Life in Madagascar

Missionaries in Madagascar

Caroline Johnson, James' mother, was born into a family of missionaries in Fort Dauphin, Madagascar. Her parents were pioneer missionaries in Madagascar, so when Russell Johnson discovered his calling to enter the mission field, it was only right that they traveled back to Madagascar. Russell was first stationed near Fort Dauphin on the south end of the Island. Later on in James' life he was reassigned to different parts of the island but their mission stayed the same.

My grandfather spent most of his years in Fort Dauphin on the Southern tip of the Island, now referred to as Tolanaro

Pictured is my grandfather's entire boarding school, a two-room schoolhouse with two teachers teaching grades from 1st to high school. My grandfather, 11th grade, is pictured in the top row second from the right.

His Time in Madagascar

His family arrived in Madagascar in 1946 when my grandfather was three years old. Their first mission lasted eight years until 1954 when my grandfather was eleven, and they got furloughed back to the US. They lived in Saint Paul MN for three years while Russel Johnson traveled to different churches in nearby areas to spread the word about the work that was being done in Madagascar and to come up with funds for the next trip. Then in 1956, the whole family traveled back to Madagascar for five more years until my grandfather was eighteen and graduated high school. He was one of two in his graduating class.

"The native population as a generalization was very very poor.... So even when we were perhaps from your point of view living in very rustic circumstances, it was palatial compared to what the native population had. There was always this sort of tension."

Pictured above was typical rural transportation, with humpbacked Zebu cattle pulling carts on red dirt roads.

Their Mission

As missionaries, his parents' goal was to spread Christianity to the native population. However, they did much more. One of the missionaries' goals was to provide healthcare for the natives since their prior beliefs in Animism lead them to rely on witch doctors and other alternative methods of medication. Russel Johnson made a huge impact by organizing and managing the construction of a hospital. My grandfather describes this as a "major and amazing piece of work". He is very proud that his father made such a difference and impact on the community.

Russell Johnson preaching to his congregation

Landscapes

Fun and Not-So-Fun Experiences

A beach that my grandfather spent many happy days at.

My grandfather used to tell me stories about his time in Madagascar as a little boy. My favorite were the stories that he recalled of cockroaches tickling his behind with their "feelers" while he tried to go to the bathroom, he referred to them as "bum bum ticklers".

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