Reflections about Madagascar-Part 1

Reflections about Madagascar-Part 1

There are rhythms in life.  Rhythms are defined as "a strong, regular, repeated pattern of movement or sound."  During our recent Global Mission Education Trip, and as I reflect upon the time in Madagascar, I felt a strong sense of the rhythms of Madagascar.

Everything, everywhere, had this rhythm.  Especially during our trip between the towns of Bezaha and Manasoa.  It was only a total of 21 miles, but it took us 3 1/2 hours to travel this journey.  The roads were near non-existent for vehicles, but the road was full of people doing what they do daily and thus I saw this rhythm of life in this micro daily trip as we slowly progressed in our vehicles.

The rhythm is that the people rise at sun up and work until sun down.  It was the methodical duty to their life tasks that caught my attention.  Each member of the family unit was involved in working to provide for their daily needs.  The men were preparing to go into the fields to tend to the crops, the women were gathering wood for cooking and heat (it was winter time, although not like our winters) and washing clothes and hanging them on bushes and grass to dry and all of the other household  tasks, the girls were busy carrying containers of water to the home and also carrying clothes to be washed (on their heads) and the young boys were busy herding the cattle and goats.  All of these activities were happening all around us as we slowly moved in our vehicles.

One day's work ended but the rhythm continued the next day, over and over again.  It was impressive to watch as all work was manually done.  No automation, no electricity, no privately owned vehicles in this stretch of road.

But one thing I noticed, that you do not see every place, they were happy!  They smiled, they waved, when we got stuck in the mud and sand they came and helped push us people of privilege out of our stuck condition.

Please see Part 2...

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