Birth, Baptisms, and California Bound…
Changing the Face of Birth in Madagascar…
In May, the Sarobidy Maternity Center celebrated it’s 12th anniversary! A lot has changed in those twelve years– and amazingly and honestly, everything has changed for the better! The team, our practices, and our competencies, all continue to evolve, be honed, and strengthened! In medicine, like many things in life, practices can become routine, corners can be cut, and ultimately, patients suffer. I’m so thankful for a team that continuously strengthens their knowledge base and implements new concepts and research-backed best care practices.
As a result of the tenacity of our midwife team, we’re seeing the face of birth changing for the better in our little corner of Madagascar. One of the many ways we’re seeing this happen is with fathers! When we first began deliveries at the Sarobidy Maternity Center in 2016, it was unheard of to have a father in the birth room. For the first several years, men would quietly wait outside while a sister, mother, mother-in-law, or auntie accompanied the laboring mom during delivery. It was only after the baby was safely delivered and lying on the mom’s chest, would the father walk in to the room, stay for a short time, and then return outside. It wasn’t that the father’s were discouraged from coming into the birth room, but culture simply didn’t welcome the practice.
For the past seven years, we’ve been teaching a childbirth education class for pregnant moms once they hit the 36 week mark. They’re encouraged to bring a companion of their choice and honestly, the education is just as much for the companion as it is for the pregnant lady. During this class, we talk about the freedom of choosing positions to labor and deliver in, the freedom to eat and drink at will and to walk outside. We discuss how we’ll keep the lights dimmed, the environment quiet, how we’ll offer massage and a warm bath tub to labor in– all forms of non-medicated pain relief measures and how we’ll avoid interventions unless medically necessary. In a country where birth is considered a highly interventive process– one where the clock is constantly ticking, routine episiotomies and dangerous fundal pressure are the norm, and most deliveries are augmented with medications, the Sarobidy Maternity Center does everything different- hence the need for education and helping to set expectations.
In the last few years, fathers have joined the childbirth class. We’ve also seen fathers begin to enter the birth room for the delivery of their babies, engaging in the process, and even cutting the umbilical cord! In fact, about 30% of fathers are now present for the birth– an astounding shift! This is an exponential, positive change in the culture surrounding birth in our little corner of Madagascar!
In a society where cultural norms are not easily altered, we give the Lord praise for the ways He is shifting the birthing culture at the Sarobidy Maternity Center… one mother, one father, one baby at a time!
Baptisms…
Every year, Rift Valley Academy offers a time for students to be baptized– a remarkable occasion where they share how the Lord has uniquely met them, lavished His love upon them and called them by name. Through faith, they have committed their lives to loving and serving Jesus.
This year, three students who are especially dear to us took this step of publicly proclaiming their commitment to Christ: a former dorm guy, a current dorm guy, and a young lady Alissa has been mentoring for over a year. We give God praise for the tender, merciful ways He has met each of these missionary kids—how He loves them, and through His death and resurrection, has given them eternal life and hope in Him.
Would you join us in praying for Vwana, Samuel, and Elise as they follow the Lord, delve deeper into His Word, and grow closer to Him, falling ever more in love with their personal Savior?
Graduation 2025…
This morning, 69 RVA students stood in cap and gown, flipped their tassels from right to left, and tossed their caps into the air! Another school year has come to a close, and an amazing group of world-changing missionary kids, third culture kids, and cross-cultural kids are stepping into the next chapter of their journeys.
Perhaps more than any other year, these seniors are launching into the world equipped with intentional transition tools and a deeper understanding of their third culture kid (TCK) identities. We praise God for the opportunity He has given Alissa to spearhead this new TCK Care program at RVA, working alongside two dedicated teams of staff who are passionate about caring well for TCKs and CCKs.
With graduation also comes heart-wrenching goodbyes for students and staff alike. Please join us in praying for the Lord’s comfort and peace for these graduates, and that they would draw near to Him in these days and months of transition as they begin forging a new life—often in a country that feels foreign, despite holding its passport.
California Bound…
I’m finishing up this newsletter from the backseat of a taxi as we head to the airport. Tonight, Lord willing, we’ll depart Nairobi, and 36 hours later, arrive in California.
Over the next five weeks in the USA, we’ll be sharing stories of what the Lord is doing in Kenya and Madagascar—far more than we could ever fit into a newsletter! If you’re in the Santa Barbara/Goleta area, we would love to see you at any of these services:
July 27 – Free Methodist Church
August 3 – New Life Church
August 10 – Redeemer Bible Church
In addition, we would be thrilled to connect with you around a kitchen table over coffee, during a small group or Bible Study, or even on a beach walk. If you’re interested, please reach out by email, text, WhatsApp, or Facebook Messenger so we can find a time to meet. (See our contact information in the right column.)
Please also join us in praying for opportunities to share about how God is moving among missionary kids in Kenya and through compassionate maternal healthcare, reforestation, and job creation efforts in Madagascar. There is so much to give Him praise for, and we don’t want to keep it to ourselves!
Sarobidy Creations Sale…
In our recent newsletter, we announced our in-person sale. However, if you missed it, you can still purchase our beautiful handcrafted artisan items from Madagascar online! Every purchase supports the Sarobidy Maternity Center, providing compassionate maternal healthcare in Madagascar.
As we step into these coming weeks of travel and sharing, we are deeply grateful for your prayers, encouragement, and partnership. It is a gift to walk this journey together, seeing God’s faithfulness in Kenya, Madagascar, and beyond. Thank you for standing with us in prayer and for being part of what God is doing around the world. We can’t wait to see many of you soon!
With love,
Jamie and Alissa, Isabella, Eliana and Gavin
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