Meeting With The Minister

We met with the National Minister of Water (left) to discuss The Church's role in developing clean water systems in rural Madagascar. We were warmly received and they were extremely interested in our work and very appreciative. We were invited to their future meetings with the other entities doing water development in the Country. The picture in the background is the new President.

Andranomiely Water Project

The specks across the valley at the base of the mountain are the houses of Manazary, the village that will be receiving a clean water system sponsored by Humanitarian Services. This is part of our first water project of 2009. In the valley below is the barren rice fields that will be a brilliant green in another three months.

This is life in the country commune of Andranomiely.The man is busy sifting sand. The sand is then sold for use in plaster and cement. The fruit stand in the background is a common sight and is a prime source of income for the poorer people. The dogs sleep all day and roam and bark all night.

The official agreement documents covering the local Commune, the Contractors and LDS Humanitarian Services are formally signed in the lush community center at Andranomiely and is witnessed by many of the local townsfolk. The Commune Mayor is in the center with the two contractors are on each end

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Missionaries

Size makes no difference. The Smallest Missionary, Elder Vonjy, and the largest, Elder Mahina are companions and make quite a sight walking down the street together. Elder Vonjy is a native Malagasy and Elder Mahina has a football scholarship at BYU. Both are great Elders.





This is the June 2009 version of the Madagascar Mission, together for the final time at Island Conference. President and Sister Gaya (front center) are leaving 1 July along with ten of the Mission's finest missionaries shown in the picture below.

Departing Missionaries. Back row (L to R), Elder Christensen, Elder Fuga, Sister Gaya, Pres. Gaya, Elder Pousima, Elder Ashcraft, & Elder Drennan. Front row (L to R), Elder O'Day, Elder Clark, Elder Dong, Elder Baldwin & Elder Fitts. All great Missionaries. On a sad note, Elder Ashcraft's father was killed in a mountaineering accident just two months ago near Mt. Whitney in California. He courageously elected to finish his mission even though he was devastated.

The Neighborhood

These sweet little girls use our entry driveway to play hop scotch, jump rope and assorted other games. We love seeing their smiling faces as we return from the office each evening.

This crew is lined up on the wall outside of our compound each evening waiting for the free candy that we give them. We call them "little Democrats" because of their dependence on the candy. They have come to view it as an entitlement, but we love them anyway, even though they sometimes get rowdy, aggressive and obnoxious much the same as the Democrats in the States.

This is a view of our apartment compound from across the valley. Note the high-rise dwelling just beneath our security fence. The fence is no longer as secure as it once was. The little dwellings below use rocks, bricks and old tires to hold down the roofing materials. They are cheaper and more abundant than nails. That is quite the little community.

Birthday Girl

Sister Bird had her Birthday June 9th. Here she is in the office celebrating by eating chocolates. We are not telling which birthday it was, but the hint is that she is now eligable for Medicare. Welcome to the club!

Vatomandry Area Scenery

Gaby, Elder and Sister Bird and Elder Secrist on the beach at Vatomandry. This is on the East-central coast of Madagascar, very near where the animals in the movie "Madagascar" landed.

Sister Bird could not resist the warm waters of the Indian Ocean.

Sunrise on the East coast is almost as spectacular as the sunsets on the West coast.

Early morning departure of the native fishermen. Sleeping rock is in the background.

Antanambao - Manampotsy Scenery

A small stream passes through Antanambao - Manampotsy. Banana trees are a part of the landscape everywhere you look.

The children are always the best part of the beautiful scenery we see everywhere we go in the country. You can see both the African and Asian look in this brother and sister.

The Manampotsy River is undoubtedly the most beautiful river we have yet seen in Madagascar. Roger Heywood, eat your heart out!

This is a typical subdivision of the Eastern coastal area. The tribe known as the Betsimis Araka tribe inhabits this area of Madagascar.

Dental Week in Action

This lady is receiving an extraction free of charge as a part of the project. The dentists did 780 extractions the first day of this 4 day event.

















This is the crowd gathered at the hospital - dental facility, awaiting their turn with the dentists. Tooth decay is a major health problem for the Malagasy people. They usually live with the decay until extraction is the only remaining option. Extractions are much cheaper than fillings and most people have multiple teeth missing.

National Dental Week Festivities

The festivities for Dental week were held at the Antanambao - Manampotsy town square. The local ladies dancing club provided the opening entertainment and were a big hit with the more than two thousand people gathered for the program.

Sister Bird gave the speech, representing the LDS Humanitarian Services. Gaby, as always, does a great job of interpreting. She always gets a big ovation when she tells how we have left our children and grand children in America to come to Madagascar to serve the people.

It was our privilege to be on the program with the National Minister of Health, Dr. Henri RANAIVOHARISOA. He was a warm and friendly man and expressed the desire to meet with us again. He said he had seen our large beautiful church in Switzerland. We think he was referring to the Temple there.

Elder Fitts and Elder Secrist ( the nephew of the Elder Secrist we knew in Great Falls ), join us in distributing tooth brushes to the village children. We were told that we were the first Americans ever to visit this area. We will never know if this is really true, but it sounds nice and makes a good story.

Antanambao - Manampotsy

The fabulous Hotel S.D.L. in Antanambao - Manampotsy is where we lodged for the National Dental Week celebration and ceremony. There was no rating on the hotel sign, but we assigned it a minus 2 star rating based on the available amenities. It was not the nicest place we have ever stayed in, but it was definitely Madagascar and by far the best place in town.

Gaby, Elder Fitts, Elder Secrist and Sister Bird in the banquet room of the fabulous Hotel S.D.L.

They were not allowing pictures of the hotel kitchen (one wonders why), but we snuck this one anyway.

We pause for pictures in front of the hotel prior to the beginning of the Dental Week festivities. Note the Malagasy Flag.