Hannah Kaitschuk is a volunteer from Chicago, Illinois, USA. She belongs to Young Adults Global Mission (YAGM). Exclusive interview for Délire Madagascar.
Hannah Kaitschuk, a volunteer with the Lutheran church
Délire Madagascar (DM): Is your country destination imposed to you or can you choose?
Hannah Kaitschuk (HK): ”When we interview for this position with the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America-ELCA, we are allowed to state our preference of country (out of the 10 countries ELCA operates out of). However, this does not mean that our preference will be met- the church ultimately decides where to place us.”
DM: Is there a special reason for you to come to Madagascar?
HK: “When I applied for this position, I didn’t mark a preference of any country. So it was the church that decided to place me in Madagascar. Now that I’m here, though, I’m very grateful to experience this country through its people, language, and culture.”
DM: What makes the difference between young Christian of US and of Madagascar?
HK: “A friend here told me once that God in the United States often seems to be the source of questions for Americans, but here God seems to be the answer more often than not. Though that is a statement that encompasses all ages, I think young people in the U.S., especially young adults, can get caught up in the questions of life- and that might be reflected in the differences between young American Christians and Christians in other parts of the world. In general, the U.S. church has seen a decline in attendance. It’s not as much of a way of life for many Americans as it seems to be for Malagasy- here, it seems to be tied to the importance of family and the emphasis here that culture places on family unity. American culture is more individualistic and focused on deciding for oneself what one believes.
Mostly, I’ve seen a difference in how the church is targeting young Christians. In the U.S., as church attendance decreases, emphasis is placed on attracting more « millennials » (young adults between 20-35), as they are now one of the largest generations in the States. Churches have tried to develop special programs, « contemporary » worship services, youth gatherings, and to increase social media presence all in an effort to attract young people. Here, churches (in my experience) don’t seem to target young people with fancy programs- and yet, they’re present and active.”
DM: Do you have some comments on the way you were welcomed in this country?
HK: “It’s been amazing to see the graciousness and openness with which my host community has welcomed me into their fold. I don’t communicate very well still (Malagasy is hard), but my family here, my church here, and my workmates here have all accepted me with open arms. It’s been inspiring and very moving to be the recipient of all that unearned love.”
DM: What will you bring back to your fellows as best souvenir from Madagascar and Malagasy people?
HK: “Different things are perfect for different people- I’m planning on bringing back sakay for my father (he loves spicy food), a harona for my mother to take shopping, and lamba for my sisters! I’m also collecting recipes for my favorite Malagasy food to share with my family and friends.”
DM: Apart from TPFLM where else will you be appointed for your stay?
HK: “I work at the FLM Tanjombato, where I teach an English class 6 days/week and host English club there as well.”
DM: Thank you!
Talk collected by Razaka Oliva
