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by Anthony Baker | August 19, 2012 · 12:05 am

Madagascar

More than a Movie

I get a real kick out of the characters from the Madagascar movies. By far, my favorite are the penguins. Their can-do spirit; their ability to laugh in the face of danger; and their ability to use monkeys to piece together a crashed DC-7 and make it fly – well, they’re genius.

The third edition of the Madagascar movies (Madagascar 3: Europe’s Most Wanted) featured all the animals buying a circus to sneak across Europe. My favorite part, of course, was the part where Marty the zebra, made up like a clown, sang the “Circus Afro” song. I want it for a ring-tone!

But Madagascar is more than a movie; it’s a country. And Madagascar is populated with talking people, not talking animals (as far as I know).

The Country

Madagascar is a beautiful, isolated island nation just off the southeast of Africa. Actually, Madagascar is the 4th largest island in the world.

Even though I have never seen any talking animals, there may be some in Madagascar. Believe it or not, nearly 80% of the plants and animals found in Madagascar are found nowhere else in the world!

The People

But Madagascar is more than a movie or rare plants and animals. Madagascar is a place with nearly 21 million people, 69% of which live on less than $2 dollars a day.

It is a place with people who practice the veneration of ancestors, even digging them up for periodic reunions with family. But thanks to the London Missionary Society, 20% of the people are Protestant (while another 20% are Catholic).

It is amazing to me that anyone from Madagascar has viewed this blog. But it is even more amazing that Jesus knows and loves every person there. And because He loves them, we should love them, too.

Pray for the people of Madagascar. Pray that more may find the hope that can be found in One who was not dug up from the dead, but raised from the dead to bring them life.

Madagascar amongst the Baobab Trees (digtanya.com)

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Filed under Countries, Uncategorized

Tagged as Africa, Circus, List of characters in Madagascar (franchise), London Missionary Society, Madagascar, Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted

by Anthony Baker | July 22, 2012 · 12:05 am

Give Me Samoa

Population

As best I can tell, I have gotten only one visit from someone in Samoa. But if I were to compare Samoa to the United States, then person-for-person, that one visit would be worth at least 20,000 views in the States! Of course Samoa is tiny compared to the U.S.A., and only has a population of 196,000. But who’s counting?

Location

Located half-way between New Zealand and Hawaii, this little island country is a literal paradise. Up until now the only thing that I could associate with Samoa was big wrestlers and Girl Scout cookies. But now that I have seen the pictures…and read the history…I want to go there! You can keep the cookies.

Make My Reservation

The thing that most amazes me is this little country’s blatant, uncompromising, unashamed acceptance of Christianity in daily life. Unlike so many in the rest of the Western world, Samoa makes no apology for the faith that plays a major role in its society. As a matter of fact, just check out this quote from the Samoa Tourism Authority:

Christianity has been one of the few western influences that has been accepted into Fa’a Samoa.

John Williams from the London Missionary Society arrived in Savaii in 1830 with eight Tahitian and Rarotongan teachers to spread the word. Today the motto on Samoa’s crest reads, Fa’avae I Le Atua Samoa – Samoa is founded on God, and found in every village are churches of various denominations. Samoans are devote Christians and Sunday is a day of worship and spending time with family and no physical work is done (emphasis added).

I may be going out on a limb, here, but my guess is that the ACLU isn’t very big in Samoa. Can you imagine if something like that was written on an official American tourism website? You have to admire these people.

Read Samoa

I could go on and on repeating what I have read, but why don’t you check it out for yourself. Go read about the Samoan Way. Read about a people who aren’t ashamed of their heritage. Read about a little country that could be an example for the rest of us to follow. Ever wonder how to deal with gang crime, illiteracy, the break down of the family? Samoa might have some suggestions.

A Prayer

Dear Lord, thank you for the people of Samoa. Thank you for their unashamed proclamation of faith in Christ. Thank you for the missionaries who bravely went to share with these people back in the 1830’s. Thank you that there is still a place in the world where family is not defined and re-defined on a whim.

God, bless this little nation. Keep them safe. May they grow in grace and be a beacon of light in a dark world. – Amen.