Fifa & Jessica Rakotovao Newsletter (Spring 2025)

Hello from Madagascar!

We want to thank everyone for their kindness and generosity as we were in the U.S. Our stay was full of visiting, playing at the library and park, resting, and reviving! We continue to praise God for all that transpired during our stay! Firstly, we traveled from Mahajanga, Madagascar to Boise, Idaho where we were greeted by loving family! Overall it was 34 hours of travel to get home, but it was very much worth it! Traveling with the kids went pretty smoothly; we’re so thankful for kids who don’t get sick very easily! 

While in the U.S. we traveled to Idaho, Oregon, Colorado, Florida, North Carolina and back down to Florida to prepare for our departure for Madagascar. While we were there we visited lots of family and friends and were able to get a lot of paperwork done for me (Jessica) and the girls, as well as attend a marriage conference. We were also able to clear our minds, refresh our souls and reset our vision for the future while there. We went back the same way, but added an additional 14 hours of traveling by car to Mahajanga from Antananarivo, so 48 hours altogether coming back to TMI Madagascar! We were greeted by a beautiful sunset once we reached Mahajanga! Thank you all for your continued prayers for us while we were traveling!

While being back here in Madagascar we have settled back into our roles here at the base. Fifa is helping the coordinator with everything and I am correcting reports. Phoebe passed her exams and has one more before the end of the school year! This month she turns four years old! She has a fiery spirit and is very passionate about unicorns and rainbows! She also loves princess dresses, spaghetti, pizza and popsicles! Marianah is already a year old and is now walking and dancing, climbing and talking so much! It surprises us how much she can do although she is still so small. She can even eat with a spoon already! The base is getting ready to accommodate the U.S. team, as well as prepare for the upcoming Boot Camp in July. We praise God, there are many couples seeking to get married here! It is so encouraging to see the students we once taught to now be the teachers and begin new families! God is certainly at work here and we see it in the work of everyone here! 

In this season God has been teaching me, Jessica, about anger. I’m learning to control myself and give up my control of situations to God so that the Holy Spirit can direct me in them. To be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry is harder than it looks! Phoebe certainly knows how to push those buttons! Despite that, however, it comes down to changing myself to be the mom she deserves and in doing so, God is purifying my heart! 

God has been teaching me, Fifa, to do what God wants me to do in love without fearing what other people will say or do. Before, I cared too much about pleasing people, but now I am focusing more on doing the right thing according to what the Holy Spirit is directing me to do. Also, God has been revealing to me more ways to be generous. You know, this life isn’t only about building up our own lives, but also building up those around us. I’m also trying to love my wife even more everyday.

Thank you for your love and prayers! God is doing so much through you and us for His Kingdom to come and His glory forever and ever! 

In Christ,

The Rakotovaos

2 Chronicles 7:14

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