Please accept our apologies for the lateness in daily blog posting. Our days have been very busy, and internet is not always available! Attempting to use our phones to put together a blog while bouncing around in our large van and swinging side to side on the steep switchbacks, not to mention the stop and go due to constant road conditions and surface changes, is near to impossible! 

Last night (Saturday) was wonderful celebrating with everyone who has helped make this week an unforgettable and truly blessed and life changing experience. Sadly 2 of our team members had to leave unexpectedly Saturday due to a family emergency. We miss them greatly, and they, along with their family and friends, are in our thoughts and prayers.

Sunday we packed up early and left the hospital to make our way to Andisabe.  After several snack and bathroom breaks we stopped at Coin du Foie Gras for lunch. 

Dogs are everywhere in Madagascar including at the restaurant where we stopped for lunch. This lucky mom and her puppies were lucky enough to get some deworming meds thanks to our animal rescue expert Lynn!

Trying to keep on a schedule when traveling in Madagascar is very challenging due to unexpected construction and traffic, but we managed to make it to the nature sanctuary by 4 PM as planned.  We were able to see (and hold!) chameleons, geckos, poisonous tomatoes frogs, bats, a crocodile, and snakes. Our informative guides were great, answering our questions about these native species.

Only 15 percent of the roads in Madagascar are paved. The roads alternate between pavement full of potholes and very bumpy, dusty (currently the dry season) dirt roads.  Drivers are constantly swerving to avoid damaging a tire or hitting cars, many large vans and trucks, pedestrians walking/ carrying/pushing all sorts of things, and people on many modes of transportation like motorcycles, bicycles, and rickshaw-type vehicles. We averaged about 17 mph to drive 100 miles from Antsirabe to Tana the busy, large capital city. Our expert drivers did an amazing job delivering us safely to our destinations.

Rollover accident we drove by – praying no one was injured.

It was a tight squeeze to get through the small village to reach our hotel that evening where we had dinner and warm showers! The rooms and grounds were beautiful.

After a long day of traveling, broken up by some fun stops, we were grateful to get a good night of sleep as we prepared for our last day together as a team. God has blessed us every step of this trip. When our plans changed unexpectedly, His faithfulness led us to new opportunities to share His love with the Malagasy people.  Our God is so good!