In 1817, responding to the call made by their pastor, David Jones and Thomas Bevan, both in their early 20’s, decided to become missionaries to the country of Madagascar. They arrived on the island in November 1818 with their families. By February the following year, David Jone’s wife and only child, as well as Thomas Bevan and all his family all past away. Only David Jones remained out of the party of six that set foot on the island 4 months earlier. He managed to crawl onto a ship and go to Mauritius, an English territory at the time, to get better and 6 months later come back to Madagascar with an undying resolve to bring the gospel to the Malagasy people. His commitment to the task is at the very root of the establishment of the Christian faith in Madagascar. In 1820, he made his way from the East coast of the island to the capital city where he befriended the king. He was immediately involved in implementing schools and an educational system in Madagascar, but mainly worked on translating the Bible into the Malagasy language. He completed that project 6 years later in 1826.
190 years, I stand before you as one of the many fruits of the faithfulness of one man to accomplish His God-given task, despite tremendous adversities.
Commitments do have a cost. Yet, committing to obey a faithful and loving God is the best decision one will ever make. To choose to forsake your own personal comforts and to live to please God is the most rewarding life one can live.