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
April 17, 2011 |
POTW
The average life expectancy here in Madagascar is 61 years for men and 65 years for women (CIA World Factbook). ...
April 17, 2011 |
Of Birthdays and Modern Technology
We recently celebrated our second daughter, Eliana’s 3rd birthday. It is during times like this that we are so...
April 10, 2011 |
Picture of the Week (POTW)
So we both love photography and Madagascar is a photographer’s paradise! We’re going to start “Picture of the...
April 9, 2011 |
Money Matters
Money is an interesting thing here in Madagascar. Though we have been paid for medical services in the form of...
April 6, 2011 |
A Sign of the Times
Madagascar is behind in the times with many things though I’m happy to report not with everything. My find...
March 29, 2011 |
hot, Hot, HOT!
One may think that being a tropical island in the middle of the Indian Ocean that all of Madagascar is hot. ...
March 19, 2011 |
Special Guests & Birthday Celebrations
Our long-time good friend and main ministry partner, Josy, left his wife home with their 3 kids and made the...






