madagascar crisis

Hi everyone, I know this is long over due. It is really hard to write this blog at this time. As many of you know things are not good in this country at this time. Yesterday I went to a embassy meeting where the ambassador talked about the situation. All the family's of the embassy workers are being sent home at this time. Most of them live in the center of town where most of the action has been.
As for me and my part of town, there has not been any problems to date. I am praying for God to tell me when I should pack up and return to the states until things settle down here. I do think they will settle down here, the question is when. If I take the political evacuation out of the country it will be a round trip ticket. I will give the crisis a couple of months and hope to return then. I plan to keep my house here and let the office remain open while I am away. If I return I would like to return to Arizona. I am praying for a place to stay for the time I am back there. (Jeannie and Jerry if your house is still on the market maybe I can house sit) I anticipate staying for at least 2 months and then only will know when we see what is happening here. I know my family wants me to come home to stay, but I don't foresee that happening. This is where I was called and this is where I will serve. I pray you can accept it even if you can't understand it. For my church family please pray diligently for this country and for me to honor and obey my Father in Heaven and take time to listen to Him.

Thank you for your prayers.

I also know I will need more support during this period of time while in America. Please if you are a faithful supporter know how much your support means to me. If you are considering being a part of missions I would love to have you pray about monthly commitment to this ministry. I know many are already a part of my ministry through prayer, however please pray about being a monthly financial prayer partner.

You can make commitments through the World Venture web site. www.worldventure.com click on donate and find my name under missionaries. It is under Sandra Horen.

Thank you all.
With much love and God's blessings
Sandi

Back Home in Madagascar

Well, here I am back in sunny Madagascar. Yesterday I finally finished unpacking my suitcases. During the journey there was some delays, but since I had such long layovers at each place the delays didn't effect me. I was able to spend some talking with an embasy worker from Guatamala. I talked about what God has done in my life and let him know He is there for him also. All he has to do is open the door. Waiting for the final flight to Madagascar I met a neighbor here in Ambohibao. She knew a little english and we talked briefly. I pray we will meet again sometime here in our neighborhood so I can invite her to the bible study. When I got here my friend Michelle was there to pick me up. We went to my house to unload her car. At that time we didn't know where my car was. We found it easily though safe and secure at the MEF garage. I showered and Michelle picked me up again for Bible Study. We started the Beth Moore study on Esther.

My co-worker has been listening to the radio daily to update me on what is happening in town. Please continue to Pray for the situtation here to resolve quickly. In my part of the city there is little effect. I was able to go to the grocery store and get everything I needed. The cooking oil was a lot more expensive, but most other things were about the same. Here life is going on as before, but that doesn't mean I am unaware of the turmoil here on the Island. The opposition is really pushing to take over the government. I don't know how this will all end, but God does and it is in His hands.

I thank you all for your prayers and support. I pray God will protect you all my family and friends.

Sandi

Return to Madagascar

I know many are wondering what is going on. Well here is the latest. I have been very emotional this week. On Saturday my leader and I talked and at that time thought it would be ok to return if I stayed away from the downtown area. We talked again on Monday and started feeling maybe I should wait a few weeks. I contacted my travel agent and found if I didn't return as scheduled I would loose my ticket. I prayed yesterday for God to give me an answer and felt he answered me that if peace talks started I should go ahead and travel, but if they didn't then I should wait and have faith that God would help provide the cost of another ticket. My travel agent found a return ticket for 1539.00 I just got this information. Eariler today I found a ticket for $2500.00 Well, when I got up this morning I read the news on madagascar and found that peace talks started yesterday and both sides have agreed to not burn, loot and riot. I pray they come to a agrement very soon. So I talked to my Dad and he said since I am returning anyway I might as well go now since other people that live there feel they are leaving simi normal lives as long as they stay away from the downtown area. The US embassy has not evacuated their people and held a meeting earlier this week. So, the just of all this is that I will leave this Saturday morning and arrive in Madagascar the morning of the 16th.

Here are some prayer requests.
first I pray that peace will prevail on the island. (quickly)
next please pray for safe travel.
next I am praying for some one time gifts or new supporters. I found out today I have to pay $668.00 in income tax. ( I thought I wouldn't have to pay because I spent more than I earned in my mission work, but I guess you can only claim 1/2 of it. So anyway I have that expense and I planned to send two boxes back to madagascar by post, but since the problems are one block from the post office I will not be able to go get them, so I am taking an extra piece of luggage and that costs $250.00 also because of the recent problems in Madagascar my mission has required I get political evacuation insurance and that is $183.00 I am still underfunded to make my medical payments each month and soon will have to start paying that out of my current living expense. I pray for more prayer partners and more financial partners.

I will update my blog upon my arival in Madagascar.

God Bless you all Sandi