Learning to live…
Learning to live in the village requires us to take notice of what is happening with our neighbors, the life of the community and the rhythm of their responsibilities. Recently, Bryan and I had the opportunity to get away alone together for a couple hours. Different from what a getaway might look like back in the States, we walked half a mile to the taxi rank in Ambatozavavy where we found our friends and neighbors hanging around the seashore while buckets of fish were being brought in from the fisherman’s catch of the day. We have come to know and call these fish, “loku maluki” (fish maluki), and when it’s a big day for the fisherman we say, “loku maru” (fish lots) and “loku maru” means “misi vola” (we have money)!

This photo is taken of us on the half mile walk from our hut to Ambatozavavy Bay where we pick up a taxi.
We sat ourselves down in the midst of the local villagers, positioned on the rickety porch of a bamboo house that sits on the beach. This particular location is not just a family’s hut, but is the central hub of the village where the pirogues offload their fish, it’s also the one place I’ve found where I can buy a small cup of coffee, and is where taxis come to pick up anyone who wants to go to town (Hellville). Taxis are not always available and when we sat down on the porch it was because we were waiting for a taxi…time for conversation…another chance to practice our new language. What do we talk about? Fish…lots of fish…more fish…sending fish to town…selling fish…frying fish…eating fish…need ice to keep all this fish fresh…where are the taxis for the fish?

This is Ambatozavavy beach when the pirogues are bringing in their catch, and this is right next to the area where you can pick up a taxi into town.
The first taxi came and went. Bryan and I were not the first passengers to go because what was important in the village that day was not for us to go into town and be alone together, but for the fish to go into town right away! The taxi was loaded down with giant basins of fish piled on top of more basins of fish. The second taxi came and the same thing happened…we waited. The third taxi arrived after an hour and commotion started to happen that indicated this taxi would take more loads of fish…and us! In the busyness of loading down the car, Bryan insisted that they also load a basin of “loku maluki” on his lap, as we had caught on by now to the importance of fish transportation. Fish transportation translated into community income. Everyone began to laugh at the fish on Bryan’s lap, and people were speaking so fast that we couldn’t keep up with all that they were saying, but this was most likely the first time they had ever seen a couple of “faza” (white folks) loaded up in a village taxi alongside loads of fish…much less carrying one of their buckets of fish to sale in town. We didn’t think anything of it…in fact; it felt exactly like what we were supposed to be doing! After about 10 minutes of loading the car, laughing hard, enjoying the camaraderie, now with stains of fish oil in our hair, we pull away with everyone waving goodbye behind us. Since that day, we are no longer just “faza” (white folks)…we are “faza Sakalava” (white, Sakalava folks).
Bryan and I did have some time alone that day, and it was good, yet our time spent extended beyond ourselves was an experience that changed our hearts and changed the hearts of our neighbors. What does it look like for us to be accepted in our new community? What other roadblocks in our daily tasks might actually be God directing us in HIS ministry among the Sakalava? God is good. He is an intentional God, faithful in all things, and I delight in seeing Him gently reveal my preconceived plans or ideas of ministry, and show me new ways by unfolding His Story right before my eyes.
I have included some additional photos from the past few weeks.

This is the local, village school in Ambatozavavy. It’s about a 15 minute walk from our hut and we have just started attending on Fridays.

This is Myla on our first day at the local school in Ambatozavavy. She will learn in this classroom every Friday as she is taught in the Sakalava language.

Here we are on our way back from the forest village. Some of our team members live about a 2.5 mile walk from our hut and we visit them each week. We were taking a short cut home, which turns out to also be a cattle trail, lined with mango trees. Mango season is peak in October.

First cake made in the jungle with my most treasured item brought all the way from Texas…the iron skillet! Yummy!

They dig in the dirt, funnel sand through coconuts, climb trees, and you’ll notice we had a cool front come through as their wearing warmer clothes on this morning…68 degrees when we woke up and since we’ve acclimated to island temperatures it felt like 50.
Blessings friends, Rebe
Our hearts were warm and blessed as we read about how God has helped you become ‘faza Sakalava’. Praise Be To God!
Love You Very Much,
Opa & Oma
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We love reading your blog and seeing your photos! I read your blog and shared the photos tonight over dinner at Chick-fil-A. We thought of you as we drove past your Lakeway entrance on the way to swim team practice.
Miss you! Love that you’re Faza Sakalava now!
Love,
The Bells
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Yeah! We got your package in the mail today! Big smiles in the McReynolds house! The girls just enjoyed the sour gummy worms…and black beans and tortillas!!! We are excitedly planning our evening meal. I think will do egg, potato and black bean tacos…hooray! So glad to have the raspberry green tea, the Tony Chachere’s, and the letter from you guys. Thank you…thank you.
We pray for you often and think of you guys and our church family each day. Camden wrote a note to Sydney and Keenan on a postcard today and we’ll get it sent to them soon.
Blessings friends,
Rebe
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Rebe,
Hopefully all 3 packages arrive intact! Glad to hear at least one arrived!
Hugs!
Christy
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Loved reading your blog. Keep ‘um coming! It looks so beautiful there
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thank you for the photos, you all look good.God Bless
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Wonderful update, Rebe! What a blessing to hear of your adventures, your teachable hearts and keen eyes and minds to learn and responses to love!! May you experience loku maru in due time too!!
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Just wanted you to know we are praying for all of you. Love the pics.
Susan Carr
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Rene, Bryan, Camden, Myla and Keely,
Today in Vacation Bible School the kids saw a video about Operation Christmas Child where kids in Nosy Be were featured receiving their shoebox packages! The kids were so excited! They said they didn’t see you:) ! They said the kids were speaking in their native language with translation below it. It made us think about organizing some kind of Christmas delivery directly to you to share with local children. What do you think?
Christy
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Rebe, not Rene! Mistype!
By the way iron skillet chocolate cake is impressive and looks delicious!
Christy
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Hi Christy,
I like this idea and I’ve been thinking about ideas in response to this question. I want to talk with the team about this and then I will get back to you.
One idea that continues to return to my mind is the d-light solar lantern. We have 1 d-light solar lantern in our hut and I wish we had 5 to light up our place at night. We do have 1 more d-light on the way in the post. The theme of the idea I had was, “Light Up Ankotorobe!” and if that was accomplished we would move on to “Light Up Ambatozavavy!” and next “Light Up Bemonondrohely!” The people here have confirmed with us how much they would appreciate more light at nighttime. This could be done sort of like the Operation Christmas Child idea but go to family’s (1 light per hut). I know the children would appreciate the light when it comes time in the evening for them to get their homework done.
I was thinking of All Saints with this idea and how if every single/couple/family sent one d-light that would more than supply the Ankotorobe Village (that’s where we live) with light. What are your thoughts on this?
Also, Myla (6 years and 16 kg) is taking Mefloquine (250 mg tabs), but only 1/4 of a tablet and another missionary kid (5 years) is taking 1/2 a tablet of the 250 mg tablet. Camden (9 years and 30 kg) also takes 1/2 a tablet of 250 mg tablet. Do you think Myla and Camden are still taking the correct dosage?
Blessings dear friend, Rebe
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Dosing of mefloquine:
≤9 kg: 5 mg/kg/dose once weekly
10-19 kg: 1/4 of 250 mg tablet (62.5 mg) once weekly
20-30 kg: 1/2 of 250 mg tablet (125 mg) once weekly
31-45 kg: 3/4 of a 250 mg tablet (187.5 mg) once weekly
≥46 kg: 1 tablet (250 mg) once weekly
Do you have a scale or ability to get them weighed? It sounds like Myla is ready to move up to 1/2 and Camden is right at border of moving to 3/4. Is Keely doing this too? There is CDC recommended dosing for little ones above. Let me know her weight. I’ll call in next dose up for M and C. I’ll call in Rx’s for all 3 and pickup/ship in next week with some of the special bar shampoo we ordered for you.
We love the idea of lighting up your corner of the world and that later you can use the gifts to point out God’s light sent into dark places.
Let us know and we’ll meet with All Saints about coordinating these! I think I saw the post about one All Saints member sending the D Light and can check with her about where she found it.
So happy the last 2 packages arrived! It sounds like they stayed intact. We sent all 3 at same time, so there’s a 3-8 week difference in delivery timing!
Love and hugs!
Christy, Brian, Sydney and Keenan
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Oh… Can you send back full day of birth info for all 3 kids? For the prescriptions and for mailing surprises. See last post.
Christy
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Christy, thanks for the mefloquine information. That helps me a lot! Yes, I can get the kids weighed the next time we go into town, and Keely is also taking mefloquine.
Here are the kids dates of birth:
Camden Quinn McReynolds-10/7/2003
Myla Gray McReynolds-6/29/2007
Keely Gray McReynolds-3/23/2009
Thank you for all your help and for answering questions. Blessings…Rebe
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Thanks, Rebe for taking the time to share–and for being so transparent. Praying for God’s continued blessings. Wish you had a picture of the taxi and you guys with the fish!
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Hi Joanne, it’s great to hear from you. I also wish I had a picture of that story. It was a big moment for us and we’ll never forget it! Miss you and love hearing from you. Blessings, Rebe
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Thanks for keeping us informed. We are keeping you in our prayers.
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Hi friends,
It’s great to hear from you and trust you are well. We had heard that you all took an assignment on an Indian reservation. Is that right? Blessings, and glad we can keep in touch….Rebe
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