Send My Dad To Madagascar
My dad, Andy Tolivar, definitely shocked us with his decision to follow a calling to dedicate the next five years to long-term, voluntary mission work in Madagascar. His plan was to teach Driver's Education this summer to offset his travel costs to Madagascar; however, he needed to undergo surgery on his rotator cuff. This surgery was a wrench in the finance gears for this new adventure, but that has not stopped him from moving forward. We are so proud of his commitment and want to support his dream so we have started this GoFundMe to help with travel expenses and to raise funds to support famine relief in Madagascar.
Below is my dad's story and inspiration for this mission work. If you find it in your heart and are able to support this cause, we thank you!
“Why do you want to Taolagnaro the famine-stricken region of southern Madagascar?”
I get this question from everyone, my students, co-workers, family, and friends. I don’t want to go to Madagascar. I tell them that I have to go to be obedient to God’s word.
Madagascar is a 3rd world country without national electrical, water, sanitation, or transportation infrastructure. With an average income of $1 a day, the result is a population mired in abject poverty.
I am, or was for 15 years, until June 30, 2021, a teacher in Forsyth, Missouri. When I became a Christian in my thirties I vowed to follow God’s word and to be obedient. Apparently, God keeps track of these things - who knew. Eventually, I felt called to become a school teacher. Whereupon at the age of 45, I quit remodeling houses and I went to college for a teaching degree. At the age of 50, I graduated and started my teaching career. Fast forward to 2020, I planned to teach for another five years and retire and see the world, until I felt the call to teach in Madagascar.
As the saying goes “Man plans and God Laughs”.
Proverbs 16:9 “A man’s heart plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps”. (NKJV)
I will be working with a charity organization called The Mission House, a charity based out of England. They have been involved as a mission in Taolagnaro since 2005. Their vision is the removal of spiritual and material poverty. They are a Christian organization accepting the good works of any, regardless of religious, ethnic, or cultural background. Visit the mission House site here.
Due to Covid-19, and the closing of Madagascar to all foreigners, the Mission House Academy has not had a resident English or vocational teacher for over a year. My job at the Mission Academy will be to aid in famine relief, teach English classes and vocational courses in basic electricity, and solar power. These skills will allow Mission Academy graduates to transform their lives.
As soon as Covid-19 travel restrictions are lifted in August or September I will be leaving for Madagascar for a long-term mission trip of at least five years. I will be there for ten months each year and rotate back to the U.S. for two months to visit my family. I will be self-funded for the next five years. Since I have taken early retirement I will be living on a fixed income. I will bear all of my daily living expenses of food and housing, but my biggest expense will be for travel. Since there are no direct flights to Madagascar the average cost of a round trip ticket to Madagascar is $2,800. While work towards that goal 25% of all money raised will go towards famine relief in southern Madagascar. After the goal of $2,500 is reached then any funds after that will be directed towards famine relief care of The Mission House.
More information on the need for famine relief can be found at: