Fifa & Jessica Rakotovao Newsletter (Winter 2026)

Dear Family and Friends,

Thank you so much for your diligent prayers and support. These past few months have been very eventful for us. 

October started with the coordinators of Madagascar leaving Fifa and me to take care of the bases while they returned to Zambia for the African Summit, a refresher for all of our African Teen Missions bases. They were also able to take some time off to visit all of their family as well. We kept everything running well until their return at the end of the month. We praise the Lord for their time of rest, refresher, and safe travels. 

November started with a wedding between two young staff members here at the Mahajanga base. They had a joyful time committing their lives to each other. Everything was beautifully prepared and the photographers did a marvelous job. We were able to help with that. We ended the month with a delightful Thanksgiving meal with our pastor and his family, who are from Nevada.

December was quite the rush for us! We were rushing around buying gifts for everyone and preparing for the arrival of Fifa's sister and brother-in-law, who's also his best friend. They have a little boy named Matheau who is only three months older than Phoebe. It was so good to see all the cousins playing together. In the third week of December, Fifa decided to drive his motorbike all the way to Antananarivo from Mahajanga! The main reason for his going was to 1) apply for his passport and 2) to challenge himself and see if he could do it (especially when everyone else backed out and told him not to do it.) When he arrived back home the girls and I were overjoyed! He did end up resting in a hotel on the way in and out. 

The thing that really touched me was in a conversation we had when he arrived back home safe and sound. He told me that he didn't go to prove everyone wrong, but to prove himself right. He told me he grew when he realized that he could do it, no matter what anybody said against it—it didn't matter. The only thing that mattered was that he trusted God and believed in himself that he could and would do it. In that moment, I knew that he is indeed growing more into the man that God is designing him to be, and I was just glad to share that moment with him. 

The Friday before Christmas we went to a Christmas program at Phoebe's school where Phoebe danced to a song. Fifa had bought her a pretty sparkly white dress. It was encouraging to see improvement in her attitude from last year. Last year she had stage fright and just stood there. But this time she danced her little heart out! Then on Christmas Eve she had a program at the church in a Christmas play. She was an angel to cover over Mary and Joseph and baby Jesus. We were all covered in sparkles by the weeks end! On Christmas day we unwrapped presents and went to church. It was such a great time to spend with family, and I even made Fifa's sister a cheesecake with a plum topping, which she and everyone absolutely loved!

This January we've started the long process of applying for Fifa's immigration visa, which is the beginning of getting his green card and then his American citizenship. We want to give special thanks to those who've already helped with the petition! 

Phoebe is very intelligent and delightful to be around. She is very energetic. She catches on quickly when you explain something. She's learning to share and look out for her younger sister Marianah.

Marianah is very sweet and thoughtful. She likes to give. She is very smart and talkative as well. She knows her body parts, can count to ten and can sing the alphabet, as well as many other songs learned by watching Miss Rachel. She enjoys copying her big sister whether in word or play.

I am almost 29 weeks pregnant, or just over 7 months. I will give birth in April, the due date being on my birthday on the 17th. We're having another beautiful baby girl! We found out that the placenta is really low so I have been told to rest a lot. The baby is healthy and growing. 

Fifa is doing great. He finished teaching the Bible school students Church History in December. And just this month he began teaching the book of Acts in the Bible. He really enjoys pouring into the Bible school students and likes to keep his classes open to their input. His days are filled with helping the coordinator accomplish various tasks.

As we are planning on coming to the U.S. at the end of the year, we're needing to raise funds for our trip. The trip is going to cost around $9100. If you want to help us towards our goal you can donate online at teenmissions.org or write a check to Teen Missions and send it to their address at 885 E Hall Rd Merritt Island, Florida 32953. Please specify that it is for our flights. We believe in the faithfulness of God Who has been providing all our needs for the expansion of His Kingdom in Jesus' Name!

We want to wish everyone a Happy belated New Year. May you be blessed abundantly this year and be continually blessed with His Joy and Peace and Provision. The Lord has been very good to us all. He is always faithful and full of mercy and grace. 

In Christ,

The Rakotovao's