Better to love God and die unknown than to love the world and be a hero; better to be content with poverty than to die a slave to wealth; better to have taken some risks and lost than to have done nothing and succeeded at it. --Erwin Lutzer
More About Our Company
Red Island Restoration is a response to God’s leading in our lives to see Madagascar restored in Health, Forests and Hope in Christ.
Jamie was born and raised in Madagascar as a missionary kid and as a result, has a deep understanding of Malagasy culture and language as well as a powerful love for his home country and the Malagasy people. He has a Bachelor’s degree in Biology and a Master’s of Arts in Intercultural Studies from Fuller Theological Seminary.
Alissa was born and raised in Santa Barbara and while serving on a short-term mission trip to Madagascar in 1999, fell in love with this island nation and it’s people. She has a Bachelor’s degree in Nursing, a Master’s of Science in Nursing as a Family Nurse Practitioner as well as a degree in Midwifery.
We met while attending Seattle Pacific University and later fell in love while working beside one another in Madagascar in 1999. After a few years in Madagascar serving together, we returned to the States in 2002 to get married. Three kids, a few degrees and 8 years later, our family of five returned to the great Red Island in January 2011. As our kids outgrew the educational system in our city of Mahajanga and Covid border closures kept us out of Madagascar, the Lord gently shifted us to Rift Valley Academy in Kenya in order to pour into the lives and walk alongside third culture kids and cross-cultural kids. Today, we split our time between Kenya and Madagascar– engaging in ministries in both countries.

Recent Blog Posts
August 6, 2011 |
Viva la Fiesta!
As one can imagine, there are a number of things that we miss about life in Santa Barbara…. family and...
July 20, 2011 |
Sites of the Road
Traveling in Madagascar is never dull. The roads in the city are congested with cars, bikes, rickshaws, people,...
July 16, 2011 |
Preschool Graduation
Two weeks ago, Jamie wrapped up Sekoly (preschool) with the kids, Isabella (5), Eliana (3), and Oliver (3). We...
June 28, 2011 |
Ony
Ony has become a favorite friend for Gavin (right) and his little buddy, Alex (left). She’s a sweet woman who...
June 26, 2011 |
Ranomafana
Two weeks ago, over Pentecost, we had a long holiday weekend… after all, doesn’t everybody have Pentecost...
June 24, 2011 |
Gavin’s Birthday
It’s still hard to believe that last Sunday we celebrated Gavin’s 1st birthday! He’s a sweet, fun-loving, quiet...
June 15, 2011 |
A taste of home…
Last week we received our first guests from the States… friends, Nolan and Elizabeth Hunt. For the year or...






