Here is a condensed version of a winter 2025 update from our mission partners in the island nation of Madagascar.
Dan and Elizabeth Turk, mission co-workers serving in Madagascar whom we support, send their greetings! PC(USA)’s partner church, the Church of Jesus Christ in Madagascar, whose initials in the Malagasy language are FJKM, continues its holistic work to minister to the spiritual and physical needs of the Malagasy people. The Fruits, Vegetables, and Environmental Education Program (FVEE) that Dan works with has several exciting projects in progress. One includes expanding the number of families who are involved in mango production, providing training in growing fruits and vegetables, and getting the village water system repaired and expanded. Another is helping another village to get out of poverty by growing irrigated tangerines. More than 30 community members received a two-day training course in growing and propagating fruit trees. The participants each received eight fruit trees to plant on their land. Other fruit trees have been provided for planting at several churches and primary schools. At the new FJKM middle school, the FJKM church will be planting 200 tangerine trees and about 100 grafted mango trees. They give thanks to PC(USA) churches that support their efforts to change people’s lives by fighting poverty.
FJKM continues reaching out to meet health needs in Madagascar. High blood pressure is a silent killer and a cause of disease for many in Madagascar. FJKM’s Development Department has been partnering with the African Christian Health Associations Platform (ACHAP) to work with 13 dispensaries to increase blood pressure screening and education about high blood pressure. It was a very good pilot project that has just ended. Please pray that this project will be renewed so that this important work can continue. Elizabeth has been working with the FJKM Development Department on this project.
Madagascar is facing an alarming HIV crisis. One of the main topics discussed in the recent 20th Indian Ocean HIV Colloquium held in Madagascar was the grave nature of the HIV epidemic in Madagascar. The UNAIDS executive director noted, “Unless measures are taken for prevention and to ensure that people are tested and receive treatment if they test positive, the epidemic will explode.” FJKM’s National AIDS and Epidemics Committee (KPMSV), which Elizabeth works with, has increased health screenings at major FJKM events to augment the number of people screened for HIV and to educate church members and leaders about the alarming HIV situation. Funds are urgently needed to help produce educational materials, do screening events, and help those living with HIV and AIDS. Your prayers and support are greatly appreciated.
A new school year is underway at FJKM’s teacher training institutions. FJKM’s scholarship program to train teachers from FJKM Synods in very impoverished parts of the country continues to expand. This year there are six student teachers in the second year and five students in the first year of the three-year program. There are now seven teachers in the south who graduated in the last two years! Thank you so much to all who have contributed. Your contributions are helping to improve the education of hundreds of children. Your continued prayers and support are appreciated by the student teachers and the new teachers.
PC(USA) is helping FJKM share God’s hope and joy in tangible ways amid very trying circumstances. Thank you so much for your faithful support of us and FJKM.
Peace in Christ, Elizabeth and Dan