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Our Blog

SUFFERING

     Thousands of miles and a whole continent in between are two women.  They don't know each other, nor will they while on this earth.  Yvonne and I know them both.  Both of them are suffering.

     Several weeks ago Yvonne was coming home after visiting a friend when she came upon Bernadette.  Wrapped in little more than rags, Bernadette was laying outside the doors of local clothing and jewelry stores, barely conscious.

     Though we did not know her name at that time, we've seen Bernadette before along with countless other beggars that roam our neighborhood.  We had never seen her in this condition.  

     Her lips were white, her eyes yellow and her hair speckled with grit from the street.  She sat in a puddle of air conditioning condensation and her own urine.  Without help she couldn't sit up, let alone stand up.  

     Someone nearby had given her a cup of water and a morsel of food, but she was too weak to lift her hand to put them to her mouth.  Two young women had stopped to comfort her, but really did not know what to do.  Mostly, people either just walked by or stood and stared.

     With the help of our translator, Gerand, we were able to extract enough information to know that if we didn't help her she was going to die.  The three of us were eventually able to lift Bernadette into a tuc tuc and transport her to the local hospital.

     Within a day she had regained much of her strength.  Within two days she was able to walk to a bathroom (without her cane) and bathe.  A week later she was able to leave the hospital.

     The curious thing about Bernadette is that she has family not far away.  They have enough to provide their sister food and shelter, but Bernadette prefers wandering the streets and begging.  We have seen her several times in the last week, right where she has been before.

     While it is apparent that Bernadette, who is 60 years old, suffers from some form of dimensia, it is also apparent that she has enough awareness to know she has a place where she could live in a semblance of dignity.  She prefers indignity.  Her family is well aware of her condition, but is unwilling to fight through Bernadette's obstinance to help.

     Back in the states, there is another who is suffering.  She did not grow up in squalor, but in middle class America.  As a young girl she contracted polio.  Now as a 74-year-old woman she is battling cancer.

     What we know about Jeannine is that she is a fighter.  She fought through polio and raised a family without the help of an absentee husband.  She persevered through adversity and was able to provide.  The ultimate fruits of her labor are two children of immense character.  

     Her son and daughter are the picture of what any parent's heart would desire; both accomplished and both with healthy families of their own.  Most importantly, they love their mother deeply.

     When we heard of Jeannine's challenge Yvonne and I really didn't know how to respond.  You see, Jeannine is a friend of ours.  We have shared Christmas and Thanksgiving together, but we did not know how to share in her suffering.  So, we prayed.

     Just recently we exchanged e-mails, and Jeannine said this: "I believe the only way I'll succeed in winning this challenge is with God's help."

     What I see from a distance is the success of Jeannine's suffering.  She has already won.  The rewards are her children and grandchildren, who are now at her side with love and compassion.  In return, Jeannine has persevered with courage and grace.

     No matter how pragmatic or accurate a doctor's prognosis, where there is God there is always hope.  And where there is hope there is love.  The Bible says, "...God is love...Now there abides these three; faith, hope and love.  But the greatest of these is love."

     You see, the difference between Bernadette and Jeannine is love.  Bernadette's family is ambivalent when it comes to her suffering.  There is defeat and separation.  There is no desire to ensure the one who is suffering any sort of comfort and in exchange they receive no comfort.

     On the other hand, Jeannine's family is tied together in love.  They are bound by compassion and mercy.  I suspect that though they might not even recognize it, that their hearts are set on the prospects of justice prevailing - that ultimately their hearts are united in eternity.

    So, one family is divided, the other united.  One is forlorn, the other hopeful. One woman suffers in bitterness, the other in love.

    We are reminded of a Savior, who's birth we are about to celebrate.  He lived, He suffered and He died...for us.  Then He was resurrected...for us.  

     Yvonne and I pray that you would know this love this Christmas.  That it would resurrect purpose in your life.  And once you know it, share it with someone who is suffering.  It is the greatest gift we could possibly give.

What It Is Like

Mike Broadhurst

     We've been in Madagascar for one year now.  When we first left the United States with Mercy Ships we thought we would be in their service for two years.  My, how things have changed.

     The ship, with all of its comforts and security, left almost three months ago.  We stayed behind, pretty much on our own, without giving much weight to the perils or negatives.  

      Yvonne and I frequently talk about what you, our friends and family, have to say and think.  So many of you have been supportive, we won't ever be able to express just how grateful we are to have you in our lives.  

     So, this is what life is like when you're living in a developing nation half a world apart from your loved ones.

     We have a comfortable apartment by Malagasy standards.  Though there is no central air conditioning, we have individual units in the two bedrooms (one of them serves as an office).  We will see how hot the living area and kitchen become as we head into Madagascar summer.

     Our bed is a 4-inch thick foam-top on a wood frame.  To be honest it is not terribly comfortable, but again compared to the alternatives we can't complain.  

     We have a simple kitchen with a gas cook top and small refrigerator.  The dishwasher is anyone with the sponge, be it Yvonne, me or a guest.  We have a washing machine but hang everything to dry.

     We eat basic, healthy meals, consisting of a lot of rice, fresh fruits and vegetables, chicken, some fish and Zebu every now and then.  Let it be noted that produce is abundant, affordable and bursting with flavor.  We have to filter all of our water to make it potable and we wash all of our produce and rinse our plates in a bleach bath.  

     Our living area has a dining table and one couch, which we use when we have guests over for lunch or dinner.  These meals are primarily for the purpose of counseling.  

     We finally got wifi a-month-and-a-half ago.  There is a television but no service.  We don't subscribe to cable, satellite or even any internet networks, so we read a lot and listen to praise music via YouTube.

     We don't own a car, so I get around town on a scooter.  Yvonne will go on short jaunts with me on the back, but anything beyond a kilometer means we use a Tuc-Tuc.  

     Petty crime is common, so we are in by dark most days.  You hear of violent crimes, but it's nothing like the cities of America.  We are always in by 9 o'clock at the latest.  The owner of our building makes sure it is secure.
     
     We live in a predominantly Muslim neighborhood.  There are two mosques one-and-a-half blocks north and south of us.  Though they don't perform the adhan (call to prayer) at the break of day, they do so the other four times.  It is loud.  To be honest, neither Yvonne nor I have an ear for it.  

     Our lives are not glamorous.  We live in a city about the size of Savannah in population, but keep in mind this is third world.  Grocery stores have limited inventory, so there are not a lot of choices.  Occasionally we visit a local restaurant.  The food is good, but nothing like our favorite places at home.

     This is a country in want.  Our satisfaction is in our work and the people.  We try to keep life simple.  We don't own much.  Socializing is not high on our agenda.
  
     It is a foregone Malagasy conclusion that if you are a foreigner you are wealthy.  It's not just the impoverished who ask for money, but requests come from pretty much anyone who thinks they have a need.  

     Even though our desire is to give, we can't meet the demand.  I think this is our biggest challenge - coming to grips with the fact that many times the answer is "no."  So, the focus is on the ministry the Lord has given us and realizing we cannot be everything to everybody.  

     We have taught our business development class three times.  We have graduated 113 students.  We have lent to 15 businesses and at least 5 other people have started businesses on their own wherewithal.  

     We visit most of the businesses frequently, providing advice and encouragement.  One business is struggling; another is taking time to get established; one was a short-term endeavor that didn't succeed as planned; but all of the others are actually quite successful.  

     About seventy percent of our graduates worked for Mercy Ships making about 300,000 Ariary a month (a little less than $100 US), and most of them are now or will soon be making more than that amount.

     To put this in perspective, 300,000 Ariary is more than sufficient for a single person, a bit of squeeze for a couple, a test for a single mother and child, but daunting for any more than a family of two.  This is not to say that a single person can't get by on 150,000 Ariary a month.  We know plenty of people who do so.  

     A typical Malagasy urban house rents for 50,000 to 100,000 Ariary a month.  Some own their own home or live with family.  A home consists of one or two 200-square-foot rooms.  Cooking is done outside, over charcoal.  The toilet might be an outhouse, otherwise a bush.  

     A family of four can eat on 5,000 Ariary a day.  Public schools require families pay tuition, which is 20,000 Ariary per semester per child.  Then there is clothing and medical expenses.  A typical doctor visit could run 5,000 to 30,000 Ariary.

     Most of the businesses have employed or do employ other people.  For example, one person built three ponds for a tilapia farm and utilized the labor of 31 people to do so.  Another business that forges aluminum pots employs three men plus the owner.  We guess that at least 50 other people have been put to work by the 20 new businesses.

     What's more is that these businesses have had to utilize the services of other businesses.  Since our teaching motto is "A successful business must be sustainable and able to grow," we can see that over time this work that we are called to has the potential of far-reaching effect.

     Yvonne and I also teach and preach when we are invited.  On average, we are teaching or preaching once a week in various settings.  Our messages focus primarily on Kingdom of Heaven principles - encouraging people to find their purpose under God's call.

     I would like to close by telling you that what we are doing is challenging - very challenging.  

     There have been lots of obstacles, even what some might consider defeats.  We have both suffered through months of sickness (we both lost over 20 pounds each - a whole heck of a lot for two small people).  Patience, which Yvonne has a greater supply of than me, is invaluable.  Disappointments  and discouragement are formidable foes.  We have questioned, be it ever so briefly, whether we should come home.  

     But we always come back to the most important thing - that is that God called us here.  We knew that back in late 2014 at our home in Bluffton, South Carolina.  It is an irrevocable call and so we put our trust in that and that alone.  

     This is where we find fulfillment - knowing that God's promises are faithful and true, and that Madagascar has a bright future.  And we get to be a part of sewing into that future.

     Through the victories and defeats, there is no place we would rather be.  We thank you for your continued support and prayers.  All glory to God.

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