The Bara People

February 2008

To start with exciting news and a wonderful praise point. Marc and Stacy with their son Issac have returned to Madagascar to continue their work with the Bara people. Thanks so much for your prayers! Issac had the "All clear" from the doctors and the head helmet worked very well and was taken off. The little family arrived in Tana mid January, and will spend one year in Finarantsoa (the largest town with facilities in the South) fitting back into Malagasy life with baby Issac, before moving South. Please would you continue praying for this family and for the year ahead.

News from Francois and Florence

They are very well and the people are busy tending rice in their fields ready for the harvest in April. Please pray for a good harvest.

Pray for TSANGAVELO – he was the first convert to Christ and it is their wish for him to be the first church elder. Tsangavelo and his wife Razery lost their son, aged 16 years, last year when there was an accident on the road to school near Sakaraha which is about 40 km from their village, Besakoa.

Before that, some people in the Besakoa village planned to send their kids to school in Sakaraha too, however, because of the accident, the people became afraid to send them. The people in Francoise and Florence's village have now asked Florence to teach their kids.The new school started in October 2007.

There is still persecution for new Christians as they live among pagan people. It's like sheep in the midst of wolves. We pray that our Lord, Jesus Christ will use them as his witnesses.

Other prayer points:

• Soaivarainy can read the Bible now and his desire is that he will be able to share it with others;
• Pray especially for François & Florence as they continue to disciple the new Bara believers & lead the church in our area;
• If it's God’s will, they will plan to start building the church in April 2008;
• Pray for the new Christians, that they would grow in their knowledge of the Word & in their relationship with God;
• Pray that others would come to put their faith in Christ as a result of the believers’ witness;
• Teammates to join us in the work;
• That the Bara will be open & receptive to the Gospel