to the bush as I went to visit the cities Ambatondrazaka & Andilamena!  We had a successful trip to Ambatondrazaka, and were able to meet with a small Baptist church there.  They even gave me some information about two people groups that I was searching for in the area.  One such people group, the Tanosimbohangy, live in a city about 150km from Ambatondrazaka—so I decided to take a ‘quick’ trip up there on Monday, January 20^th.  The story below is from my notes on the trip, with some explanations to make it more readable.

I woke early in Ambatondrazaka so that I could make the 4-5 hour trip to Andilamena, where the Tanosimbohangy people live.  I went downstairs at 5:30am to discover that my rear tire was flat!  After about 30 minutes I got the tire changed out with the spare.  I did not feel safe trying to drive on rough roads with out a spare tire so I set about finding a place to get my spare fixed.  I had to wait about 45 minutes to an hour for the mpanamboatra pneus [aka: “tire fixer guy”] to open, and then he had the tire fixed and back in the spare tire spot in no time so I was on my way shortly after 8am.  I started feeling sick to my stomach about 45 minutes into my drive.  [I should mention at this point that we had eaten at a small Malagasy restaurant the night before my trip, and the food was not kind to my stomach] About an hour later, I was able to stop at the last gas station in a town called Tanambe-for which my stomach was thankful.  Then I made my way on the bad road from the north end of the loop road around Lake Alaotra towards Andilamena.  I should have known when I passed through the intersection and there were a lot of trucks parked there, that attempting the journey any further was a mistake.  There was definitely more water (about a foot deep) than when I went tried to go through the first part of the road 2 days prior, but it was passable so I kept on. [Again, I need to mention that there was a steady rain for most of the day Sunday, and it had started again as a constant drizzle at about 9 am, making everything even more wet]   After the early water, there was a few kilometers of better road.  During this stretch, my stomach started to protest again what I had eaten the night before, so I had to find a semi-secluded place to uhm…answer the call of nature.  After that job was done, I got back on the road to Andilamena. 

Then I hit the patch of mud butter, that's the best way I can describe the 1 foot thick mud that I was driving through.  I got stuck, briefly, a couple times and then almost slid slowly off the road due to the 'mud butter;' I even considered turning around at this point but I made it through that tough stretch, and decided to keep going.  I passed another SUV coming from the other direction and asked about the road condition.  He said it was rough but passable if I stayed in the middle of the road, mainly in the ruts left by the trucks that had gone before.  I decided to continue on.  Big.  Mistake. 

I was only able to go another 200-300 meters up the road before seeing nothing but 'mud butter' up ahead, and no real path through it.  I stopped and prayed, and felt that God was telling me that I was not going to get to Andilamena that day.  I was in a spot where I was able to turn around in the middle of this muddy road and started back towards Ambatondrazaka.  The problems got worse when I returned to the bad section of 'mud butter.'  The first time through I had gotten stuck trying to go outside of the ruts left by other vehicles so this time I resolved to follow the ruts and stay out of trouble.  Things were going well early on, then my stomach started to protest again.  I was following the ruts, and went into a large puddle (average size for my driving that day).  I knew as soon as I went in I was in trouble.  This puddle was not just muddy water, it was more like the consistency of a Frosty, and it was easily three feet deep.  So here I am, stuck in the mud, unable to get out of my car because it would have then been flooded with 'frosty mud' and the pain in my stomach has been slowly building telling me that I needed to be anywhere but where I was.  I prayed, and I tried to rock the car back and forth in the puddle in order to get the momentum and maybe even the traction necessary to get free, and the prayed some more.  It felt like forever being stuck in that mud, I truly started getting scared that I would be stuck and have to abandon the truck in the middle of nowhere.  The longer the truck sat the more it would sink into the bed of mud under the Frosty puddle.  I did not even dare climbing out in order to answer nature’s very insistent call because of this fear.  At this point, the nearest village is at least 3 km away and anyone with a truck capable of pulling me out is 10km back at the large intersection.  I prayed more.  I prayed harder.  After a long time (it felt like an hour but was probably like 10 minutes) and a lot of prayer, I was able to escape the 'Frosty mud' pit.  I still had to navigate the rest of the 'mud butter' at this point-but I was praising God.  After I finally made it to a point I could stop (with hopes of being able to move again) I was able to answer nature’s insistent call sheltered by my car.  

I am truly blessed!  God delivered me from being stuck and stranded in a mud pit; there is no other explanation for my escape.  There is no other way I could have gotten out- I had no tow rope, no boards to shim under the tires and I was alone.  As I drove, safely, back to Ambatondrazaka I thought of Psalm 40 and how God had gotten me out of this mess!  "I waited patiently for The Lord; he turned to me and heard my cry.  He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand." (Psalm 40:1-2, NIV)  Total dependence on God is scary, but it is so rewarding.  My reward is not being free of that slimy pit (although that is nice, too) but a closer walk/connection with Him. 

As I returned to Ambatondrazaka people were staring at me, in my mud covered car.  Usually people stare at us here because we are foreigners in their country, but they were genuinely impressed by what they thought my mud covered car signified--that I had conquered some tough road...and with God's help, I guess I had. 

Families and Traditions

            

Happy New Year from the Mahoneys!

         A few days ago, it was quite chilly outside (60 degrees or less, and yes that most certainly is chilly for this time of year here;)) because it had been raining so much…so I took the opportunity to make a wonderful, hot & creamy cup of hot chocolate—yum!  To most of you reading this, you might simply glance over the importance of what I just said.  Today is the 7th of January and we have already celebrated Christmas & New years without a bit of snow, “weather outside [being] frightful”, cold air or anything!!  I don’t even like the cold, but it doesn’t feel right to sing certain Christmas songs (especially “Frosty the Snowman” or “Walking in a Winter Wonderland”), hang stockings by the fireplace or wear a nice scarf or Christmas sweater (not the ugly ones that your grandma wears) when you are sweating much of the time.  Likewise, it doesn’t feel the same when your extended family is not with you to share this special time of year. 

            But nearly two years ago before we started this journey so far away from family, God showed me a promise that He had made long ago in Matthew 19:29—“And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or lands, for my name's sake, will receive a hundredfold…” in another gospel (Mark) Jesus adds at the end “in this life and the life to come”….

Everyone except Eli (our photographer) & Allie who was asleep

     And He has certainly answered that prayer time and time again as we reflect on all His blessings this season.  First, we were so blessed to spend a Christmas meal with our ‘Malagasy family’ who also happen to be our workers.  We shared the Christmas story, ate together and laughed together—we thank God for each of them!!  

We ate together

We laughed together!

            

 Then Christmas Eve, we were blessed again to share a meal with our close friends here in Tana.  We enjoyed sharing in their new tradition of eating cheese fondue on and just enjoying time spent together.  The night ended with gingerbread cake, coffee and excited kids who didn’t want to go to bed!  

All the kids at Christmas Eve (except for Allie)

 

My friend Karina & I

Christmas day and New Year’s day, we enjoyed time with just our own family making new memories and traditions.  

Christmas Day: getting ready to hear the Christmas story

 Perhaps we started a new tradition that when there is no snow for a snowball fight, on Christmas day, you improvise with a water gun fight (especially when it is over 80 degrees outside).  

She loved getting wet!

Confetti!

Happy New Year from the Mahoneys!

 We enjoyed a new meal for Christmas of meatloaf and scalloped potatoes (maybe another tradition started with inspiration from Andy’s family).  We finished with a yummy chocolate birthday cake for Jesus with store bought frosting from America (thanks to our Mill Family)!  For New Years Eve, we baked homemade chocolate chip cookies and started a new tradition of making confetti to throw to bring in the New Year (or at least close enough for Eli’s sake).  The girls brought in the New year as the most adorable sleeping beauties! :)

Sleeping Beauty #2

Sleeping Beauty #1

More fun with confetti on New year's day

She was a big fan!

            

But by far, our favorite tradition we had this holiday season came after the new year.  We had the opportunity, as a family, to visit a nearby orphanage to love on the children and share the gospel with them.   

We talked to about 55 children plus some adults

What a huge blessing it was to our family, to share the gospel with the kids through making salvation bracelets with them, and loving on them (especially the babies)!  It truly warmed my heart so much to see Eli playing soccer with the older kids and holding hands with the director of the orphanage as we walked back from the baby's/ girl's home.  As we were driving home, the kids were talking about how they couldn’t wait to go back and love on the babies again.

      Then Eli asked, “Can’t we just ask them if we can adopt ‘em?”  I wish sweet boy—I really do. 

 

 Unfortunately, this organization doesn’t yet have the ability to legally do this.  Especially during this season when families gather together, it really saddens me to think that none of these precious children will have families to call their own.  But then I am encouraged when I think of what God did and what He has promised in Galatians 4:4-7— “But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons.  And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, ‘Abba! Father!’  So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God.”

       
          Just look how many times it mentions son or father or adoption!  You see, God allowed His Son to leave His forever home to live with an ‘adopted family’ in a temporary place, so that these children (& each of us) could be adopted by God, into His forever family, being co-heirs with Christ and living in His forever home that Jesus has prepared for us.  They (& each of us) can cry out to Him at any point in time, in any hour of need as our one and only Abba Father who loves us more than any earthly father or mother and can fully meet our needs.  He is the only gift at Christmas time that truly lasts and satisfies our souls!