Tana Emercency Fire Distribution

In September we were contacted by a wonderful woman, Madame Zahara!  She is the President of an association (FMDV) in Andronominika, Antananarivo which helps people who need advice and someone to fight for them.  She is truly a champion for the Malagasy people in this neighborhood.  She had worked with our site monitor, Patrick, and the church before.  She requested our help.  It was such a wonderful experience for us to work with her and her organization!  We partnered with her and the Catholic Church in the area to help 230 people who had been devastated by a fire in their neighborhood.  She brought so much to the table.  She knows the people affected, the store owners, understands the victims needs and helped us make decisions that would work best.  The Catholic Church let us use their facility which was perfect for interviewing the fire victims, having goods delivered, letting us store the goods until the distribution, and doing the distribution.  

Madame Zahara, some of the members of her association, Patrick and Hery interviewed each of the people to identify who the true victims were.  They told Madame Zahara the they felt no one cared. Although the government dropped some goods off in the area, the people were sad that no one asked how they were or what they most needed.  The government did not hand it to the victims and so the strong were able to grab things and some of the true victims did not get anything. 

The church wanted to know who the victims were and what they felt  their biggest needs were.   We asked how many people are in the family, how many babies, how many school children, and what were their biggest needs.  To a person, each families' biggest need was a home.  Their wood homes were destroyed and everything in them.  The brick homes were guted and their roofs destroyed.  Next we all met to decide how we could best help.  We decided to supply the more expensive things that they could not buy for themselves.   We made the list and corrected it several times, adding and taking off as needed.  We shopped for the best price and turned in our request to South Africa!   We were thrilled when we got the ok to move forward!  The next days were crazy busy with pick ups and waiting for deliveries, including the day of distribution!   We bought goods that we felt would help the victims recognize that they are not alone, that God loves them, that it is through the hands of others that He answers their prayers.  We wanted them to know that they are important and not forgotten. 

On Nov. 12 we distributed 4 metal sheets and 8 wood posts to each family to give them a starting place to rebuild their homes and their lives!  This gave them hope and a desire and a knowledge that they could begin to move forward, all was not lost.  We (the church) also gave each family a pot, mesquito nets, 4 bars of soap, a double mattress and cover, and a bread roll for each family member. If they had babies, they were given a baby blanket and cloth diapers.  If they had school children - each child was given a backpack with school supplies.

They were happy and grateful!  Madame Zahara had organized the distribution perfectly.  People waited for their name to be called and all was calm and orderly!  What an experience!  I always feel that I gain more than I give!  I loved being with the people and sharing in their joy and laughter and gratefulness!  I am so grateful that the church works hard to do things in the Lords way and to give people hope and strength!  

Where you see sticks is the area where 37 wood homes once stood.  There were also 23 brick homes affected.

Many people were displaced and living in tents or staying with relatives.

Madame Zahara is standing by Elder Asay

We began the process of finding the best bargains.

Getting a bargain on sheet metal.  We bought 240 sheets.

When Zahara and Patrick took to the streets to find pots, baby items, etc. they worried about us - so
they had us park at the Police station and they went out to find the needed goods!

Us in the safety of the Police station :)

Then began the delivery process.  Goods were delivered on two different days.  Sometimes they had a truck, but sometimes they brought the goods in hand-pulled carts.  We spent 8 hours waiting for all the deliveries to be made.

The wood came in three deliveries.  We ordered 388 poles.    It took the better part of
day to make this delivery.

The pots (60)

Unloading poles!

Unloading pots from bags and counting them.

Unloading mattresses!  And taking them to a back room.

While waiting for all the deliveries we had fun with the children who were playing in
the church courtyard.

I love how the Malagasy people always have their arms around each other or are holding hands or locking arms. 

These boys were doing a traditional song with movements while Elder Asay took a movie of them.

Showwing off for the camera!

More arms around each other!

Unloading sheet metal!  This stuff was dangerous - each of the unloaders, including Elder Asay,
cut their foot or hand!

Continuing the metal sheet unloading!  A rough job.

Onr of the nunns visiting with a little girl.

The nunns home.

Nov. 12 - Let the organizing and distributing begin!!

These are members of the ward in the area (67h) who volunteered to help!

The recipients began to arrive.

More recipients.

Madame Zahara instructing the volunteers on how to inspect the reipient
tickets and how to mark them.

Voluteers rolled the sheet metal to make it easier to handle.

Listening to the speakers

The excitement mounts as names are called (starting with the elderly and those who have babies).

!st pick up baby kits, school kits, and sign in.

Carrying out their sheet metal.  Each family had a ticket telling how many people in their family,
if they had babies or school kids, and then it listed the items.  As they picked up the items, the
volunteers marked it off their ticket.

The bag of bread - it was a long day and this would make a good snack for the children!

One man leaving with his family's mattress.  Others waiting patiently.

More goods leaving the building and the line is smaller!  By this time, we went outside
and there was a wonderful feeling of joy and relief!  People were laughing and playing and visiting.
We received  many thank yous and hand shakes and we felt the spirit of joy and love!

Children relaxing and enjoying their snack :)!

I love how grateful they were and I loved seeing the look on their face that showed hope
and a deire to rebuild!

YUM!

They were wonderful about helping each other to getting things back to their spot!
Loading the goods of many families.

Some of the 67 ward volunteers

Zahara, our new Public Affairs couple, us and Patrick

After all was distributed, they came back in and had chosen one who then thanked
us all for thewhole Fokontany!  

These little girls were outside playing jacks with rocks!



After the last of the poles were collected, the volunteers and guests remained for snacks provided by Madame Zahara and the FMDV Association.  We were exhausted but had experienced a most wonderful day!  How can I be so blessed to experience the tender mercies and gifts of God every day?  I'm sure I've said this before, but I feel so privialeged to witness the deep love God has for all of his children!  I am grateful to take a small part helping Him to share that love!

Our Public Affairs Couple interviewed a few people and here are a couple of comments:
Rakotozofy Nirina said, "Theses materials are very helpful because we have received the most important items that we need.  We lost our house, we now have a new house through these materials.  Thank you very much!"  And Razafindrakoto Gilbert stated, "It is impotant to get these items because we lost everything.  How can I express my gratitude, it has made my life a lot lighter in this difficult time,"  Raivonirina Voahangy added, "These gifts will help us to stand up again, to restart our everyday lives."
We have the BEST mission and we love it so much!