John, Leigh, & Stephen Pitterle

BP 5196

ANTANANARIVO 101

MADAGASCAR

VIA FRANCE

jpitterle @ psu.edu (jpitterle @ yahoo.com)

 

Dear Family and Friends :

 

We want to express our sincere thanks to you for your prayers and support.  With your partnership, we are able to help bring Good News to Madagascar (M’car).   We are so excited about this opportunity! 

 

It has been a busy summer for us with helpful times of preparation: 

 

·         We completed our missionary orientation in Springfield, MO.  We learned much, especially regarding being humble servants and also about the importance of being sensitive to cultural differences.  Most importantly, Stephen learned a lot from people who used to be MK`s (missionary kids) themselves.  He also had more fun than he ever had before. 

·         We emptied and moved out of our house (after four or five weeks with minimal sleep).

·         We completed 5 weeks of studying and speaking French in Canada.  Everyone spoke French where we were and it was easier to learn French in such an environment.  It was good practice for leaving our familiar environment.  We stayed with a host family.  The mother spoke some English and this was helpful.  Stephen enjoyed playing with Nicko, a 6 year-old boy who is one year younger than him. 

 

The day we have been waiting for is August 13 (& 14) when we will fly (from Pittsburgh to Washington Dulles to Paris) to Madagascar!  We expect to spend possibly a few weeks in the capital, Antananarivo, before we go to Antsirabe to learn Malagasy perhaps for the rest of the year. 

 

The Ministry of Education of Madagascar has given blanket approval to distribute the Book of Hope in all the schools of the country (even though some thought this would not happen)!  From the first printing press up to today, the power of the printed word has been incredible!  We expect nothing less in M’car. 

 

                “So is My word that goes out of My mouth:  It will not return to Me empty, but will

accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.” 

                                                                              Isaiah 55:11

 

The first book ever printed was the Bible.  Since then, the printed page has had a powerful influence in our world.  God’s word is radically changing more lives today than ever before in the history of mankind.  And God’s printed word is the ultimate missionary!  This paper missionary can speak to almost everyone in the world.  He can cross borders and cultural barriers to go places and reach people where no other missionary could.  He never sleeps and never gets sick.  This paper evangelist can penetrate places previously thought closed to the Good News of Jesus.  He can speak to people in the comfort and privacy of their own home.  The paper missionary is also extremely economical, able to go places at a fraction of the cost of a conventional missionary. 

 

Enclosed is our prayer card.  We suggest that you may want to put it on your bathroom mirror.  Please pray for the people of Madagascar and for unity in the body of Christ.  Personally, our prayer requests include:  health (spiritually, physically, . . .), home-schooling, supernatural ability to learn the Malagasy language, adjustment to a different culture and “atmosphere,” humility, a servant’s heart, and healthy relationships (with Jesus, our family, and others).  It is our desire to know Jesus, make Him known, and love all people. 

 

Thanks again for your partnership.  With your prayers and support, you are also involved in bringing Good News to the precious people of M`car.  If you have any questions or prayer requests, please let us know. 

 

In His infinite awesomeness and awesome infiniteness,

John, Leigh, and Stephen