November 9, 2022
Posts Tagged: peacemaking
November 8, 2022
A Reflection from the Jordan Extension to the Mosaic of Peace Conference
May 2, 2018
Finding the Name of Peace
Mosaic of Peace 2018, Day 2 What is in a name? It depends on the name. Our identity, our history, our future, our value—all the pieces that help form the narrative of who we are.—are tied to names. When we name our children, when we name our friends, when we name the places most special… Read more »
December 23, 2017
Environmental Education in Action in Madagascar
Dan Turk shared with us today about the Environmental Education Program, a part of the Developmental Department of the FJKM church. Dan described four main elements of the program: Student pastors at the Ivanto Seminary are trained in the garden, orchard and fruit tree nursery, part of the Seminary campus. In addition there are annual… Read more »
November 20, 2017
Protecting the Resources of Madagascar
We have been deeply impressed by the rich cultural heritage of the Malagasy people and the tremendous natural resources and the great biodiversity of this unique environment where 90% of the plants and animals on the island of Madagascar can be found nowhere else on earth. Sadly, the resources of this nation are at a… Read more »
November 18, 2017
A remote village in Madagascar and a bounty of blessings
We turned off the national road onto a deeply rutted dirt road that took us to the village of Mahatsinjo. The village, four miles away at the end of the road, had 25 homes, a Catholic Church, and a school. The district mayor and the vast majority of the town and children welcomed us. After… Read more »
November 17, 2017
Worshipping with the Malagasy People
On this Sunday I was touched by many messages of peacemaking. We arose once again this morning to the sounds of lemurs communicating, a wake up call by God’s wonderfully unique creation. Our group divided into four teams and fanned out across the area to attend the worship services of four congregations: Andasibe, Moramanga Fitiavana,… Read more »
November 14, 2017
Lemurs, Chameleons and Orchids, O My!
It was was a delightful and exciting Saturday exploring God’s unique and fascinating creation in the Madagascar rain forest. A group of 6 intrepid adventurers left at 6:30 am, well after the sun had risen and the lemurs had begun their “singing,” for what turned out to be a rather strenuous 6 hour hike into… Read more »
November 13, 2017
Women of the Church in Madagascar
We drove 3 1/2 hours from the capital city of Antananarivo to the community of Moramanga. Fifteen minutes into the trip, we realized that one of our leaders, Mission Co-Worker Elizabeth Turk, was not in either vehicle. She had been left behind back at the hotel and phones were not working. Elizabeth is a very… Read more »
November 11, 2017
Reflections on an Afternoon at Ivato Seminary
They stood as one and raised their voices in heartfelt praise, singing a Malagasy hymn in beautiful 4-part harmony. Then they sat, three at a wooden desk, elbow to elbow. Their composition books and pens were in sight, but not a single computer or tablet was seen in this Wi-Fi free classroom filled with ten… Read more »