It's been 'cooler' and overcast with intermittent rain these past few days. The humidity is yucky, but the coolness is nice especially at bedtime and during church. I've been thinking this last week about something i heard in the preach last Sunday, about inviting those who cannot reciprocate my hospitality over for a meal. It's definitely something i need to work on. Recently, however, we've been spending quality time with friends who are leaving in two weeks-ish. Friday afternoon Josh went early to play cricket with Adam and Renier. Apparently he didnt suck too badly and Naomi said she couldnt even laugh at him. Today he's moaning of his very stiff muscles, however. We enjoyed a supper of mostly protein (South African sausage, Manitoban farmer sausage, and steak) and the new "everytime salad" that i've been making these past few weeks (two seed dressing over greens, walnuts and apples. yum!). We capped off with some sweet pavlova which apparently was Josh's 10% commission for sending out an advertisement/recommendation for the mission community to purchase A&N's never used fire basket that no one seemed interested in buying for reasons we couldnt fathom.

We are so sad to see them leaving and especially that our boys cant grow up playing together. I was so looking forward to hearing Noah learn to talk with an Aussie accent. Hopefully we'll get to see them again when they are relocated somewhere near-ish to us and we can vacation at their place.

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Tomorrow is my mom's 50th birthday. I am sad to miss celebrating her on that day in person. As for many people who leave home, grow up and learn to see their parents as people rather than just parents I've seen in the last few years how amazing my mother is and have learned to admire my mom for her seemingly inexhaustible acts of kindness done for others. I've been repeatedly amazed, in the last few years especially, at her servant-like actions towards family and friends who have suffered tragedy or difficulty, often pushing herself past fatigue in order to bring a meal, clean a house, or offer companionship. She does more than i could ever do and then has energy to play so exuberantly with her grandson, cook grand meals for her own children and ensure there's often a puffed wheat cake for Josh to munch on. I aspire to being a mom like my mom was to me and a servant-leader as my mother is to those around her. I hope that one day i can self-less-ly serve others as she does with seemingly unending energy.

Mom, happy birthday! I pray for you innumerable blessings, new every morning, and the joy of the Lord in your daily life even as i've taken your grandsons so far away from you. I know it doesnt make it any less painful, but i do wish also that we could live just next door to you.

Love,
your daughter.

I've 15 minutes before i promised myself i'd be in bed (8:30 is already half hour past the time i wanted to be trying to fall asleep!) but the internet seems fast(er) and these photos just make me giggle, so you definitely should see them. (heehee)

This here's the "airplane sequence".

the pose.

banking right

banking left

banking right again...

and a nose dive! ("take a picture of me taking a dive mom!")

This was our 'craft' for the day today. He had more fun helping to make the plane than actually wearing it. That's Judah for you. The prop turns, which he thought was cool.

His quotable quote today was "let's make a cake with flavour!" (i confess i was a bit affronted by this comment, as though my cakes dont usually have flavour?!)

Asher's newest accomplishment: holding toy and bringing it to his mouth. Let's hear it for the boy!

i confess, i didnt realize that the previous entry had actually posted. after spending a considerable amount of time writing it i took a quick look to make sure the skype logo was green before i clicked the post button and then it all went blank and all that writing (!) was lost, so i thought. It was rather frustrating, which may have been the reason i havent blogged in a week... well, that and the internet has been so terrible this whole time. argh!

now's not a great time for blogging either, mind you. Asher didnt sleep all last night so he and i are quite tired and crabby. here's to hoping for a better night tonight.

This last sunday was family day at church. Nothing like an uncontrolled bouncy castle overrun with big boys not giving the little kids a turn to garner warm feelings of family life among church members.

Here are all the smaller kids waiting not-so-patiently for their long awaited turn. In true rich-missionary fashion ;-D we thought perhaps we could just rent our own bouncy castle, since they're about 50-100$ for the day (?). Maybe for Easter or Judah's birthday.

Oops. looks like i forgot to turn this photo around, but i think you can get the idea this way. I was just wondering if in Canada we can grow such long stemmed roses? I'm always amazed by them here.

Josh is off driving the children to school this morning. We've got 3 one-way legs of driving per week. Josh does the drop offs at 7:15-7:30 am. This morning is a particularly sopping one as it's been raining since 2pm yesterday afternoon. The day before i got stuck in a similar rain storm (think walking through a swimming pool, because that's how heavy the rain is!) while trying to find a new pair of sandals at the souvenir market. The rain came and the shop keeper closed me into the shop with her and the other people who were trying to sell me things. I was truly a captive audience. That shopping trip, despite the hilarity of being trapped in a shack while the rains pounded down, was really distressing for the most part. Those poor sellers are simply desperate for someone to purchase their wares. They have so many lovely things to sell, but because of the political situation and the subsequent drop in tourism there arent many people who come to buy. When i ask the price of something they give outrageous prices!! and when i tell them that only last year the same thing was a fraction of the price they get such a sad look in their eyes. It breaks my heart to see such desperate people trying so hard to make a living. 

The rains also remind me that January to March is not really the best time to come visit, if that was your plan The cyclone season/autumn windy season makes for temperamental weather, which might make for disappointing travel plans if we hit on the wrong week. Anyway, if that's the only time you can come then by all means, something is better than nothing. September-December is surely the best time to come i reckon.

There are many people who blog in this world, as i began to realize anew on Tuesday after spending a significant amount of time on the internet looking for creative things i could do with my boy, for my boys, and for myself as a form of entertainment. There are blogs about making cakes with some pretty spectacular photos!, blogs about homeschooling and homesteading. There are people who write copious amounts on the topic of sewing projects including photos, tutorials, and patterns. As it is in the blogosphere, i followed one link trail to an article about blog envy. (weighty pause while we shake our heads and ponder where we've come to in this world). This article linked me further to a group (?) called BlogHer: Life well said (how witty) which is an umbrella for all sorts of women who write articles on everything under the sun. This particular piece listed some information on blogging that i have been heretofore unaware of. Did you know that some people attend conferences on the topic of blogging and social networking?! That some people who blog do it with the intent to increase their reader traffic and comment numbers to insane amounts. They trade secrets on how to write so that more people will comment, how to, for example, boost your comments from 20 (!) to 50 or 100 comment posts per blog entry! (This obviously means that they are writing about things other than what their 3 month old did that morning or how much he pukes). I also read about how these same bloggers pine for more accomplished bloggers (who i assume are rated as such by the number of hits on their site) to read and comment on their blog. 

Truly, as i read these blogs and looked at the phenomenal photos of the insanely creative things that stay at home moms are doing with textiles and with their children i confess i began to feel somewhat disheartened. <sigh> LOOK at all those cool things those moms are doing! I cant even justify my lack of coolness because i am a mom with 2 children, because these also are moms with kids at home. Look at all those ways in which these women are creating such beautiful things for themselves and their families, eco-friendly products, home-made what-have-yous! <sigh>  As i left the computer and recognized the mood these revelations had put me into i began to wonder why it was that such ingenuity would flummox me so.

It's because i'm envious, to be blunt. I gaze at those professional looking photos, done at home by an amateur, of home-made sewing projects with bright and beautiful fabrics. Made for their children or themselves, sharing their tips and inspirations and where they get their materials. Where do these bloggers find the time to a) make this stuff in the first place, b) blog about it, and c) make their weblog look so professional and suave?! One site had an entry every day showing a project she had accomplished! ACK!

By Wednesday i had calmed myself enough to go back to some of these web places and rationally take a closer look at some of the things that i thought i might create myself had i the time and the energy to do so... but then i'm thrown again into the "depths of despair" when i realize that the supplies they require are things i've never seen available where i live. ARGH! Mais oui, herein lies the problem and the challenge: these bloggers, for the most part, arent living in a place where fabric and craft stores arent a)just around the corner (with an easy route to get there and a spacious parking lot in which to park i might add) and b) the fabric and craft stores, if there are such, dont have the project items all neatly laid out with helpful hints on how to put projects together. What makes my life (and blog) different from theirs is, obviously, i live in Madagascar and therefore must be MORE creative in being creative because i must locate the "ingredients", as it were, from open markets, Indian fabric shops, and French grocery stores and somehow piece them together to make something lovely. It is at the same time a source of triumphant accomplishment and distinction as well as utter exhaustion. To be sure, I am one who thrives on that added source of challenge in my drive to be creative. Not everyone has those sorts of parameters within which to work. Not everyone who is driven to write, to blog, is writing about the foreign aspects of everyday life. Indeed, where one woman blogs about the beautiful sewing project she has accomplished, she does not need to mention her trip to the fabric shop, how she got there and what she encountered as she perused the thousands of fabric choices at her fingertips. Invariably my trip to the fabric shop is somewhat more... unique, shall we say.

I know i must sound like a petulant little girl trying to scratch out some sort of individuality within an online world of uber-creative writers and crafters, both things i enjoy and aspire to excel in. Although i notice now and again that my neighbour across the driveway gets 5 more comments than i do on any given blog entry and i have been known to look for ways to increase comments on my own site, I do realize that the purpose and intent of my writing is not to solicit vast numbers of readers, luring unknown people to read and comment on my site and thereby 'virtually' back-pat my intellectual prowess and my written form. I will most likely never attend a blogging conference or pay to learn how to turn my blog into a more professional looking site. Of course i am tickled with glee (and humility, to be sure) when we're back in our home country and people who i hardly know come to speak with me and tell me how they enjoy reading my blog. Those kinds of things, however, cause me to reevaluate anew the responsibility of writing, for then i am reminded that i am not blogging purely to post weekly photos of my boys for the satisfaction of my parents, nor am i writing for to moan about the difficulties of normal life to solicit encouragement from my girlfriends (although readers may begin to wonder about this considering the past month's entries :-S). No. I know why i am blogging, and why i must push myself to seek more creativity in my writing here and in my life in Madagascar. And it is as much for myself as for the readers who grace me with their attention.

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Yesterday when i did my Lenten reading i caught a glimpse of the next day's topic and, in light of what i was battling it seemed a God-message, if you will, that i looked forward with anticipation to read this morning for it was so very apt. I know we all struggle with this sort of thing in one way or another, that whole idea of where we get our self-worth from. I'm quite certain that i've written on this very reading in past years, for the pages are full of underlines and exclamation marks, but i will share it again because i suspect it's a struggle we never will really win until the very End. (or perhaps "the Beginning" is a more apt description).

From Show Me The Way: Daily Lenten Readings by Henri J.M. Nouwen.

Measuring our Worth
"It is not so difficult to see that, in our particular world, we all have a strong desire to accomplish something. Some of us think in terms of great dramatic changes in the structure of our society. Others want at least to build a house, write a book, invent a machine, or win a trophy. And some of us seem to be content when we just do something worthwhile for someone. But practically all of us think about ourselves in terms of our contribution to life. And when we have become old, much of our feelings of happiness or sadness depends on our evaluation of the part we played in giving shape to our world and its history...

When we start being too impressed by the results of our work, we slowly come to the erroneous conviction that life is one large scoreboard where someone is listing the points to measure our worth. And before we are fully aware of it, we have sold our soul to the many grade-givers. That means we are not only in the world, but also of the world. Then we become what the world makes us. We are intelligent because someone gives us a high grade. We are helpful because someone says thanks. We are likable because someone likes us. [We are good bloggers if we receive lots of comments]. And we are important becfause someone considers us indespensable. In short, we are worthwhile because we have successes.

To live a Christian life means to live in the world without being of it. It is in solitude that this inner freedom can grow...

A life without a lonely place, that is, a life without a quiet center, easily becomes destructive. When we cling to the results of our actions as our only way of self-identification, then we become possessive and defensive and tend to look at our fellow human beings more as enemies to be kept at a distance than as friends with whom we share the gifts of life.

In solitude we can slowly unmask the illusion of our possessiveness and discover in the center of our own self that we are not what we can conquer, but what is given to us. In solitude we can listen to the voice of him who spoke to us before we could speak [or blog] a word, who healed us before we could make any gesture to help, who set us free long before we could free others, and who loved us long before we could give love to anyone. It is in this solitude that we discover that being is more important than having, and that we are worth more than the result of our efforts. In solitude we discover that our life is not a possession to be defended, but a gift to be shared. It's there we recognize that the healing words we speak are not just our own, but are given to us; that the love we can express is part of a greater love; and that the new life we bring forth is not a property to cling to, but a gift to be received.

In solitude we become aware that our worth is not the same as our usefulness." (66-68).

We're back into the school schedule again. Tuesdays have regained their favourite status in my week since that's the day Judah is at school all day from 7:30 departure (on the Missionary kids 'school bus') until 3:30 drop off. A long day for a little guy, but he enjoys the social interaction and the novelty of eating lunch at the 'canteen', as they call it. I still havent figured out what they do on Tuesdays at preschool though. I suppose i should suss that out so i can ask leading questions of him when he gets home. Mondays, i know, is tae kwon do (or, con do, as he says). Wednesdays is dancing.

Josh has left early (5am, hence a 4:30 wake up) for an overnight trip in... a town that starts with M and is on the west coast, i think. He called to say that it was VERY HOT and that his ear had hurt intolerably on the way down (he finally succumbed to the sinus cold that's going around), his eye felt like it was going to explode, he couldnt hear anything (which is bad if you're the pilot and have to communicate with ground control) out of one ear and now that he's on the ground he's suffering the aftereffects including a splitting headache and ear pain. Please pray that his ear miraculously heals/feels better tomorrow on his return trip. Poor guy. I know how he feels. That stupid ear thing continues to plague me every few days or so. Argh.

Judah is doing well though, despite the never ending nasal congestion and runniness. He had a friend over yesterday afternoon, after school, which was brilliant for his mother since it got her off the hook for entertainment duty.

Our house lady, Mme Fanja ("j"s are pronounced like "z", donc, "Fanza") made us passion fruit juice this morning with the bag of passion fruits (grenadelle) that Josh bought on the street yesterday. It's quite yummy! Our "dutch friend" Peter said the other day that he reckons he saves the amount of money one would pay for house help for half a day on having her make juice instead of buying it from the store. That, unfortunately, says two things: 1. that house help salarys are not terribly costly to the employer (remember, we must stay within the "going rate" in order not to cause an economic 'disturbance', for lack of a better word. House staff for missionaries, incidentally, make much more money than those working harder and longer hours in the factories making trendy clothes for westerners). And 2. fruit juice in the shop is very expensive since it's imported from South Africa or France. Fruit juice on the street is probably very cheap, but it's made with tap water which would make us sick.

At risk of making some readers envious, Mme Fanja considers a day working at our house without holding the baby a day mis-spent. She sounds a bit like someone else i know who declares at day's end "i didnt get to hold the baby today!" with a moue of disappointment. So today she took Asher away to spend some time with him outdoors while i was supposed to have a 'petite sieste' since i slept poorly last night due to boys waking and husbands getting up far too early in the morning and my own inability to fall back asleep afterward. She is so excellent with kids, Mme Fanja, and i am very glad of her happiness to spend time with mine.

Asher is, as you can well imagine, the darling of the compound househelp. That's Mme Pauline on the left and Mme Fanja on the right.

And here are below are the facial photos of Asher, as requested by his grand-dad.

Asher - 3 mo.

Asher is talking a lot more now, which is terribly cute. He continues to puke copiously at any given moment, even 2 hours post meal when he's cranky with hunger. strange. We have always tons of laundry to do because we're all (with the one exception of Judah, but he's got other causes for creating laundry) sopped with puke many times during the course of a day. Unfortunately, while we were away our washing machine bit the dust and was replaced by a 5.5kg front loading washer... 5kg is not a lot of space to work with when one has an infant puking on his clothes and ours and creating cloth diaper piles besides. Remember also that we dont have a dryer, so everything must be hung up to dry and then ironed soft.

 
On the few(er) instances that Asher is fussy and his parents dont want to hold him (er... i mean, we're busy giving much needed attention to Judah... or the garden ) he is perfectly content to sit in his lounge chair and gaze at "the nature". In fact, this morning at 6:30 (after sleeping through the night PTL!) i propped him up on the nursing pillow on his bed facing his half-wall window open to the bright morning and he sat there for a good 40+ minutes gazing at the trees waving in the breeze and the flashes of red and yellow birds, listening to them chirp merrily. It's better than a mobile, to be sure! And no need to keep winding it up either

 

Check out my new addition to the back deck garden: lavender! (in the pot just above the lantern here on the deck foreground). Our bird baths are also a big hit with the Red Fodys and the yellow Wagtails. My new project is leveling the terrace between the fore-garden area and the rear-garden area, which is where the brick steps lead to.

I was also delighted, upon our return, to see that my rosemary 'bush' was growing (just to the left of the bamboo poles). Also, in the front, there are some large basil plants. Now if only i could learn how to better use all my fresh herbs.

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I continue to feel hesitant to blog these days because i dont want to make it too confusing to find the Vision Valley call for teachers blog that i wrote on Feb. 21. If you're looking for it, please search by date or by tag: Volunteer Opportunities.

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Rhonda has inspired me to try to take a photo a day. This is aided and abetted by the fact that i got a small camera for Christmas that isnt so clunky (like that ol' SLR we've got) and i keep it in my bag, which means when i'm out and about it's easy to snap shots of the random and mundane.

These photos of the MKs on the see-saw are left over from a few sundays ago when we lounged at the Raphia for lunch after church. There was a whole slew of us, as you can see.
  

This photo below was taken by josh. i dont know what it's about, so he'll have to write and tell you. 

 

 

In my strivings to be a better mom i wracked my brain for ways to lure the kids outside to a place where they could play for hours on end without much entertainment needed by parental figures. This is what i came up with: a "tent" or playhouse/treehouse on the structure Josh began and has yet to complete (the roof is missing and the bridge needs to be replaced - the bamboo one having been torn down by the safety officer)

I had no idea the idea would be such a hit! The girls and Judah have spent a LOT of time up there doing who knows what. REading books, having snacks, and playing house are surely among their agendas.

Judah and Larissa have become fast(er) friends since our return. They spend countless hours together and hold hands a lot... if the Slaubaugh's were staying longer we'd probably have to institute some sort of rules on public displays of affection.

Another one of our mother-son projects has been the dinosaur papier-mache kit that uncle Eric and auntie Lara gave him for Christmas. This project proved to be somewhat beyond both our skill levels since it required a lot of pasting on of limbs and triangular bumps up top of the dino body. We settled for a dino egg instead.

He was quite pleased with the finished product and is now scavenging for loose change to put into the piggy-bank hole he gashed into the side.

For lack of mango and berries at this time of year i thought pok-pok would be a good substitute for the fruit component of the two-seed dressing'd salad we had last night... Pok-pok is a "moreish" kind of berry, not to be confused with the gooseberry, which is sweet and tart. It did not really taste the same in the salad like the mango, so i reckon i'll stick to what the recipe calls for and keep the pok-poks for finger snacks.

the boys watching cartoons.

Other updates:
Asher now can roll from front to back AND back to front.

He also recognizes Judah as someone he likes to watch and smile at.

Josh just determined why our AC in the truck hasnt worked until now. The filter was totally thick with yuck!

We both cant believe we havent even been back a month yet. It feels like a year! I'm not sure whether that makes a positive or negative commentary on how we're doing here. It's still quite apparent we havent been here very long when i'm standing to pay at Shoprite for groceries and it takes 20 minutes for the visa card to go through... after a few tries and some moaning and groaning from the clerks that indicate that they'd appreciate it if i'd just bring cash. I still clearly recall the visa card going through so fast at Superstore i hardly had time to blink before i had to sign the slip.

Josh and Matthew are planning to go to "the Orchid" to watch the final olympic hockey games. (we also have "the Swan" at the top of the hill... can anyone say Dharma Initiative? )

I was culture shocking last week and for that matter the week before that.  I did an overnight flight to the north east coast of Madagascar for CARE, ADRA, WCS, and MEDAIR.  They are potentially going to work together on a project so they were going to visit some of the projects that Medair is doing up there.  I went from living in a brand new house in Landmark with my own kitchen, sat TV, bathroom, bedrooms, etc to having a village meeting about potable water for the community and how the fact that Medair has installed wells in the community has brought down child illnesses and the fact that building proper latrines means that when the village floods after each cyclone the waste doesn't mix with the water supply.  Culture shock.

This last week I went to pick up the medical team we dropped off last week at the village in which we just finished a runway.  There is actually a "road" to this village from the east coast.  24 hours drive to do 106km.  you figure out the average speed:)  Once you've figured that out, figure on this fact.  Some of the people walked 45 km to see these doctors.  This time with our regular doctors we also had the privilege of sending an eye team from the Mandritsara hospital.  26 cataract surgeries were done in 4 days.  Some of the recipients of this "simple treatment" had been blind for 6 years.  One lady remarked after that she would be able to SEE the path that had brought her to the doctors.  Another lady, about 38ish who was born with a cleft lip, was seen smiling in church that Sunday.   My mind can hardly comprehend the stuff that I see out here.  What a blessing to be involved in this work.  So I got to pick up these workers of God's miracles.  Upon loading up to go back to Tana dear Dr Fernand led the community in a Malagasy rendition of My God is SO BIG so Strong and SO Mighty there's Nothing MY GOD can not do.  How appropriate. 

Below the eye team amongst a throng of villagers anticipating the 4 day clinic to come.

The whole village turned out for our departure lining the runway.

If you're looking for the blog entry about teachers for Vision Valley school, keep scrolling down, i wrote it yesterday.

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I dont want to jinx it, but our internet has been working so great these last two days that i thought i'd take advantage of it and post a photo.

It's a bit strange to see Asher in Judah's clothes. They bring back memories, to be sure. And they also reinforce the realization that Asher is a big boy! Bigger than his brother was at this age.

I also wanted to say to Nastia D. that i'd love to write you a note, but i havent the foggiest how to get in contact with you. If i ever did have your email or facebook contact info i dont have it now. Please send it to me.

It's the somewhat annual posted plea for teachers for Vision Valley School, but this time i was asked specifically to get some teachers (almost a dozen, to be honest) for this coming academic year. Since 2 years out of the 4 we've lived in Madagascar someone has actually answered my blog request, i have a lot of hope that we can bring more quality Canadian teachers over here to plug into the fantastic ministry of VVSchool. The added benefit of this post is that with the request to request more teachers i got some information that may be of interest to those deliberating this opportunity, and possibly also to those simply interested in things Madagascar:

Vision Valley School
text written by Gavin Jordaan

Vision Valley School is to be found in the city of Antananarivo on the stunning red island of Madagascar. The school was founded in  2000 by South Africans Gavin and Rhoda Jordaan and has grown from 3 students to well over 225 at the moment.  The school caters to students from preschool to grade 11.  

Short History

   2000  January, The start of the school in the home of the Jordaan family with their two children and one other Maurician child. Funded by the Jordaan family.

  2000 July/ August,  A building was rented in which the school started to gather equipment and another three students were added, one Malagasy and two Russian children. None spoke English at this stage. The school was also registered with the local education department.

  2000/2002  Saw the school grow to 11 pupils. The 2000 political unrest lost the school 5 students.   The school was kept going regardless and we finished the school year of 2001/2002  in June of  2002.

   2002  August 2002 the school was opened as for the start of the school year 02/03 with the remaining 6 students and in February 03 there was the slow return of students taking the student number to 21 by close of school in June 03.

  2003  School started in August with 43 students for school year 03/04 and grew to 80+ students by end of school year 04.

  2004  School was started with close to 100 students in the August of 04 for school year 04/05 and by close of school in June 05 the student number was plus 115 students

  2005  With the opening of school in August 05 there was some serious need for bigger premises due to the growth of the school and the number of students and alternate premises were being sought for the new school year of 06/07.  The premises were found and the lease was due to be put in place from June 06 but there was ownership issues at the last minute and the school was in a rather difficult spot with 8 weeks to start of school year and nowhere to go. The prompt action of the boardbrought about the building of new facilities in under 12 weeks.

  2006  Saw the building of a new 450 m/2 school facilities at the cost of $ 70 000 in just over 3 months. School began in August 06  with close to 140 student count.

  2007  Saw the start to build phase 2 and 3 being the Auditorium and the needed classes for the higher grade  at the cost of $ 120 000,  student count  had risen to well over 180 students.

  2008  Saw the completion of  the auditorium and six new classes. This resulted in further  investment  and a the meeting/ dining area and aquisistion of 20 new laptops for the computer lab was realised Total invest to date  + -  $ 300 000

  2009  Start of the school year 2009/2010 in August with + 225 students a faculty of +30  teachers and admin staff and a vision to build a new  high school facility at the cost of  $  5 million dollars are currently in progress. 

As a school board we are passionate about developing and adding value to schooling in Madagascar where statistics show that of every grade one student who starts school only 9,4 %  will reach their senior grade of matric.  The current level of compulsory education in Madagascar is to attain a grade 6. 

Why an English school in a Francophone country?? 

Rhoda and Gavin felt the need for a school as a tool of ministry due to the history of the island. That is, country that was formerly a French colony then socialist and now democratic.  Madagascar is an island that is known as 'the island that time forgot', 'the island that bleeds' and 'an island that is gripped by a poverty mentality', of which is not exactly true. The island has enormous natural resources and possible opportunities, however, due to culture and ancestral practices many of the locals are living in a state of poverty that prevents progress. The school is a tool to educate and to hopefully challenge and change mindsets.  Rhoda and Gavin feel that the way forward is by educating the younger generation because one of the downfalls in Madagascar is education; some areas find the local people up to 95% illiterate. Hence the Vision Valley School that has children from many different back grounds, religions and cultures.  The school has a biblically based education system. 

The school not only teaches students, but also has a program of training teachers therefore we have teachers with teacher’s aides.  The studies are in English with French taught as a second language and Malagasy as conversational studies. Vision Valley School is registered with the local education department and has regular inspection from the local government.  The school is run by a board of directors and the finances are generated locally by school fees, the Jordaan family and donations from parents and others. Some students are on subsidized schooling. The school is overseen by a school board of which Gavin Jordaan is the chairman.  The school is a Christian school, but we have attending students from all walks of life and nations. It is a good ministry field.  The school year is from mid August to mid June.   

 

Interested persons wanting to come and teach need to consider the following:

1.  You will be required to have spoken with your local church eldership/ leadership and have their approval.

2.  You will need to raise as much as possible of your own financial support as the school will be limited in financing you.

3.  You need to be a high capacity person dealing with non norms and many third world situations.

4.  You will need to make a full year commitment from August to June.

5.  You must be able to work cross culturally.

6.  Be able to submit to the team running the school and to work in a team.

7.  Have no alternative agenda during the school year.

8.  Understand the school hours will be 7.30 am to 15.30 Monday to Friday and on occasion extend your hours and attend some in house training if needed.

9.  School holidays as per the normal holidays as per the local calendar. 

10. You must be a person who can be stretched beyond your capacity.

11.  Medically sound.

12.  Flexibility is not an option but an absolute must; this is a hard mission field.

13.  A person needing a great challenge.

14.  Have your own personal medical coverage.

15.  Have a teaching diploma or degree, however this is flexible and can be discussed.

16.  Have a genuine heart for ministry to children of all walks of life.

17.  Have a love and a passion for working with children. 

Vision Valley School can provide where needed;- 

1. Basic shared furnished accommodation.
2. Basic living cost @ average of 350/400 USD per month of school term of 10 months.
3. The school can assist with air tickets of about  $500
4. The school can assist with documentation for visa
5. All the above is subject to a full commitment of a school period of mid August to third week of June.

Vision Valley School needs the following teachers for the school year August 2010 to June 2011 

1. Grade 3
2. Grade 4
3. Grade 5
4. Grade 6
5. English  Grade 7-12   Two required. Native English speakers is a high priority.
   
6. Art          Grade 7-12
7. Music     Grade 7-12

Although the contact person is Gavin Jordaan, i feel somewhat uncomfortable just pasting his contact data here on the internet, so if you are interested in this opportunity please either send me an email at my gmail account:  <jocelyn.r.plett>, or post a comment here on the blog with your email address included and i'll put you in contact with the Jordaans.

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Now, some readers may ask why i could reasonably expect anyone of sound mind to volunteer to come to Madagascar to work while the country still seems to be somewhat unstable politically. Moreover, if you've been reading the blog for the past few weeks my whinging and moaning may also have given the impression that this is a less than desirable place to be spending one's time. A valid concern, to be sure. I have one thing to say that will answer both questions: we're still here. we have no intention of leaving. and i still would choose Madagascar as my place of residence at this time in my life over Canada despite the political situation (which should have changed by the beginning of the next academic year, btw) and my apparent lack of enthusiasm for what we've encountered upon our return a few weeks ago. My re-entry stress really hasnt much to do with the ministry of Vision Valley School, the Country, nor the living conditions. Mostly it has to do with my inability to adjust to change. Furthermore, of the two Canadians who have answered similar blog summons to teach at VVS, i havent heard from either of them that they ever regretted coming even despite the challenges they encountered in this place.