Participants: Jim Ayer
Series Code: MW
Program Code: MW000069
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00:01 The people in this village used to believe
00:03 in ancestor worship, they used to exhume 00:05 the dead bodies from the graves and 00:07 worship them and celebrate, but now 00:09 the whole village is changed because of 00:11 listening to one radio program, AWR. 00:49 Larger than California and Oregon combined, 00:51 Madagascar is the world's fourth largest 00:53 island after Greenland, New Guinea and Borneo. 00:57 The residents of Madagascar, 00:58 the Malagasy have unusual origins as 01:01 reflected by their mixed traditions and 01:03 cultural practices. The Malagasy speak a 01:06 language native to the distinct country of 01:08 Borneo and observe some distinctively 01:10 south East Asian religious practices. 01:18 The residents have used trains for freight 01:20 hauling and transportation since colonial times, 01:23 but today there's only handful still in operation. 01:27 On our way to meet with our listeners, 01:29 we had to speak with a Church member 01:30 who worked at the train station, 01:32 so we decided to check things out. 01:38 How many trains are like this in the world? 01:41 Many, many, but after it's out fashioned 01:45 maybe then they gave up to produce like this. 01:50 All went out of service. Yes, yes, here, here. 01:54 I understand what there is one 01:55 in the French museum? One in the French museum, 01:58 one here and one in the North, but it's not, 02:01 it doesn't work in the North. 02:06 This is the only one that works 02:08 in all over the world now. Yes, the one yes. 02:10 Wow, what year was this, this one made? 02:14 In 1940, 19 like this. Is it okay to look up inside? 02:20 Yes, no problem, you can go 02:23 over here. Over here, okay. 02:38 Oh this is beautiful; this is the way 02:42 it's been for years. Oh yes. 02:46 Look at all the bamboo, I bet you get 02:49 a lot of train buffs or people who love 02:52 trains from around the world who want to 02:54 come here to see this train. 02:56 Yes, many people from New York, 03:01 even from America come here to 03:05 see this kind of train. Now does it still run, 03:10 do you still run it on the tracks? Yes. 03:13 Is this a diesel? Yes, diesel. 03:20 What a beautiful train from a bygone era, 03:23 the handwoven bamboo, the seats themselves 03:28 they're not fixed position, people can 03:29 move them around, the intricate design of 03:32 the bamboo itself, I can just imagine from 03:36 this bygone era as the people sat and 03:38 watched the beautiful scenery go by, 03:41 on their destination perhaps to the tea 03:43 plantation or further, but light conversation, 03:48 maybe even who knows a chicken or 03:49 two run in the isles you never know. 03:52 But here today, it's one of the only ones 03:54 left in existence, one in a museum in 03:57 France, but this one still operates, 04:00 what a beautiful piece out of time. 04:07 Well I don't know exactly where we 04:08 were going to head, but we are going to 04:09 head somewhere, if you ever ride in this 04:11 old train here in Madagascar, 04:14 hope he blows the whistle, 04:17 well see what kind of engineer 04:19 he is and wagon hang on. 04:30 The train bus that ride from Fianarantsoa 04:32 to Mancora, is an experience 04:33 not to be missed. This spectacular route 04:37 This spectacular route which is also one of 04:38 the steepest in the world, links the 04:39 highland city of Fianarantsoa with the 04:42 east coast town of Mancora crossing 04:44 through 67 bridges and 48 tunnels. 04:48 It offers some magnificent views as 04:50 it descends the escarpment to the east. 04:53 Closed for a time then reopened, big efforts 04:56 are being made to restore the rail and 04:58 make the journey an indisputable tourist 05:00 attraction for the entire region, 05:02 nevertheless if you would like to embark 05:05 on this adventure, take plenty of time, 05:07 since the ride with a speed of 25 to 35 05:09 kilometers per hour takes 8 to 05:12 12 hours to make the trip. 05:16 We traveled for hours to reach this village, 05:19 put down a lot of four wheeling but this was 05:21 very different with no phones or electricity 05:24 we traveled fast than we were coming, 05:27 much faster than we were going. 05:32 It's so exciting to be here in your village 05:34 and meet with you today. 05:35 I understand you began listening to 05:36 AWR, but before we talk about that, 05:40 please tell me about your villages it's beautiful. 05:44 During the day we go to the field to take 05:46 care of our vegetable, and then in the 05:48 afternoon we come home and we listen to 05:51 the Adventist World Radio. We raise the volume 05:53 of the radio programs, so that people around 05:55 us can hear the programs. 05:57 Oh, as you turn the radio up, 05:59 so everybody could listen. 06:01 So what type of vegetables and crops do you raise? 06:06 We grow sweet potatoes, cassava, 06:09 maize, rice and beans. 06:12 Do you have cattle and goats also? 06:17 Owing cows depend on a person's faith, 06:20 some people won't keep cows, but I have 06:23 cows and chickens because I was 06:25 convinced of the Bible's truth. 06:27 I understand some people here don't 06:29 want to have certain types of animals, because 06:32 they're superstitious, is that true? 06:38 There are many taboos in our cultures 06:40 but for the people who have listened to 06:42 the Adventist World Radio; 06:44 there are no more taboos. 06:48 Men, women, boys and girls, everyone 06:50 is listening to Adventist World Radio from 06:52 Cairo and the great Pyramids, 06:57 to the barren lands of Ethiopia, 07:02 from the vast plains of Kenya 07:04 and the Maasai lands of Serengeti 07:08 to the slopes of Mount of Kilimanjaro. 07:12 All the way here to the exotic 07:14 shores of Zanzibar and beyond. 07:18 AWR is frontline mission radio. 07:21 Our first priority is to travel where 07:23 missionaries cannot go. We broadcast 07:26 thousands of hours each day in 70 major 07:28 languages of the world. AWR has 07:30 the capability and capacity of blanketing 07:33 almost 80 percent of the world's population. 07:36 Hindus, Buddhists, Muslims, Anamists or 07:39 no belief at all. God is using the radio 07:42 waves of AWR to successfully call 07:45 and prepare people for his soon return, 07:47 but he work is not finished, your health 07:49 is needed. There are still so many 07:52 who must hear this precious message of hope. 07:56 Please partner with us today so others 07:58 can hear and rejoice in the hope of Jesus Christ, 08:01 the hope that you and I have already found, 08:04 your gift of love will mean so much to so many. 08:08 If you would like to financially partner with 08:09 this or would like additional information. 08:12 Our toll-free number is 866-503-3531. 08:21 While we're here in the Ambalavao market, 08:23 it's just getting started, it's still early 08:25 morning but soon this will be the biggest 08:27 market in all of Madagascar. 08:30 People are kind of preparing their wares, 08:32 presentation as they is everything and so 08:34 they are getting everything looking 08:36 just perfect. It's a wonderful place 08:39 ladies with their raffia hats, many of the men 08:42 with their sa-wrapies, or I don't know what 08:45 you call them here actually but they look 08:47 beautiful, they kind of get a kick out of us 08:51 walking through the market because they 08:52 don't get to see too many people that 08:55 from other countries and other areas, 08:57 they've got their wood or kindling for 08:59 starting fires, unfortunately this area 09:02 in the Central Plateau once was heavily 09:05 forested but they've cut all of the trees 09:07 now, and this area gets a lot of rain, 09:11 a lot of cyclones, little of everything. 09:13 So, now it seems like this is some of only 09:16 wood that's left, okay let's check out 09:20 some more of the market. 09:24 Early in the morning, villagers gather up 09:26 their goods and walk to the market, 09:28 during this procession you will see almost 09:30 anything and everything being 09:32 carried on their backs. If they're lucky they 09:34 may have a homemade wagon or 09:36 cart to bear the burden. They may travel 09:38 many miles winding their way to the 09:40 central market, once they arrive, some are 09:43 fortunate to have tables while others 09:45 spread a cloth on the ground to display 09:47 their goods. Most have very little to 09:49 sell but for many it is their only way to 09:52 obtain hard currency with which 09:53 to buy the other necessities of life. 09:57 You need to come check out this lady 09:58 over here, she is doing a string leaf and 10:00 she is slicing everyone just so perfectly, 10:03 it's incredible, French, her French cut beans. 10:11 I love to visit the markets no matter where I am? 10:14 They're the heartbeat of the people you 10:16 become immersed in the middle of the 10:18 smells, the sights, the sounds and the culture 10:20 of the residents as in no other way. 10:23 The markets have a variety of everything 10:25 from fruits, vegetables, fish, meat, spices and 10:29 other food items and you can check out the 10:31 clothes, shoes, soaps, car parts and in some 10:34 cases you will discover things that 10:36 may leave you almost mystified. 10:39 Well when you're a kid and you went out 10:40 and ate dirt, that's actually what this is, 10:42 it's clay but they say its rich in calcium and 10:45 other minerals, so they sell it here at the 10:47 market in order to eat to, to give 10:49 you your daily supplement. 11:05 Everything in life needed to survive 11:07 happens by the sweat of the brow 11:09 through the work of their hands. 11:12 It's amazing it's almost like the 11:13 children of Israel making their bricks 11:15 out of mud, phenomenal to think 11:17 that they last so long too. 11:24 Malagasy culture reflects a blend of 11:26 South East Asian, Arab, African and 11:28 European influences, houses in Madagascar 11:32 are typically four sided with a peaked roof, 11:34 in a style commonly seen in South East Asia. 11:38 As in Asia rice forms the bases of every 11:41 meal, large portions of farm are dedicated 11:44 to growing rice, it is a common site along 11:47 the road to see mats spread out on the 11:49 ground with rice drying in the sun. 11:51 Off to the side you'll see the modern pestle, 11:54 often in the hands of children pounding the 11:56 rice to remove the husks. Squatting over the 11:59 drying rice they carefully pick out the 12:01 stones and other large objects. 12:05 Many villages lack electricity, much less 12:07 phone service, to know what is 12:09 happening in the rest of the world they 12:11 often rely on solar power radios. 12:14 We often hear Malagasy listeners 12:16 say they stumbled on the voice of Hope broadcast. 12:20 AWR program producers strategically place 12:22 information on farming and ways to 12:25 stay healthy in each program. 12:27 This gains the confidence of the 12:29 listeners while giving them important and 12:31 practical information for their daily life, 12:35 then they hear the word of God, 12:37 information for their eternal life, 12:39 this format has proven successful all over the 12:42 world in winning souls to Christ. 12:45 Could you elaborate a little more for me on 12:47 some of the superstitions of the 12:48 people that live in theses areas? 12:55 People here are very different from one 12:57 and other, some go to church others worship 13:00 ancestors, some don't believe in anything, 13:03 and don't follow God or worship anything, 13:07 and some people still practice exhumation. 13:11 What is practicing exhumation and 13:13 ancestor worship, how does that work? 13:20 They don't believe in the real God, 13:23 so that's why they worship 13:24 other things like the ancestors. 13:28 How do you, how do you, someone go 13:30 about worshiping ancestors, 13:31 what is that involved? Not that you are doing 13:33 but I'm just curious of what that involves? 13:39 As I understand it the people worship their 13:42 ancestors because they believe that their 13:44 dead are saints, but according 13:47 to the Bible that is not true. 13:50 And what is exhumation? 13:53 Exhumation is when people wrap up the 13:56 dead in new clothes, there's a great festival 13:59 and people celebrate by dancing and eating. 14:02 So you open the grave up, take the bodies out. 14:09 Yes, they even take their bones out. 14:11 And what's the purpose of that? 14:17 It is collected to be ancestors themselves, 14:19 because the land belong to them before. 14:22 So when for example, you grow something 14:25 you need the blessing of the ancestors. 14:28 And what time of year is this festival take place? 14:32 In August. Is there any reason 14:35 that takes place in that particular month? 14:38 In August the land is dry and people have 14:41 everything, because it is after the harvest. 14:45 Now did you ever practice this at one time? 14:49 We did before when we were Christians. 14:52 What happens if there was a bad crop and a 14:54 bad year, does that mean 14:55 the ancestor didn't bless you? 15:00 Our overall view is that the dead cannot 15:02 bless, only Jesus can bless us. 15:05 But you said you used to do that, 15:07 and you no longer do, how come? 15:12 It was the Christian faith, through AWR 15:15 that made us stop practicing the exhumation. 15:21 It seems that the entire mountain site 15:22 has many little caverns many nooks 15:24 and crannies, and then many of those they 15:26 wall them up because they become the 15:28 tombs of family member. Some of these tombs 15:30 have as many as forty people in them. 15:37 Right behind me here is a king who died 15:39 about 300 years ago, they've put his bones 15:41 up there, they commemorate with an 15:43 oxen because apparently he had a 15:45 lot of his own oxen, I'm told they've since 15:47 moved his bones however so they no 15:49 longer come here to worship. 15:52 Traditionally the Malagasy hold their ancestors in 15:54 high esteem, and many believe their 15:57 relatives continue to intervene in events on 16:00 earth after their death. A powerful individual 16:03 may establish a Fady or a taboo in his or 16:06 her lifetime. All the descendents 16:08 and community members will be 16:10 required to respect the taboo 16:12 well after their death. What does this mean 16:15 for the traveler, it means you need to 16:17 seek advice from the village elder or 16:19 authorities to discover what the local Fady or 16:21 taboo maybe, so you don't inadvertently 16:24 transgress and offend the local population, 16:28 not a good idea especially 16:30 in some areas of the country. 16:32 In the 19th century under Queen Ranavalona I, 16:36 there was infamous persecution and mass 16:38 extermination of Christians. 16:41 Ranavalona I was a Merina queen of 16:43 Madagascar, over the course of her reign 16:45 and after it, she was referred to by western 16:48 scholars as the modern Messalina, 16:51 the bloody Mary of Madagascar. 16:53 Ranavalona's objections to Christianity were 16:56 generally based on her antagonism to the 16:58 Christians behavior. They prayed 17:00 frequently but refused to pray to her idols, 17:04 they shunned fornication, they assembled repeatedly 17:06 for worship. Her attempts to 17:09 annihilate Christianity are typically cited as 17:11 testimonials to the fervency of that faith 17:14 as its adherents refused to recant even 17:17 under extreme torture and death. 17:20 Ranavalona was a violent persecutor of 17:22 the native Christians after expelling the 17:24 alien missionaries, but she failed eradicate 17:27 Christianity from her island. 17:29 Today about 45 percent of the 17:31 Madagascar Christians divided almost evenly 17:34 between Catholics and Protestants. 17:37 Many incorporate the cult of the dead with 17:39 their other religious beliefs and bless their 17:42 dead at church before proceeding with the 17:44 traditional burial rights. They also may invite 17:47 a Christian ministry to attend the exhumation 17:49 service for the dead, many of our 17:52 Malagasy listeners believe in the strange 17:54 ritual until they accepted Christ, 17:57 now things are different. 17:59 You said that AWR changed all the 18:01 ancestor worship and exhumation but how 18:04 did you listen to the Adventist World Radio, 18:06 you're clear out here I don't see 18:07 any power or anything else? 18:11 There is no electricity here, but I was given 18:14 the solar radio from AWR, 18:17 I changed because AWR is preaching 18:19 the truth according to the Bible. 18:21 So how did you get the radio? 18:24 It was a gift from AWR. This was one of the 18:26 radios then that we worked with 18:28 government of Madagascar to get 18:30 people radios across the island, were you 18:33 one of the first people then to receive the 18:35 radio in this village? Once you received the 18:38 radio, and you began listening to the programs, 18:41 what did you think of the programs? 18:47 I think this radio programs are such a 18:50 great blessings for entire village, because 18:53 all of us gathered together to listen to the AWR. 18:57 So then are you what we call an AWR 19:00 listener group, and you're the leader? 19:03 Yes, I'm the leader. Tell me a little more 19:05 what does the leader do? 19:11 To encourage others to listen 19:13 and to follow the truth. 19:16 What's the favorite program or is there a 19:17 favorite program, because I know that 19:19 you have family programs and Bible 19:24 programs and music, is there something 19:26 that's kind of a favorite of everyone's? 19:31 The family programs are the most popular 19:34 here but we also enjoy the songs and preaching. 19:38 How has AWR changed your heart? 19:43 The Adventist World Radio convinced me 19:46 of the truth and encouraged 19:47 me to follow the true God. 19:50 From the time that the people in the village 19:52 began listening to the programs, do you see 19:55 a change in the hearts and the lives 19:57 of the people in the village? 20:01 People in this village show more respect for 20:04 one another since we began listening to 20:06 the radio and became Christians. 20:09 Now if you were able to tell people all over 20:12 the world why they should listen to the 20:14 AWR programs, what would you tell them? 20:20 I would tell people that they should 20:22 listen, so the gospel can be 20:24 shared throughout the world. 20:27 Would you mind showing me where 20:28 your home is? And how you gather 20:29 together to listen to the radio? 20:33 And thank you so much for sharing with me up here. 20:37 We're here and I love to see your home. 20:43 As you can see AWR is frontline mission radio. 20:47 Our first priority is to travel where 20:49 missionaries cannot go. We broadcast thousands 20:53 of hours each day in 70 major languages 20:56 of the world AWR has the capability 20:59 and capacity of blanketing almost 21:01 80 percent of the world's population 21:04 not only do we broadcast 21:05 via short wave radio but our 21:07 signal is on over 1000 FM and AM stations 21:11 around the world as well, 21:13 our podcast subscribers, Internet users, 21:16 satellite downlinks are growing 21:17 rapidly, evidenced by the hundred thousand 21:20 plus emails, letters and phone calls we 21:23 receive each and every year. 21:25 Yes AWR is your mission radio, 21:29 no walls and no borders for AWR that 21:31 means changed lives and changed hearts 21:33 around the world because God is using 21:36 the airways of AWR to reach people everywhere. 21:43 Men, women, boys and girls, everyone 21:45 is listening to Adventist World Radio from 21:47 Cairo and the great Pyramids, 21:53 to the barren lands of Ethiopia, 21:58 from the vast plains of Kenya 22:00 and the Maasai lands of Serengeti 22:03 to the slopes of Mount of Kilimanjaro. 22:07 All the way here to the exotic 22:09 shores of Zanzibar and beyond. 22:13 One of the favorite things people like about 22:15 AWR is its stories. We have stories 22:19 from all over the world, some of them 22:21 involved danger many of them involved 22:23 miracles of God, but certainly all of 22:26 them involved the miracle of changed lives. 22:28 I've written a little book of some of the 22:30 favorite stories in the face of death, 22:33 another radios given by angels. 22:37 Coming to Christ in a Muslim country these and 22:41 many other stories, just write to 22:43 AWR and ask for the book, stories. 22:46 For your free, no obligation book, 22:48 write to Adventist World Radio, 12501, Old 22:52 Columbia Pike, Silver Spring, MD 20904 or call 22:57 1-866-503-3531 or log on to www.awr.org/mwbook. 23:08 That number again is 1-866-503-3531. 23:15 How long have you been 23:16 listening to the radio like this? 23:18 One year. And how big a, 23:20 how big a crowd do you usually gives? 23:24 200 people. You fit 200 people in here. 23:29 Yes, because there are 23:30 people who also sit up there. 23:32 Now, I see you put a little, is that 23:34 a solar panel up on your roof. Yes. 23:39 How long will that allow you to play the radio? 23:43 Once you tune it on; it will last 23:45 for around 4 to 5 hours. 23:48 So on, as soon as night comes you still 23:52 got 5 hours of listening time, 23:54 once you charged it? Yes. 23:57 You don't seem to have a church in this 23:59 area are you planning on other 24:01 church one of these days? Yes. 24:03 I know I can speak for all the AWR staff 24:05 around the world. We are so happy and 24:07 so excited for you and all of your people 24:10 here and we wish you God's blessings and 24:13 all that you're doing here. 24:16 Thank you very much for coming and all of 24:18 us here are grateful you have come 24:20 because we are all part of God's people. 24:23 Amen. Well I know, we came on very 24:25 short notice so I wanna thank you 24:27 today for allowing us to come and be 24:29 a part of your family here. 24:32 We are all pleased. It's a real privilege for 24:36 us to be here and to find people who are 24:38 worshiping the creator the God of the universe; 24:40 I look forward to being with all of you in heaven. 24:49 It's always exciting for me to see how 24:51 God is working to change lives 24:53 everywhere in the world. All people may have 24:56 different cultural beliefs, 24:57 be poor or richer, live in wood homes 25:00 or mud houses but around the world 25:03 the basics are the same everywhere, 25:05 they are hungering for peace, 25:06 stability and happiness, exactly what God 25:09 offers to every man woman and child on 25:12 planet earth. I love watching the 25:14 excitement of the children, the smiles of 25:17 the parents, and the joy of everyone when 25:19 we talk about what they have 25:21 discovered in the word of God. 25:23 Hunting over on the second floor of this 25:25 humble home was an absolute joy, 25:28 especially as I heard the 200 people 25:30 gathered in the court yard to listen to the 25:33 radio programs, from a radio give away 25:35 program that AWR spirit headed several 25:38 years ago, what a pay off imagine, 25:41 one radio reaching hundreds of villagers. 25:46 In this story today, we've seen a whole 25:49 village of people that were caught up into 25:51 witchcraft, dealings with the devil and Satan. 25:55 Lot of people in the world today don't 25:56 think there is a devil. But when we see 25:58 these stories, we see that the devil is indeed real. 26:03 The realm of darkness is very evident, 26:06 but AWR's purpose is to bring people into 26:10 the light, the light of God's truth. 26:13 In Acts 26 verse 18 it says, I'm sending you 26:19 to these people to open their eyes and 26:22 turn them from darkness to light, 26:25 and from the power of Satin to God so that 26:28 they may receive forgiveness of sins 26:31 and a place among those who are 26:33 sanctified by faith in me. What an amazing 26:37 transformation, 200 people now in this 26:41 village have become followers of Jesus and 26:44 members of his church, but you know 26:47 there are still many people in many 26:49 places, who do not know about Jesus 26:52 Christ and the salvation he offers. 26:54 They are still in that realm of darkness, 26:57 your gift to AWR will help us to reach more 27:00 people around the world, and bring them 27:03 out of the realm of darkness into the 27:05 marvelous light of God's love and salvation. 27:09 This is just one example of AWR 27:12 listener groups around the world, 27:14 people gathering together, you heard 27:15 here that over 200 people gather on a 27:17 daily basis to listen to the God's message 27:20 spoken through the air ways of AWR. 27:23 I hope you'll join us, give us a call 27:26 1866-503-3531 or you can write to us 12501 27:32 Old Columbia Pike, Silver Spring, 27:34 Maryland 20904 or you can log on 27:38 www.awr.org. Thank you for watching, 27:43 please join us for another exciting 27:45 gospel adventure, because around the 27:46 world AWR is Making Waves. |
Revised 2014-12-17