Friday, August 7. Tolagnaro (Fort Dauphin).
Our early morning flight on Air Madagascar from Toliara to Tolagnaro took about an hour. While we were in the air preparations were being made on the ground.
This welcome banner, one of two, reads: Malagasy Episcopal Church/Anglican Church/Tolagnaro.
Here's the second banner in dress rehearsal for our welcome into the VIP lounge at the airport:
Working from the prior photo, I'll bet you can work out the translation for this sign!
(If you're wondering about the difference between Eklesia and Fiangonana, the former is from the Greek, meaning [the] called-out [ones], and referring, originally, to a political assembly; and the latter is Malagasy, meaning "collection," i.e., the collection of people who assemble regularly together for worship.)
Finally, the plane landed and the big moment had arrived. Here Deacon Donné introduces Patsy to Air Madagascar's Représentant Fort-Dauphin Hasinalinovona Ralaitsirofo, while Todd, another traveler who got caught up in the moment, and some poor old bald guy and his wife, look on.
The initial welcome and introductions made, we proceeded to the grand welcome, which of course I wanted to catch on camera:
So as Rado was taking those pictures, I was taking these:
There were probably half a hundred parishioners gathered to greet us, but first we waited in the VIP lounge while some of the welcoming committee went to claim our luggage. Predicatably, while Todd's and Patsy's luggage materialized quickly, ours didn't. As moments turned to minutes, and more minutes. . . and more minutes yet . . . our outward composure belied a growing anxiety! Followed by immense relief when suddenly our suitcases arrived. In the meantime. . .
Here is Evangelist Tomboasy conversing in Malagasy with Patsy and Todd, while Donné listens in comprehendingly and I listen in uncomprehendingly:
And then, as we continued awaiting our suitcases, Todd and Patsy addressed the group.
Finally the luggage is all accounted for, and we go out to greet the waiting parishioners.
And here's a photograph I took after we had greeted everyone, and the church sang a song. Unfortunately, the numbers of people and my vantage point were such that I could capture only about a third of the group.
In spite of the fact that Ingrid and I knew that this welcome was much more for their Bishop and his visit to celebrate this new parish's very first Eucharist and baptisms, even so we were overwhelmed by the welcome, and so moved by the excitement and rejoicing in the air. An auspicious beginning for the culmination of our travels, and for a central goal of our trip: to establish a companion relationship between this vaovao (new) Fiangonana and Fiangonana Santa Gregory.
Comments