We are once again preparing for our departure back to Madagascar.
The months in the Netherlands have gone by quickly. It was not a normal furlough, but a special one due to family circumstances. That may sound very serious, but in our case it simply meant that the exams of our oldest son and the partial exam of our second daughter were classified as ‘family circumstances.’
The exams
Both passed with excellent results.The exams are now behind us. The children passed with flying colors. It was a little strange, because the children who attend regular schools had already finished their exams, and many of them had already put out the Dutch flag with their schoolbag. But because our children are homeschooled, in addition to the written exams they also have to take oral exams in all subjects. Only after that could we finally put out the flag… And the children could explain to everyone that this was not because they had taken a resit, but because they had simply been working on their exams for a few weeks longer.
Both passed with excellent results… But, well, they didn’t exactly want to be in the picture!
We had also planned to be in the Netherlands during August, as this month can be used for any resits. But as mentioned, this was not necessary, so we had a few weeks to really enjoy a holiday together. Great fun, of course! Our oldest daughter also came to Oudewater to spend the summer holidays with us. Once again, the Hofmann household was as busy and lively as ever.
Short but sweet
Although we were in the Netherlands for a somewhat shorter period this time, we were still able to do a lot. I, Jurgen, visited several churches to talk about our work and/or to preach. We feel privileged to have such a diverse group of people supporting us. I sometimes joke that in one church they hang from the lampshades and swing around while praising the Lord, while in another church we may sit properly dressed and sing Psalms. That diversity is a wonderful thing and shows us who our God is!
As a family, we visited family and friends and had the opportunity to hold the newborn babies of some of Jurgen’s cousins.
Of course, we also enjoyed the wonderful weather. In Oudewater we are just a stone’s throw from the IJssel, so during the hottest days the children could take a refreshing swim in the cool water. As I write this, our youngest has just set off toward that same IJssel, but this time armed with a fishing rod and some bread.
Translation and work
In between everything else, I was also able to continue working on the translation project. Genesis 1–11 is now ready to be tested. Hopefully our translator, Menja, will also be able to deliver the remaining chapters soon.
During our stay in the Netherlands, our house in the village served as accommodation for a group of Malagasy missionaries. Our friends, Sylvestre and Fanja, asked if they could use the house. Well, of course! Sylvestre has the key, and we fully trust him and his wife. How wonderful it is when these kinds of things become less and less dependent on our presence. We can thank the Lord for that.
Homeschooling
As mentioned, we are returning to Madagascar, where the children will once again receive their full education from Katja (with me teaching a few subjects). Homeschooling is a tremendous blessing, and when we look at our children, we can now also see the wonderful fruits it has produced. Nevertheless, you may have noticed that homeschooling has become a subject of discussion in the Netherlands.
For us, there is not much to worry about because we are returning to Madagascar. But for around 2,860 other Dutch children, the coming year will be an uncertain one. In April 2026, the Supreme Court ruled that, in principle, children must always attend school. So how does that work? If someone wants to homeschool their child, they have to apply for an exemption. This exemption is granted if the parents cannot find a school in their area that fits their religious or philosophical convictions. That may not sound very appealing, but that is simply the legal route that must be followed in the Netherlands.
We also apply for this exemption every time we are in the Netherlands, because that is the legal route available to us. The Supreme Court has now ruled that if there is a public school nearby, the child must attend that school. No consideration is given to how well these homeschooled children are doing (and generally, they are doing very well). No, as things currently stand, all these children will simply have to sit in school classrooms next year.
Why am I mentioning this? Because after 18 years of homeschooling, we have seen just how wonderfully well it works. Many children simply do not fit comfortably into the school system, yet they thrive when educated at home. This is also known as personalized education. When we return to the Netherlands again in 2028 for exams, we simply hope that we will still be allowed to continue teaching our own children during those months in the Netherlands.
We simply wanted to bring this to your attention because it is a major concern for many families in the Netherlands. During this furlough, I have given several interviews about this subject. This issue deserves attention, and we would also ask you to include it in your prayers.
Would you like to hear how we got started with homeschooling? Then you can watch the video below (click on the gear icon to choose the dubbed version):
A brief explanation
You may have noticed that we no longer mention the children’s names. This is at their own request. They are getting older and want to be intentional about making their names public. They are particularly cautious about this because of social media. Of course, we want to respect their wishes.
Thank you very much!
Well, this newsletter is a little shorter than usual. Next time, we hope to send it again from Madagascar. Tomorrow, September 8, David will pick us up and take us to Schiphol Airport. The five of us are travelling together. Our oldest daughter has started university again, and our oldest son is currently staying with friends in Kansas, America. He will return to the Netherlands in November and stay with his sister for a few weeks before travelling on to Madagascar.
We would like to sincerely thank all of you for your prayers, involvement and lovely cards! We have had a wonderful time and look forward to seeing together with you what God will do among the people of Madagascar in the coming period.
Finally
When we look back on everything we have been able to do here, one thing becomes very clear: God is faithful. In everything!
We can make plans, but it is the Lord who leads the work. And we are grateful that we can do this together with you—with your prayers, your involvement, your support, and your encouragement. Let us continue to trust in Him together. For God is good—always. And always—God is good.
Thank you all.
Katja & Jurgen and the Hofmann children.
Prayer and thanksgiving points
We are thankful because:
we serve a great and mighty God;
the local Christians in and around Maroamboka are organizing things independently;
we have had a wonderful furlough;
the children’s exams went extremely well.
Katja prepared the children so incredibly well.
Please pray for/that:
our financial situation will return to a healthy level;
the translation work and its distribution;
the translation work on the book of Genesis;
homeschooling may come to be recognized as a fully-fledged educational pathway;
The new year is already two months old. As a family, we are gradually preparing for the furlough that lies ahead of us.
But before we tell you more about that, we first would like to take you with us to Madagascar — to the villages, the people, and the stories that define our work and life here. Thank you for standing with us, praying with us, and fighting alongside us.
Suddenly back to the Netherlands
In the previous newsletter we mentioned that the work on Madagascar is never really predictable. Sometimes it feels as if we are mostly waiting, and at other times everything seems to happen at once.
When you suddenly have such a busy period, other matters also seem to happen abruptly. A few days before Christmas we received the message that Jurgen’s father had been urgently admitted to a care home.At the station with the suitcases A day later another message followed: “Father will probably pass away; how long it will take? That could be a matter of days, but also of weeks.”
Although the message came suddenly, it was not unexpected. Jurgen’s father had been deteriorating for quite some time. Dementia was doing its destructive work.
On 29 February I (Jurgen), together with our daughter, flew to the Netherlands. Father had not yet passed away, so hopefully we would still be able to see him briefly. During our stopover in Ethiopia we received the message that he had passed away. That was a shock.
Thankfully I had always been able to tell my father everything that truly mattered. We had no unspoken matters. Every time we saw each other, or spoke on the phone, I would tell him how much I loved him. A good habit that we often forget, but in situations like this it becomes clear why it is so important.
A blessing in disguise
Snowball fights and a snowman — it couldn’t be better!Although the reason for coming to the Netherlands was not pleasant, we were also able to enjoy our time. The first week we stayed at Katja’s father’s place, which was very nice. After the funeral we went to the province Drenthe, and stayed at our daughter for another two weeks.
And while the whole of the Netherlands was dealing with various weather alerts, we were mostly able to enjoy the snow and being together. Because public transport in Drenthe and Groningen had largely come to a standstill, our daughter had to continue her studies from home. This meant we could see each other a great deal and take pleasant afternoon walks in the snow-covered forest and countryside.
Back in the village again
At the time of writing we are, of course, back on Madagascar. After a few weeks away it is good to be with Katja and the other children again.
The three of us out togetherThe visit to the Netherlands meant that we had to postpone some plans. Initially we had wanted to make another trip to the village in December to host a group of Malagasy evangelists once again. Fortunately, on Madagascar it is not a major problem to change programmes. A new time and arrangement were quickly made.
On Monday, 9 February, I travelled to our village with our two youngest children. Our first task was to clean the house again. Spider webs, rat droppings, dead insects, and dust … a lot of dust. Each time it is a matter of checking whether everything still works. Fortunately the electrical wiring from the solar panels was still in order, but the water pipe from the tank to the toilet had broken. Well, it keeps you busy, as they say.
Extremely busy
Everything repaired and cleaned, so on 12 February we were able to receive the group of evangelists. We could only pick them up later in the day because several slopes were still too muddy and slippery earlier that morning. The sun had shone enough to make the road passable again around 13:00.
This was the longest muddy slope. A day earlier we could not get up here at all. If you listen carefully you can hear stones and rocks striking the underside of the car.
Catching up together on the veranda
It was a joyful reunion with familiar faces and new ones. Ten people in total — eight men and two ladies. All from different tribes and regions of Madagascar: Vezo, Tsimihetsy, Antaimoro, Mahafaly, Masikoro. What a richness to see people from all corners of Madagascar coming together, united in the Gospel. Each comes with their own dialect, which means our translation work is much needed in order to understand and speak the Antanala language. Thankfully they are enthusiastically helped by local Christians from Maroamboka. The local people know the villages, they know the culture, and people trust them.
It is wonderful to hear from our villagers that the guests are more than welcome. In passing it is mentioned that it can sometimes be difficult to understand them and to make themselves understood in return. But it does not spoil the joy! The people in our area greatly appreciate that these ‘strangers’ have come to explain the Gospel to them. They hang on their every word. Yet it remains a strange experience that I, the white man from a distant country, still occasionally have to function as a dictionary: “Sir!? What does this word mean and how do you pronounce that word? And how should we actually greet the people?” …
It greatly encourages us to see that the work is not only done by us — but now especially by them themselves. That is exactly what we have prayed for over many years.
Then … The return journey, and the Lord was with us!
Afterwards we still had to travel back to the capital. It is a journey of 540 kilometres and if we drove it in one go it would take about 18 hours. We therefore always divide it into two parts. We wanted to be there before the weekend so that we could celebrate our son’s 15th birthday (21 February).
The radiator hose had completely torn apart
On the second day of travel a strange smell entered the car. At first we thought of the fires burning along the roadside. But oh dear! Soon we came to an abrupt halt … The car had overheated and the temperature gauge had not indicated it. Bonnet open to investigate. Indeed — the coolant hose had burst completely. We were still more than 11 hours’ drive from the capital.
After thinking for a moment I first called Katja to say that we would not be home for the time being. Then I phoned Peter van Buuren in Tana. His mechanics always maintain the car. They knew a good mechanic near us. Those mechanics came to us and after the car had cooled down, the radiator was filled with water and we slowly drove back to a town we had just passed.
The diagnosis was quick, the solution less so. Due to the extreme heat the cylinder head had warped and needed to be resurfaced. With a new head gasket everything should have been fine. Unfortunately it was not so simple. The cylinder head was still leaking and there was nothing they could do about it.
After three days of repairs, we decided that we would have to continue to Antananarivo by makeshift means.A jerrycan of water on the roof had to be the solution. A jerrycan of water was placed on the roof. From the jerrycan a garden hose ran into the radiator so that we could continuously supply the car with cooling water. The idea was good, but the weather did not cooperate. It was extremely hot and the car overheated again after only 10 minutes.
What now? Our son suggested asking the Lord for cooler weather. Hardly had he prayed when the clear sky suddenly filled with heavy rain clouds. It began to rain as you rarely see. The rain continued, and every time we saw clear skies further along the route, they closed up as soon as we arrived there. This cooled the day so quickly that we only had to change the jerrycan every 35 minutes. You can imagine how deeply impressed we were by God’s intervention! He is good and faithful!
These are screenshots from the weather app. You can clearly see how the rain covered our route. Click on the image for a larger version (the time is shown at the bottom).
After 16 hours and 30 jerrycan changes, we arrived home at 03:30 on Sunday morning. We drove day and night without stopping. What an adventure!
And the birthday? After a few hours of solid sleep we still celebrated it with a delicious homemade apple pie.
Getting ready to blow out the 15 candles!
In the garage
The car is now at Peter’s garage. The mechanics immediately got to work and took the opportunity to check the entire engine block. Now it is mainly a matter of finding a cylinder head. New ones are available, but a new Nissan Patrol cylinder head is unaffordable. Fortunately, good second-hand cylinder heads can also be found. They only need to be properly resurfaced. Even so, these second-hand ones quickly cost around €600. We still have a buffer in our car fund, but it is not sufficient. Perhaps you could prayerfully consider giving an extra contribution?
On this page you can read how to give for the car.
Furlough to the Netherlands
As mentioned, we are also preparing for our furlough to the Netherlands. Our oldest son hopes to take his final exams, and our second daughter will also sit exams in several subjects. Thanks to Katja, they will be well prepared.
In addition to teaching, Katja is very busy with this year’s school programme and new school materials — what may go back to the Netherlands and which materials we will later take again to Madagascar.
The tickets have now been booked and we hope to land on home soil again on 8 April. We will once more be able to stay in the house of Johan and Miranda van Bijsterveld in Oudewater. Through Stichting Hand we will also be able to borrow a car so that we can be mobile. We are grateful that this could all be arranged so smoothly and quickly.
We have already made the first appointments for presentations and preaching engagements. On this page you can see where we have been invited.
Finally
When we look back on everything we have been able to undertake here, one thing becomes very clear: God is faithful. In everything!
We can make plans, but it is the Lord who directs the work. And we are grateful that we may do this together with you — with your prayers, your involvement, your support, and your encouragement. Let us continue to trust in Him together. For God is good — always. And always — God is good.
Thank you very much.
Katja, Jurgen and the Hofmann children
Prayer and Thanksgiving Points
We are thankful because:
we serve a great and mighty God;
the local Christians in and around Maroamboka are enthusiastically helping with evangelism;
we will soon have our furlough;
children’s exam preparations are going very well.
Please pray for/that:
our financial situation will be restored;
the translation work and its distribution;
the translation of the book of Genesis;
the additional costs for the car will be covered;
Katja, as she still has much to plan for the furlough;
that Katja will find the necessary rest in between teaching.
We loaded the car with all sorts of household items.
Work on Madagascar isn’t always predictable. Sometimes it feels like everything is moving at a snail’s pace, and you spend your time mostly waiting. Other times, it’s a rush, and overtime seems unavoidable.
October was a typical busy month. The second group of Malagasy Bible students wanted to spend a week in Maroamboka. This had been planned since August but kept being postponed—now it was finally going to happen.
In the same month, a new trip was planned to the far southeast of Madagascar: Vangaindrano, Midongy, and Befotaka. This journey followed on from our earlier mission trip to these areas in June 2025.
Two trips in one month may sound manageable, but on Madagascar, it’s quite a lot!
Preparations for Arrival
Our oldest son was scheduled to travel with me to the village. We filled the car with household items, vegetables, and various supplies to make the group feel welcome. We also brought a large amount of translation work, but more on that later.
Getting the group to Maroamboka was a logistical challenge. Most of them—seven men—were travelling from the far south, a journey of several days by bus. Two young women were coming from the capital and would meet our friend Jonoro halfway. Finally, Thaddee joined us; he had been to the village before and lives relatively nearby.
Endrin’i Lika is always willing to help.
The two young ladies were mainly coming to see if mission work might be for them. I asked Endrin’i Lika beforehand if they could stay at her house. She didn’t hesitate and immediately showed me the bed. Very luxurious, considering we men had to sleep on a simple mat. Well, some distinctions have to be made, right?
The first day was all about picking everyone up. I explained exactly where they should get out and had ask locals at the meeting point to help welcome the group, in case I wasn’t there yet. Things didn’t go exactly as planned. I arrived at the meeting point but there was no one there.
What happened? The first group had got out ten kilometres away, and the second group reported they wouldn’t arrive until the afternoon. Only Thaddee got out at the designated location.
The drive from the meeting point to our village is 17 kilometres and takes about an hour and a half. All in all, I spent the whole morning on my new hobby: taxi driving!
Soon after arriving in Maroamboka, I got a message from the second group—they had arrived! So, back to the original meeting point and from there to the village, where they were waiting for me.
It was a very nice busyness in and around the house.
A Mix of Dialects
Our house in Maroamboka was filled with a cheerful cacophony of dialects. The group came from all corners of Madagascar, each with their own dialect: Mahafaly, Vezo, Merina, Tsimihetsy, Anosy, Antemoro, etc. The rest of the afternoon was spent learning the local dialect, Antanala.
The group used our translation work, especially the Bible stories, to practice. They frequently asked me the meanings of words and phrases, as well as how to pronounce them correctly.
The Group Gets to Work
The translated material was used to learn the dialect.
The next morning, the group split into smaller teams to visit surrounding villages. Thaddee returned with his group to the villages he had visited in June. I drove the other two groups to more remote villages. This was possible because the road was dry and solid—otherwise, it would have taken 2–3 hours on foot. With the car, it only took about one hour.
It was also a good opportunity to teach our son how to drive on such roads.
He had wanted to learn for a long time, and now was the chance! He did very well. The extra 4×4 gears didn’t confuse him, and after a couple of trips, I could sit back and enjoy the view for a change.
Local Christians Lend a Hand
The groups were supported by local Christians in and around Maroamboka.
This is crucial as villagers are often very suspicious of strangers. Endrin’i Lika, endrin’i Leva, Sarobidy, Cilarisy, iaban’i Mainty, and iaban’i Bosila guided the teams and introduced them to the people.
It was encouraging to see that they did not hesitate when asked to help! Encouraging for us, but also for the local churches. They now see that the work we have done for so many years can also be done by themselves—without a pastor or missionary.
We had a very nice gathering on the last evening
Satan isn’t Idle
We have often shared the darker aspects of our area. Ancestor worship and spirit veneration are deeply ingrained in the culture. Witch-doctors aren’t just figments of Lord of the Rings or Harry Potter—around Maroamboka, there are at least 15 of them, some known for cursing people to death.
These scenes are reminiscent of Biblical stories, but they are very real today on Madagascar.
On the first day of the group visits, a woman came to our house asking if anyone could help because several people were very sick. ‘Sick’ can mean many things, but in this case, it was demonic possession. Thaddee’s group had just returned from a long day, yet they didn’t hesitate.
A few went with the woman, including us. What we saw was shocking: a young woman in her twenties, who had been perfectly healthy three days earlier, now unable to do anything but growl. She was paralysed in the legs. During prayer, she started kicking, hitting, and contorting into gymnastic poses—even a trained gymnast could learn something!
But “He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world” (1 John 4:4). After much prayer, the demons left. Within an hour, she was calm. She was then placed under the supervision of endrin’i Lika, who will teach her about the Lord Jesus, so she can follow Him instead of returning to ancestor worship. This is important because the Bible teaches that expelled spirits may attempt to return—if the person isn’t filled with God’s Spirit, the evil spirit may soon come back with his friends.
The next day, the group continued ministering to the other “sick” people, all of whom were freed in the same way! Praise the Lord!
Why Share This?
God’s word truly sets people free. This is Diana, she gave her life to Jesus a long time ago.
Why not just stick to lighter topics? Because it shows that we are witnessing a significant spiritual battle in and around Maroamboka. Each time we return, we hear stories of people turning from ancestor worship to follow Jesus. This brings great freedom—they no longer fear punishment from ancestors, need not give costly gifts to witch-doctors, and are no longer bound by restrictive taboos.
We see the liberating work of the Lord Jesus Christ! This is bad news for Satan and witch-doctors alike: the first sees people saved for eternity, and the second sees his lucrative business collapsing. There is no greater contrast than here: people are being freed from a life of fear and are learning that the freedom is only found in the Gospel. Jesus’ words become reality:
"Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light." (Matthew 11:28-30)
Read more about the effects of breaking from ancestor worship:
Oliva enjoys using the translation work. He has wonderful plans to reach the area around their hometown with the Gospel.
Back to the car full of boxes. While driving to the village, we visited pastors. One, of who we had never met, lived in Irondro along the main road towards our village. People there know us because we have been passing this village for many years. Last time, I had already given out booklets and promised to bring more.
Upon arrival, people quickly gathered at the car—they hadn’t forgotten the promise. Instead of distributing them myself, I asked to be taken to the local pastor, Olivier Haja of the Rhema church. He was amazed when I handed him the boxes: 220 copies of Luke, 220 of Acts, and 220 storybooks—nine boxes in total.
He gratefully accepted them. “Free??” he asked. Yes, on the condition that they would be used wisely. He regularly goes into the remote areas surrounding Irondro to share the Gospel, where people understand little official Malagasy. These booklets will help him immensely.
The second pastor, Oliva, also serves near the main road and often goes into the remote areas. We have known Oliva for a longer time already, he used to serve as a pastor in our area. He and his wife knew we would come. Last year, while we were in the Netherlands, they received a daughter, and they were eager to show her to us.
It was wonderful to meet each other again and to hand over the nine boxes as well. Several church members were gathered to make an official handover. Oliva expressed his desire for assistance in evangelising the remote areas; later in the week, I brought Jonoro to him so they could plan together, and find out what we can do for him.
It’s wonderful to see the translation work gradually reaching people in unreached areas, with pastors like Oliva and Olivier Haja actively using it.
The books were received with singing
Vangaindrano, Midongy & Befotaka
In our June newsletter, We mentioned that Wouter van Holst and Jurgen explored the remote valleys of Midongy and Befotaka. The local Antaisaka and Bara tribes speak different dialects, yet we managed to share the Gospel. Several villages requested more teaching, and Bible teachers have since spent a month teaching there.
What a treat! Both our youngest boys were allowed to sit in the front during the flight.
Matthew 9:37-38 reminds us: “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into His harvest.”
In October, Wouter planned another mission: partly to check on previous visits, partly to reach new villages. This time, the Helimission helicopter had extra seats, allowing our boys to join. While we visited the villages, they played with Wouter and Sanne’s children.
The visits were awesome! I can now follow conversations in Bara and Antaisaka dialects more easily. Together with a young Bible student, Braco, I discussed the Gospel with adults while Wouter and his assistant Willy engaged the children.
The Bible stories came to life when people saw the Jesus film.
We revisited a village where I had jokingly taught people how to greet in Antanala—they hadn’t forgotten! Young girls called out: “Akory lahaly e!” (Good morning). We stayed overnight, and Nick, the pilot, brought a projector to show the Jesus Film—the reactions were incredible, and the Bible stories became clear to many.
Please pray for our new brothers and sisters in these valleys. Following Jesus is not easy when families fear ancestral punishment, and sorcerers are not happy about more Christians.
Other Matters
As we approach the new year, exams for our children are fast approaching. We hope to travel to the Netherlands in April for him to take them. Our daughter will also take two exams in English and Maths next year, keeping Katja busy helping them study. Your prayers are greatly appreciated!
We are also still translating Genesis. The language is very different from the New Testament, making it slow work. Chapters 1–6 are digitised and ready for a second review. We hope to make more progress in the next village visit.
Finally, we are considering a trip to Ikongo, the heart of the Antanala region, 90 km from the main road. Reports suggest this journey would take 8 hours by 4×4—just over 11 km/h! Local contacts have expressed interest in receiving the booklets.
Dear Friends
After reading this letter, we hope, like us, you look forward to what the future holds. We can make plans, but one thing is certain: “Many plans are in a person’s heart, but the Lord’s purpose prevails.” (Proverbs 19:21)
We feel privileged to have such support in our work. Thank you for your prayers, encouragement, and support! Together, we will continue to trust in the Lord, for God is good, always, and forever.
We wish you God’s blessing!
Katja & Jurgen
We are thankful for:
Serving a great and mighty God;
local Christians enthusiastically helping with evangelism in and around Maroamboka;
reaching villages in Midongy and Befotaka;
pastors Oliva and Olivier Haja using the translation work for their ministry.
Please pray for:
Our financial needs to be met;
the translation work and distribution;
the Genesis translation;
plans to possibly visit Ikongo;
our children’s exam preparations;
that Katja finds rest amidst her teaching responsibilities.
Photos from the group in Maroamboka
Bringing the translations to Oliva
Oliva eagerly takes the boxes with him
In Oliva's church
The gift was officially accepted
We thank the Lord for what He has given us
The first students arrived
This lady is our good friend from the village, Fanja
Just another 1,5 hours in the 4X4 to our village
They are learning the dialect by reading the translations
Well, how should you pronounce that word?
Two ladies from the village will guide one of the groups
On their way to the first village
Preaching the word goes hand in hand with healing
She received deliverance
Ndriamanambina and Sarobidy in Beono
Sarobidy (left) lives close to the village and came along as guide
Ndriamanambina is teaching the biblical stories in Beono
We were pretty tired on the last day
Everybody was still in a good mood as God did some amazing things this week!
Thee had a moment to take a selfie on their way back home (the bus had a flat tire0
People far outside our area are doing biblestudies with our translations
People far outside our area are doing biblestudies with our translations
Photos from the trip to Vangaindrano, Midongy and Befotaka
We are waiting to be picked up by on of Helimission's workers
We are waiting to be picked up by on of Helimission's workers
We are waiting to be picked up by on of Helimission's workers
For many this was the first time they've heard the Gospel
We had visited this village in May 2025 and now they had started building a small church
It's amazing how many children suddenly appear
What a privilege to tell people about the Saviour!
In this village, people were initially terrified of us... After a little humor, things turned out fine.
Wouter and I in the foreground being introduced by Wouter's friends
The last newsletter was an extensive report on everything that happens here. This newsletter we hope to keep a little shorter, but certainly no less interesting.
The trip to Maroamboka last January
Actually, that was more or less wishful thinking. Sometimes the rains come later in the season. This time, just about all the cyclones arrived in January. Those rains that come along are great for the farmers, but less fortunate for the roads. Our friends in Maroamboka advised us not to come. Since there were no pressing matters to attend to, we called off the trip. It’s always a tough decision because you know it can only be done again two months later. On the other hand: When it rains that hard, there is not much you can do anyway. The paths become dangerously slippery and most people are poorly accessible as a result.
New Planning
The materials are ready to be usedThe new trip has already been prepared. I (Jurgen), together with our second daughter and youngest son, hope to return to the village on Monday 14th of April. We have a lot to do! I hope to renew all the water pipes. Repairs need to be made to the concrete foundation, and things need to be cleaned.
During this trip, I hope to make some further arrangements with the leaders of the churches in Maroamboka. These arrangements are about mentoring Bible students.
Bible-students
Hey! Did I mention something about Bible students just now? Yes indeed, a wish we have had for a long time seems to be happening now. During the previous visit, Jonoro had come with us. Jonoro is a Malagasy pastor, and he has an awful lot of contacts. Jonoro raised the topic here and there, and that ball started rolling. We are now actively working with two groups.
The first group comes from Vohipeno. This town is relatively close to our village. It is Thadee’s group. We have known Thadee for a long time. Eight years ago, Thadee and his wife Haja were stationed as missionaries in Ikongo—the centre of the Antanala region. He now teaches young Malagasy Christians himself. As part of this teaching—and his wish to strengthen our ministry—he hopes to come to Maroamboka for a week sometime soon. This group is unlikely to have much trouble with the language as they live relatively close by (still 4 hours away by car).
The other group is from Tulear. That is much further away! Their trip will take about two days. These students mainly speak the Vezo-Malagasy language, and most have no experience with areas elsewhere on Madagascar, let alone in such a remote place as Maroamboka. For this group, it will be a bit of a shock when dealing with different customs and a different language. Jonoro has also trained these students and hopes—and we with him—that he can come along himself.
But … Sponsorship …
Yes, now, of course, we come to finances. These students (not all) had the opportunity to study because there was a budget for their daily needs. Other students had to study mainly in the evenings so they could work during the day.
Travel and accommodation in Maroamboka is not in their budget. Of course, students are allowed to stay in our house for free. The cooking utensils, mats to sleep on, and all other adaptations are a great use of our own time and money as far as we are concerned.
But the journey, and food whilst travelling, is very expensive by Malagasy standards. Also, some students will also not be able to work during that week. In preparation, they went to several churches to raise sponsorship. As it turns out, getting that done is not so easy. Having money, and giving money away is a very sensitive issue on Madagascar. We are dealing with one of the poorest countries in the world. Yet, we felt it was important for students to try to raise some money. After all, the great commission of our Lord Jesus is telling churches to send missionaries and evangelists into the world. Secretly you hope the churches are eager … Surely that will take some more time here.
The Bible-students from Tulear with Jonoro and his wife left on the foreground.
May we Appeal to you?
Initially, I suggested that the students might be able to set up a GoFundMe campaign. That was one of my less bright ideas. Such a campaign is effective in the West, but here each potential sponsor has to be asked individually.
To make things a little easier for the students, we have agreed with AIM-Netherlands to set up a separate fund for this. We hope to raise about 1,000 euros for these two groups. May we appeal to you?
It will be a great learning moment for these enthusiastic students. But even better than that! These students have a heart for their own people.
The situation reminded me strongly of the collection Paul did in Corinth. The apostle Paul asked for money from the churches to support those in need, especially the impoverished church in Jerusalem. He encouraged the Corinthians to contribute generously and reminded them of their own blessings and the importance of helping others.Scan the code to support! dutch accounts only – see for other option below)
De studenten komen uit arme kerken, maar ondanks de armoe willen hun volksgenoten bereiken met de boodschap van hoop en redding! Wat een voorrecht dat we hier getuigen van mogen zijn én aan mogen bijdragen!
Those of you with a Dutch bank-account can make contributions via the link below.
Please mention that the gift is given for the bible-students!
Short News
Just one last update regarding translation work. We met a young lady who grew up in Ikongo (the centre of the Antanala area). Delia is her name, and she is temporarily living in the capital. We have found Delia willing to record the Gospel of Luke. We hope to get the whole book finished before she goes back to Ikongo.
Every chapter is a blessing! For many people, audiobooks are a godsend because they cannot read or write. Please join us in prayer, that we will finish as many chapters as possible!
A big thank you for your prayers for Katja who had broken her collarbone. Meanwhile, the bone seems to have healed well without the need for medical intervention. Katja says she still suffers from the muscle in her neck—it is a bit stiff so to speak. Fortunately, she has not compromised on mobility.
This was it for now
We hope that after reading this letter, you, like us, are also looking forward to what the future holds. We can make plans but one thing we know for sure is that “what the Lord intends, happens.” (Proverbs 19:21)
We feel privileged to receive so much support in our work. Thank you for your prayers, compassion, and support!
Together with you, we want to keep trusting in the Lord! Because God is good, always! And always God i s good!
We sincerely wish you God’s blessing!
Katja & Jurgen
Things to pray for
We are thankful because:
we serve a great and mighty God;
God adds daily to His Church;
we see more and more Malagasy with a heart for mission;
Yay! We have arrived at a brand-new year! That went fast. Still, in this letter we would like to reflect on the events of last year—in particular the visit to our village in December.
We had already hinted at it a bit on social media, but there is so much great stuff to share that we need a bit more writing space. In other words: This newsletter is going to be long so sit back and enjoy it! You can scroll down if you would like to see the pictures and video’s.
YES! The Shipping has Arrived
The shipment of our translation work arrived at the end of November. The 800-kilo pallet was delivered to Tana along with a variety of goods from MAF and Helimission. The missionaries from these two organisations picked it up from the depot and close to our house we were able to transfer it from their truck into our car—which then immediately started sinking heavily into the suspension 😂
Once neatly stacked in our garage, we still had to be patient about opening the boxes. Customs first wanted to send another inspector to check whether we didn’t put any naughty things in the boxes. Fortunately, we did not have to wait long and could finally take a look at the booklets. They look fantastic! The spreading of God’s word can begin.
Just a Quick trip before Christmas
A trip to our village, Maroamboka, always requires quite a bit of preparation. In the previous letter, we mentioned that I (Jurgen) would take three people with me, Tiavina, Neto, and Jonoro. Unfortunately, Tiavina had to drop out. The empty place in the car was eagerly taken by our oldest son.
Neto went along mainly to gain experience while Jonoro could possibly be of encouragement to our friends in the area. We were not sure what to expect because the people in our village were previously very reluctant towards strangers. We did have visitors when we were still living in the village. When we wanted to introduce our friends to the villagers, there was nobody in sight while others had hidden themselves in their houses.
Anyway, the trip was scheduled from December the 16th till the 23rd. Of that, you have to count four days for travelling itself. To make things a bit easier, we asked someone from the village, Narfelo, to do the cooking for us.
From one Surprise to Another
On our way to Maroamboka, we always stop for the night in Ranomafana. This is already fairly close by and many of the people in and around Ranomafana are or speak Antanala. We have tested our translations here many times. Jonoro went for a walk in the evening and met the local pastor. He immediately did what he does best: make contact. Jonoro talked about the work we do. The pastor told him that he already knew about this. He knew that I had already shared the Gospel in dialect several times at the market. The foreigner, who calls himself father of … (iaban’i …), was already quite well known in and around Ranomafana. The pastor was keen to meet me to hear how we could help each other. Jonoro made the arrangement that we would visit him on the way back. That was arranged surprisingly quickly!
Once we arrived in the village, we were warmly welcomed. People were so happy that we were back home. One person thought we might be dead because normally we came home much more often. Yes, he said ‘home’, as we may live in Tana, but according to the villagers, that’s not really where we belong.
To my surprise, people walked right up to Jonoro and Neto, and immediately started chatting pleasantly with them. Despite the fact that Neto’s Malagasy was limited and Jonoro’s Malagasy sounded different from the language in the village, the people took ample time to welcome them too. No fears or shyness. “No,” the people said, “Jonoro and Neto had been taken along by the father of …, so they can be trusted.”
The First Visit
Despite the heat, we spent our days in Maroamboka well. We mainly went out in the mornings to meet people.
Fanja was, of course, the first person we visited. Fanja and her husband Sylvestre were the people who introduced us to people in 2016. We have always experienced a lot of support from this lovely couple.
Sylvestre and Fanja are deeply involved in the Church of Jesus Christ on Madagascar (FJKM). Unfortunately, Sylvestre was not home, but that did not stop Fanja from inviting us for a delicious meal.
The funny thing was that she and Jonoro remembered each other from a Bible school they had attended when they were young. As a result, conversations went very smoothly and appointments were quickly made.
We shared our plans to send students from various Bible schools to Maroamboka. In Maroamboka, they could then get the needed practical experience. They could then learn what it is like to preach the Gospel in remote areas. Fanja was enthusiastic and eager to help where needed. Not only that, but she knows just about everyone and every village in the area. She is a great source of information! In due course, Fanja will mobilise young Christians who can go with the students to show them the way and introduce them to the people in the remote villages.
Church Grows Steadily
Of course, we also visited the father of Mainty and the father and mother of Luka. These Christian brothers and sister are the teachers at the local Lutheran Church (FLM). The father of Mainty has long used the translated Bible stories to teach new believers the big picture of salvation in the Bible.
The father of Mainty told us of all the happenings in the area. The Lutheran churchbuilding in Maroamboka has become too small! What happened? The village of Tsiombivohitra where I, Jurgen, went almost weekly (for years) to teach and preach the Bible stories, now has a large group of Christians. When I used to go there, I was told that there were only two young people who believed in Jesus. This couple was looked down on because they did not participate in traditional ancestor worship. The young king of the village understood that the Gospel was important but had no interest in following Jesus—after all, it would mean that he would then no longer be allowed to remain king.
Honestly, I sometimes got despondent about the work in Tsiombivohitra. But the Lord goes on. Sometime last year, the sown seed seemed to take root. First, the young couple came to Maroamboka on Sunday mornings to seek the Lord with the brothers and sister in the FLM. But not much later, they took about 20 more people from Tsiombivohitra in their wake. One of those people is the king’s wife!
The tide in Tsiombivohitra seems to have turned. It is just a small village which means that the believers are slowly starting to become the majority. Since it is seven kilometres to Maroamboka, they have now agreed with the FLM leadership to build a sister congregation in Tsiombivohitra.
But this village is not the only one where people are coming to a living faith in Christ. The father of Mainty told us that there are plans to build a church in at least two more villages.
Collaboration
When we moved into the village in 2017, there didn’t seem to be much of cooperation between the FLM and FJKM. Meanwhile, Christians from these churches don’t seem to remember that period 😆
The same question we had put to Fanja, we also asked The father of Mainty and the father and mother of Luka. Would they be willing to help students in their visits to surrounding villages? If so, would they also be willing to take this up together with the Christians from the FJKM. Both questions were answered with a resounding ‘yes’. After all, we worship the same Lord! This is good news because it means we should have more than enough helpers.
The Two Pastors
I was very keen to meet the FJKM pastor, Oliva. Oliva is still young, and his wife recently gave birth to their first daughter, Gloria, in the capital. We visited him. Oliva turns out to have a knack for languages. He speaks excellent English and appeared to switch to Portuguese without much difficulty during his conversation with Neto.
Oliva was very excited about the translation work and is keen to get involved. In February, however, he is going to live just outside our area. Living in our area is very difficult. Especially when you have a small child and a wife who has not yet recovered. The village where Oliva will live is about 25 kilometres away and has direct access to clean water, electricity, and paved road to other big cities. In that area too, our translation work is much appreciated, and Oliva is keen to use it there as well.
The second pastor we have managed to meet was our good friend Doris. Doris is the pastor of a Pentecostal church. His church now has about ninety regular attendees. Doris lives in Tanambao. This was the first village I started visiting in early 2018. When Doris and his wife Alphossin moved there in August 2018, we agreed that I would start visiting other villages, and leave Tanamboa to them. Doris and Alphossin’s work is clearly blessed. After all, the 90 believers are not the only believers in Tanambao. There is other new believers there who decided to worship at the FLM in Maroamboka. This is not surprising considering that the FLM is one of the most well-known denominations on Madagascar. The FLM is known as solid and reliable. The church (Rhema) that Doris and Alphossin founded is somewhat less known and so some prefer to choose the FLM. Doris is fine with that, as long as people start following Jesus!
Why Maroamboka?
Our village, Maroamboka, is actually only small when compared to the central village of our area, Sandrohy. I’ll explain it a bit. In the Dutch province North-Holland, Schagen is a municipality, and for example the village Burgerbrug is a village under that municipality. Likewise, Maroamboka is a village under the municipality of Sandrohy.
Actually, Sandrohy is the central place for the churches—the stronghold of Christianity in the area. The pastor of the FJKM lives there, and the church building is one of stone with a metal roof. It is also the focal point of almost all church celebrations.
Maroamboka, on the other hand, is the place of witch doctors. Seven of them live and work in and around Maroamboka! Some of them are so powerful that people come all the way from the capital to consult them. In short, Maroamboka was more or less the stronghold of Satan.
And it is precisely in Maroamboka that the church is growing! And it is Maroamboka where people come to hear more about the Gospel. Why? No clue, but our son noted that the Lord has a sense of humour. He said, “the evil one must have been happy when we left Maroamboka. But it is as if God helped the evil one out of his evil dream by using Maroamboka for His mighty and glorrious work.” 😎 I like his conclusion.
Yet also Setbacks
While we would prefer to write only ‘good-news’ letters, we cannot escape the fact that we sometimes experience setbacks too.
Visits to the village seem to attraction of accidents. One time, Siemen had to make an emergency visit to the dentist after a fall. Another time, our oldest son suffered a flesh wound in a swimming pool. And while I was in the village this time, Katja broke her collarbone.
When I am in the village, we try to call each other every day. So when our daughter called me on Friday afternoon, I unsuspectingly picked up the phone. “Hi daddy! Could you please give me some credit?” When I asked her what she needed it for, she told me she needed to call a taxi to go to the hospital … WHAT?! That was the moment she realised that I did not yet know what had happened. She quickly handed the phone to Katja so she could tell me the whole story. No, I didn’t have to come home straight away because they knew how to get to the hospital themselves 😵💫
After the weekend, we returned home. Besides all the advice of befriended nurses and doctors, Katja and I went to another hospital. The general advice seems to be not to operate immediately. The collarbone will have to grow back together on its own. Should there be permanent immobility, it can still be surgically fixed.
So in the meantime, Katja is walking with a shoulder that does not want to cooperate. Fortunately, it hurts a lot less than it did in the first two weeks, but it is not fun. Luckily, we are blessed with children who know their way around. All five of them help (as usual, but now a bit more) in the household.
We do have to be a bit careful with Katja. Our family motto says that you have to feel a hug. We can not abide by that motto right now. Now a hug should be given very softly and gently.
Next Trip
The next trip is already on the agenda. I hope to travel to Maroamboka again on Monday 20 January. This time together with our second daughter and youngest son.
The trip is threefold. Halfway through the outward journey, I will join an American missionary, Matt Espeland, who has founded a church at the border of the Antanala region. The idea is that I will go there to see if these people would also benefit from our translation work. Should this be the case, Matt can use the material to teach people in their own dialect.
In Maroamboka, I am going to renew the water pipes around the house with strong flexible pipes. The current (PVC) pipes are completely weathered and crack at the slightest bump. If we do get students in the house, at least they won’t have to worry about that.
Thirdly, I agreed with Menja that we will continue working on the Book of Genesis again. Genesis, with its 50 chapters, is a big project and will take some time before it is ready for the first proof-readings.
All three of us, are very much looking forward to it again!
To Conclude
Dear friends. A long newsletter this time. Normally we try to keep it shorter, but as you might have noticed that would not have done justice to all that has happened and been said. Again, below you’ll find the the pictures and some video’s.
We hope that after reading this letter, you, like us, are also looking forward to what the future holds. We can make plans but one thing we know for sure is that “what the Lord intends, happens.” (Proverbs 19:21)
We feel privileged to receive so much support in our work. Thank you for your prayers, compassion, and support!
Together with you, we want to keep trusting in the Lord! Because God is good, always! And always God i s good!
We sincerely wish you God’s blessing!
Katja & Jurgen
Things to Pray for:
We are thankful because:
we serve a great and mighty God;
God adds daily to His Church;
of the fantastic time in the village;
we have such a good relationship with the villagers;
the translated booklets have arrived;
Pray that/for:
our financial standing will return to normal;
the next trip to our village;
a complete healing of Katja’s collarbone and shoulder;
we are able to get the booklets to the right people.
the plans to bring students to the village may succeed.
Photo Gallery
Videos
Wonderschone waterval in Nationaal Park, Ranomafana, Madagaskar.
Prediking van de Bijbelverhalen op de markt in Sandrohy.
We invite you to join us… However, the stream will be Dutch spoken. All the more reason to pick up your language learning again 😉 Still, you might have some questions. Just send them to us and we’ll try to answer you during the stream (English questions receive an English answers): jurgenkatja.live@gmail.com We hope to ‘see’ you then.
