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News Item: Letter to missionary parents (16 Mar 2002)
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To the parents of missionaries serving in Madagascar,
Hello! This is President Hill with an update on developments in Madagascar and their impact on the activities of your missionary sons and daughters. From the news media, you have heard that the situation worsened since our last communication. Sporadic violence in some parts of Antananarivo led to a declaration of 'martial law' in the capitol city, including a 9 p.m.-5 a.m. curfew. In most neighborhoods, citizen groups (mainly young people) erected night-time barricades of their main roads and have conducted searches and identity checks of those passing through. Although the treatment of the missionaries at these barricades has been friendly and respectful, in the circumstances, we discontinued for a few days missionary activity in the very center of the city and asked all missionaries throughout the city to return to their apartments by 6 p.m. We have seen some increased presence of troops, but they have remained largely on the sidelines and have not been enforcing the provisions of the government-declared 'state of emergency' or 'martial law'. Meanwhile, the self-proclaimed president (the opposition candidate) has formed a government and taken over the public administration. Elements of the previous government have apparently taken up residence in Tamatave---the port city that all of the missionaries would like to open (you might be surprised by the number of offers I've received).
During the past week, the situation has been rather calm in Antananarivo, although there have been outbreaks of violence in Tamatave and other population centers of the country, including a few reported deaths. The relative calm in Tana, where all of our missionaries are located, allowed us to be more flexible with regard to evening proselyting hours. Currently, the missionaries return to their apartments by 8:30 p.m., but are advised to return any time they observe political activity in their neighborhoods. Public transportation has been seriously disrupted as petrol supplies have dwindled because of a barricade on the road to the port city of Tamatave. All of your missionaries are walking more, but they are safe and enjoying their labors. Despite the disruptions to their schedules, they are working hard to prepare their investigators for baptism. They welcomed several new converts last weekend and have another 20 or so baptisms scheduled for next weekend. These are dedicated and focused missionaries.
A resolution to the political impass remains elusive. The situation continues to be fluid. Be assured that we will continue to monitor developments closely and will take any measures necessary to safeguard your sons and daughters. We are encouraged by the fact that the general strike appears to be winding down, the schools have reopened and government employees have been called back to work. The postal system has been totally closed down for the past two and one-half months. There is a mountain of mail that may never be sorted and delivered. Nevertheless, missionaries are encouraged to write to you each week through our pouch service or to e-mail you each Monday. If you have not heard from them recently, you should chide them in your next e-mail.
Sister Hill and I are honored to serve with your missionary sons and daughters. Thank you for your support of them and for your prayers, especially during these uncertain times.
President Hill
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"Wouldnt this be a good time for a little self-evaluation to determine if we still have the same relationship with our Father in Heaven that we enjoyed in the mission field? If the world has diverted us from the practice of prayer, we then have lost a great spiritual power. Maybe it is time that we rekindle our missionary spirit through more frequent, consistent, and mighty prayer."
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