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participants:
(y) = youth
EL PASO
Rosa Bailon
ALBUQUERQUE
Terry Cole
Patricia Holman
Jesus Rios (y)
LOS ALAMOS
Justin Clements (y)
WASHINGTON D.C.
Debbie Mowery
McINTOSH, MINNESOTA
Elisabeth Jorde (y)
Rachel Jorde (y)
DENVER
Kayla Aspeslagh
Naomi Doerr
Nathan Doerr
Don Filegar
Lillian Filegar
Joy Fokvord
James Gonia
Mallory Gonia (y)
Peter Gonia (y)
Kacie Miller (y)
Bonnie Pasco
Elizabeth Peay
Abby Shepard
FT. COLLINS
Chelsea Hintzman (y)
PUEBLO
Orla O'Callaghan
BOULDER
Ronald Roschke
Thomas Dozier
COLORADO SPRINGS
Kathryn Mannerberg
Participants divided into four ministry teams
as they learned about the church and culture in Madagascar.
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Madagascar Trip
Back to Global Mission Home Page
 Under the theme of “One in
Faith, Hope and Love” a Rocky Mountain Synod delegation of 27 people made
the life-changing journey from their homes and congregations to the Indian
Ocean island of Madagascar to visit our Companion Synods of Mahajanga and
Antsiranana.
The three week trip in June, led by former
ELCA missionary to Madagascar, Pastor Jim Gonia, included participants
from Casper, Fort Collins, the Denver metro area, Colorado Springs,
Pueblo, Albuquerque, Los Alamos, and El Paso as well as three guests from
outside the synod. Synod Vice President Don Filegar represented Bishop
Allan Bjornberg during the visit.
Most adult trip members participated in one of three ministry teams:
Health and Healing, Outreach and Evangelism, or Project Shalom (ministry
among the Muslim communities of Madagascar). The rest of the adults
together with ten high school youth and one college graduate formed two
Youth-to-Youth ministry teams.
After a brief stop in the capital, Antananarivo, the group made its way to
the northern coastal town of Antsiranana, where they were welcomed by
Synod Presi dent Joseph
Ralaivao and Synod Vice President Robelison.
With the help of ELCA missionaries Doug and Monica Cox, local church
districts, and synodical organizations, a week’s worth of opportunities
were organized, both in town and throughout the region, so that each
ministry team might experience the life and work of the Malagasy church.
Highlights included stays with host families, gracious hospitality in many
different congregations, crocodiles and boat trips, the music of Malagasy
youth, and some unexpected moments of grace on a road trip.
The next stop was the western coastal city of Mahajanga. Synod President
Ramaro and Project Shalom director Pastor Daniel Rakotoarijaona joined
ELCA missionaries Scott and Heather Johnson in welcoming the group to
another week of rich experiences.
While one Youth-to-Youth team found itself canoeing along a river to visit
a rural toby (church healing center), the other Youth-to-Youth team was on
a road trip bringing new bikes to evangelists in a remote region north of
Mahajanga accessible only by oxcart and helicopter!
Meanwhile the Health Team saw the dedicated ministry of staff at
Antanimalandy Hospital, the Project Shalom team went by boat to witness
firsthand the power of the gospel, even as the Outreach team enjoyed the
laughter and wonder of Malagasy church women as they learned from Mexican
native Rosa Bailon a different
way of cooking rice!
The week in Mahajanga ended with a visit to Ankarafantsika Nature Reserve
and participation both in  the
dedication of new student housing at Betela Seminary and the graduation of
15 seminary students.
Prior to departing Madagascar, the group visited a new National Youth
Center for the Malagasy Lutheran Church outside Antananarivo as well as
made an overnight visit to the town of Antsirabe to experience the
contrast in life between the coastal areas and the central highlands.
One direct consequence of the trip was the acceptance of Pastor Rakoto
Endor Modeste, the presiding bishop of the Malagasy Lutheran Church, to a
hand-delivered invitation to visit the RMS during our Synod Assembly in
Albuquerque next April. Beyond that was the chance for 27 people to
discover that we truly are one in faith, hope and love with our Malagasy
brothers and sisters.
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