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About
We (as a family of 5) definitely sought much discernment for moving our lives half way around the world to serve in a strange land after being called to the mission field in June of 2012. God has been preparing the way and our lives even when we thought “Madagascar” was just a nice kids movie. His timing has been perfect, His plan gently unfolding, all leading up to Madagascar. And “this” is only the beginning. We are working hands on with the Malagasy people to reconcile people, health, and forests back to Christ. Neal is working closely with Eden Projects to address the devastating deforestation that compounds their impoverished land. Danielle is working side by side with local women to provide a safe and educational environment in pregnancy, birth, and beyond. This work is an avenue to share the hope in Christ with the people of...
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Project Reconciliation
Madagascar is known as the “Red Island” for its Reddish brown soil found all over its terrain. It is the forth largest Island in the world, with approx. 22 million people calling it home. It is also considered “the eight continent” because of its rich natural environment endemic (only found in) to Madagascar. Although inadequate healthcare, limited education, deforestation and the fearful grip of animism has caused much suffering in this land. These growing problems threaten life in all forms until they are addressed with a powerful solution. We are striving to walk alongside the broken and heavy hearted to seek the reconciliation God desires for His people, land, and creation. Reconciliation Project~People Reconciliation Project~ Health Reconciliation...
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Reconcile People
Before Farida came to Christ, she was steeped in the tromba– the spirit of a dead ancestor used to channel to Zanahary– the Creator God. Before coming to Christ, Farida experienced extreme poverty, bondage, and miscarriage after miscarriage, unable to bring life to a child. All this has changed since coming to Christ. Today, she is employed by Eden Projects. Today, she exudes hope and peace. Today, she has a child… conceiving and carrying to term the baby she has always desired. Today, she can provide for her family. Bringing the Hope of Christ to the Malagasy people is the primary objective of the Red Island project. We have both personally experienced the peace that comes with having a deep relationship with Christ and long to see the Malagasy experience the same redemptive hope. Traditionally, the predominant religion of Madagascar is ancestral worship. Today 52% of Malagasy people still follow their traditional beliefs while 41% embrace Christianity and 7% claim Islam (taken from the CIA World Factbook). Despite the high number of Christ followers, many Malagasy still retain their traditional practices such as sacrificing cows, unearthing and turning of their ancestor’s bones, and following taboos to please their deceased family members. These taboos range from not eating certain foods such as chicken, to not giving birth to twins, to following Jesus and the Bible. We have seen first-hand how these taboos literally steal life from the Malagasy people and in turn, we’ve witnessed the freedom from the bonds of taboos that come from truly accepting Christ. We are deeply aware that Jesus is the One living ancestor for all of us and only He restores true hope. God is...
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Reconcile Health
There is a lack of quality and accessible healthcare throughout Madagascar which is further compounded by the lack of resources and infrastructure across the island. It is the goal of Red Island Restoration to see the physical health of the Malagasy people restored. Women throughout the world deliver their babies at home, alone and unassisted. When complications arise, disaster ensues. Babies die, women die, children are orphaned and families are broken. Here is an account of what we will be facing in Madagascar. A young mother of three arrived to the Christian birth center, 9cm dilated, never having received prenatal care during her pregnancy. Within minutes, the midwives realized there was a serious potential problem. The baby was in a breech position, both feet first. Seconds later, the mother was fully dilated and the baby was emerging. Seasoned midwives know just what to do in this type of situation… the first, to be prepared for a full-blown resuscitation of the baby and a potential life-threatening hemorrhage of the mother. After some incredibly tense moments, a healthy baby girl entered into the world, breathing life, a mother rejoicing, and a family intact. The implications had she not been brought to the birth center at the insistence of a friend would have been devastating but instead, life was protected and a family preserved. To help meet the need in Madagascar, Danielle is joining a team of midwives and health educators working to open the Sarobidy Maternity Center in early 2013. Sarobidy is the word for precious in Malagasy. We believe that life is precious and that the family unit is precious. We believe that every woman has the right to...
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Reconcile Forests
An all-too-often ignored cause of poverty is deforestation which is having a drastic negative impact on Madagascar as over 80% of its forests have been cut down. With the loss of inland forests, the rain patterns change, water tables drop, fertile topsoil erodes, crops suffer and livelihoods are drastically altered. Likewise, as the coastal mangrove forests disappear, villages are no longer protected from devastating cyclones, breeding grounds for ocean fish diminish, lumber for building houses and canoes decrease, and wood for cooking is more expensive. The Red Island Project is partnering with Eden Reforestation Projects to address the root issue; planting trees and recreating forests. Neal will be working side by side with Jamie Shattenberg, who has been the Director for ERP in Madagascar since it’s inception in 2007. In 2012, a crew of 175 women and men successfully planted over 18 million mangrove trees along the northwest coast, bringing the total count up to over 50 million trees in the last six years. In September 2012, we initiated our first dry-deciduous reforestation project and the Hands in the Dirt nursery training center. So how does this all happen? Well for starters, a 16-meter deep well (that’s 52 feet!!) was dug by hand, a crew comprised of 23 women and 7 men from our immediate community were hired and worked hard to transform a barren piece of land into a functioning nursery. They collected thousands of seeds representing more than 30 different endemic trees. In January 2013, the first 40,000 endemic hardwood and fruit bearing trees were planted and hundreds of women and men will be employed. As forests are restored, jobs are created and lives are transformed. Women and...
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Partner
The Red Island Project is a response to God’s leading in our lives to see Madagascar reconciled through People, Health, and Forests back to Christ. Just as God has called us to Madagascar physically, we know He has called a team of individuals, churches and organizations to partner with us through prayer and financial resources. We invite you to join this team as we work together to see the island of Madagascar and its people restored. PRAY We’re continually building a team of people who are committed to praying regularly for our ministry. A monthly email update is sent out detailing exciting stories about what’s happening in Madagascar as well as ways in which you can pray for the ministry, the people we’re working with and for us. If you’re interested in joining our prayer team, drop us a line on the contact us page and let us...
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Donate
If you are interested in joining our financial partnership team, here are the ways to do so. Financial donations for the ministry of the Red Island project can be made through WorldVenture, a non-profit sending mission organization. All gifts are tax-deductible. Online:*** You can donate through WorldVenture’s secure website using a credit or debit card or you can make a commitment to a scheduled monthly, quarterly or annual gift. For your convenience, WorldVenture offers the option of using electronic funds transfer (EFT) from your checking or savings account or a via a credit card transaction. To do so, click here, to donate now. Mail: Your donation may be made by check, payable to: WorldVenture 1501 W. Mineral Avenue Littleton, CO 80120-5612 Please specify the gift as designated for Neal and Danielle Carlstrom by writing account # 959 in the memo line. (please note: for tax purposes, our names should not appear on the check). Electronic Funds Transfer may also be set up via mail by printing the streamlined giving form and mailing a voided check along with the form to the address above. Phone: Gifts can be given over the phone by contacting WorldVenture at (800) 487-4224, extension 2160. Specify your gift for Neal and Danielle Carlstrom, account #959. ***Please note that though credit card donations are accepted and extremely convenient, we’re charged a 3% fee, reducing your total donation that gets to the field.*** We therefore recommend donating through other means! Thanks! Feel free to contact us should you have any...
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"The Red Island Project"
Reconciling People | Health | Forests Back to Christ in Madagascar
Reconcile People
Before Farida came to Christ, she was steeped in the tromba– the spirit of a dead ancestor used to channel to Zanahary– the Creator God. Before coming to Christ,
Reconcile Health
There is a lack of quality and accessible healthcare throughout Madagascar which is further compounded by the lack of resources and infrastructure across the island. It is the goal of Red Island Restoration to see the physical health of the Malagasy people restored.
Reconcile Forests
An all-too-often ignored cause of poverty is deforestation which is having a drastic negative impact on Madagascar as over 80% of its forests have been cut down. With the loss of inland forests, the rain patterns change,