House Guests for a Week
We only slept in our new home for 2 nights before we went on another journey… this time just down the trail to stay for a week with a village family. we were excited, nervous, and tired, not knowing what to expect. It was ultimately a great week, and we learned many things that will help us survive in the village. More than that, though, we were able to observe aspects of home and village life where later, once we learn the language, we can use as “bridges” to explain the gospel in a way that makes sense to the Sakalava.
Here is a photo journal of our week with our new family…

This is the view from the back of our homestay house. The kids are walking back from buying a few bananas (katakata). The field they are walking through serves as a floodplain/grazing area/soccer field.

The first day of our homestay week Camden and I went with our “Papa” (his name is Armand) to Lokobe reserve. Papa is a guide to visitors, which means he takes people to the forest (only accessible by boat) and guides them through the nature reserve. We were with a French couple from Champagne…

Papa and the kids walking on the beach. I spent most of the week with Papa collecting food for the meals. This particular area of the beach is where we go to gather oysters (sadza).

50 yards in front of our house is a mangrove area of the bay, which is excellent for fishing. Our line and hook (no rod) caught a “big one” this morning!

During our family trip to Lokobe, we came across several families of Black Lemurs (the males are black and the females brown). To quote Camden, “Awesome!!!!!!”

Lunch on the beach with the families. Our host family were incredible cooks. For this meal we had coconut rice, avacado salad, and griled shrimp, fish, and oysters!
Now for the return to our own house and a renewed battle with the jungle mice of Nosy Be…
Love reading your posts to the family and seeing all the photos! We pray for you nightly.
Hugs!
Christy, Brian, Sydney and Keenan
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Loved this!! And the lemurs are awesome!
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Wow…what a fantastic looking place!
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So glad to see y’all there! UT shirt and all!
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We just read the post to the kids and prayed for your family. Thanks for sharing what the Lord has called you to with us!
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Hi Suzanne, it’s great to hear from you! We love and miss you guys…pass our greetings on to our All Saints family. Grace and peace, Rebe
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Beautiful.
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What an amazing adventure for your whole family! May God’s peace and rest sustain you as you continue to abide in Him. May our Father protect you all – mind, body and spirit as you journey on. With prayers and thanksgiving, The Darbyshires
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