Unless you’re trying to decide which movie to watch tonight, Madagascar probably hasn’t crossed your mind. For Molly Beyer, Madagascar is much more than 2005 animated film, for the next year the small island country will become her home.
She is one of the sixty-three Young Adults in Global Mission (YAGM) from the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) this year. YAGM is a year-long international mission opportunity for young people from the ages of 21 to 29. These young adults are sent to 9 different countries across the globe. Molly is pictured above wearing her pink scarf with the rest of the Madagascar team.
Molly, a graduate of Roanoke College and a member of Bethel, Winchester, just arrived in Madagascar last month. We decided to check in with her and see how she was doing. To learn more about Molly, you can also read her blog.
Now that you are in Madagascar, how is the transition going?
Molly: Transitioning into a new culture is very difficult. I am working on learning a new language (Malagasy). Luckily I am still in Antsirabe (Ann-see-ra-bay) with the 7 other volunteers and building relationship with them before delving into my community. They will be the people who are just a phone call or a bus ride away and will be experiencing things that are similar to my experiences. I’m here to walk in accompaniment with those who are in the community I will be moving to but I am also building community with the others
What are you most excited about for this year?
Molly: That’s a really good question. There’s a lot to be excited about and a lot for me to worry about too! I am hoping to get involved in the choir at the church in my area so I’m pretty excited about that but I’d say what I am the most excited about is finding a new home. I am looking forward to the strange being a little less strange (hafahafa) and building relationships with those around me. I think it will be nice to develop a routine and be comfortable with my host parents and host sister as well as others in my community.
Tell us a little more about what you will be doing.
Molly: What I will be doing is kind of up in the air at the moment. I will be living in Sabotsy-Namehana (Sah-boot-see-Nah-may-nah or Sab-Nam for short). Each of us has a site coordinator who we interact with about our jobs and can go to for our concerns within the community. Mine told our in-country coordinators that she would just wait for me to get there and see what I want to do! So I may not know what I am doing for sure until after I’ve been at my site for a few days. Some of the possibilities are playing with kids at the FLM (Lutheran) preschool, helping out and teaching English at the youth center, or working at a school for the deaf.
How can we stay up updated?
Madagascar from the Air
Molly: I have a blog at mollygoesmad.wordpress.com. I will also be sending out newsletters. If you like to be added to the newsletter list please email me at mabeyer@mail.roanoke.edu and if you have questions I would love to hear them!
Are you still fundraising?
Molly: In order for YAGM [Young Adults in Global Mission] to work we are each asked to raise $4000 of the $11000 that it costs to support a missionary. I am just short of that mark. In addition the program had a record number of applicants this year and is trying to expand so that it can send more Young Adults out into the world. This year it was able to start a program in Rwanda. Therefore any funds whether given in my name or to the program in general would be greatly appreciated.
How can the people of the Virginia Synod be praying for you?
Molly: I certainly wouldn’t mind having the gift of tongues right about now but the major things I would say I would ask for would be patience, understanding and knowledge of the presence of the Spirit. It’s difficult when you can’t feel God there but you know you are working in His Name. Prayer that I don’t lose sight of that which would be vital to successfully living in accompaniment with these people.
