Matt - In Sickness and in Health

     Living amongst the Malagasy people has never ceased to amaze me. I've been dumbfounded by the similarities they carry along with the many differences that make them well.....Malagasy. From the moment we arrived I have never been more intrigued by a people. They have a community aspect that is nowhere near as noticeable in the U.S. and a deep longing to strive for success even when the odds are truly against them. Today my team and I were able to learn about another aspect of the Malagasy people....their views on health and how they treat it (aka my reason for the wedding vow title). Before I even begin on this topic, I would like to express that our understanding of their beliefs came from a smallish group of Antaimoro people. So you can consider this a focus group for the greater population (Sorry for bringing in my healthcare background).

     If you have ever researched the Malagasy people at all you might realize that they have a history of animism within their society. We have already spoken on the religious aspects of their lives and their idea of ancestral worship or the use of a witch doctor. This view sort of stems into their health beliefs as well (sorta). The men and women here didn't speak too much about the use of a witch doctor (possibly for fear of us judging them), but they did tell us that they will go to a witch doctor if they have been poisoned by someone (this poisoning could have been by accident, but if their is a relationship with someone from the present or past, THEY WILL GIVE IT A SOURCE). The price for the doctor is pretty fair, in the eyes of the people, and can either be a chicken, cow, money, or other bargaining items (sometimes I wish that could be the case for our health system....Haha). However, this is not their first choice in health remedies. You could consider them a people of the land as they mentioned different leaves they would use to help them with a sickness (such as boiling guava leaves and drinking the water to soothe stomach pains). From a healthcare perspective I could say their main source of relief comes from a holistic approach, which in our society is a complementary therapy we don't usually recommend unless need be. And finally, when they have the income for it, they will go to the hospital to get treated for disease. Now I may be assuming a little too much, but I'm guessing that a visit to the hospital comes once in a blue moon. They did express a earnest trust in the doctors at the hospital (more so than the witch doctors actually), but they just can't afford to pay for the bill. Sounds a lot like the U.S. right now huh?

     All of this really intrigued me today!!! Having a nursing background (schooling at least) I am so full of medicinal and surgical treatments that I forget about the original source of medicine....plants and nature. Many times my first thought is to get the Ibuprofen, ACE inhibitor, insulin, etc. It was so weird to hear that their first thoughts are, "What plant do I use?" At the same time I was really thrown off by their avoidance of our witch doctor questions. At one point our translator and friend Mika told us that one of the ladies muttered, "Don't say anymore about the doctor." They were oober hush hush about them and it made me wonder why. I'm STILL wondering!!!!! But any who......continue to pray for the Malagasy people as we continue to understand their culture and beliefs. We are really excited to see how God works in the lives of our new friends here as well as the ones to come. And don't forget to continue doing what God has called you to do back home! We may be going to the nations to spread the gospel, but their is a broken nation right outside of your doorstep.

In his love,

Matt