Robert & Joanna Burdett
Baptist Missions to Forgotten Peoples
March 2023
Pack it, stuff it, organize it, weigh, re-pack, re-weigh, repeat. Tetris doesn’t have anything on missionaries trying to make 2-4 years of supplies, school materials, clothes and ministry equipment fit into 50 lbs. suitcases! The final stages have begun as we have 9 days until we start our return trip to Madagascar.
Right now, it’s kind of surreal. This has been a good furlough. We have fit much in but at the same time we have been able to rest – something for which I am very grateful!
Back in January, I went in for a tonsillectomy. Before my surgery, no less than 15 of my friends, doctors and nurses educated me on how painful this surgery was for an adult. A compassionate nurse was kind enough to let me know “this is the most painful surgery we perform.” I have a new appreciation for the phrase “ignorance is bliss.” The first three days were manageable but then hemorrhaging and nausea, followed by catching the flu while in recovery had me wondering if it was possible to “re-install” the offending tonsils. The Lord brought me through it, Joanna was a blessing and Eliana made the most compassionate 38-inch-tall nurse you have ever seen. On the night the hemorrhaging started I called for Joanna’s help letting her know I was bleeding. Eliana promptly came running carrying a small box exclaiming “I’ve got the Band-Aids!”
Eliana has been such a trooper through all this. She constantly entertains us through the long drives, joins us in singing at churches and just brings a smile to our faces along the way. For those of you we were not able to see this time around, we look forward to seeing you on the next trip and appreciate your understanding. Thank you again for your faithful prayers, encouragement and support. Lord-willing next time we’ll write from Madagascar!
Fast forward three weeks: Since I originally wrote this prayer letter much has happened. We are now in Maintirano, all our flights went smoothly, and all our luggage arrived. We spent several days in the capital recovering from the trip, stocking up on supplies, renewing my pilot’s license among other necessities. We are home and our first few meetings back at the church have gone well. We are currently looking for housing that will better suit our needs and ministry. On Monday we fly back to the capital to submit the paperwork and request for our long-term visas. Please pray that it goes smoothly.
Prayer requests:
Housing- something with a bit more peace, privacy and better suiting family and ministry needs.
Direction- So many opportunities, limited energy, resources, time, and personnel
Airplane- Yearly inspections coming up in May.
Vehicle- We have had our truck for 11 years now. Though it has been good, it has its limitations. We are praying about how to get the teens to camp this year and are looking into the possibility of another vehicle to help transport.