Dear friends,
Would you pray for us as we take Rooted in Jesus to the northern part of Toliara diocese?
Before Christmas we led four, three day training conferences around Toliara. In January we flew to Fort Dauphin in the south-east and led conferences in Fort Dauphin and Ambovombe. The contrast between the beautiful and relatively prosperous Fort Dauphin, surrounded by the Indian Ocean on one side and mountains on the other, and the poverty and deprivation of Ambovombe was stark.
We are now heading north for Morondava, on the west coast. It takes 25 hours by road but we will be flying via the capital Antananarivo. We will lead conferences in Mahabo (21st – 23rd March) and Morondava (25th – 27th March). Our team of Evangelist Florent, Jane and myself will be joined by Rev Victor, the parish priest of Mahabo. Victor is a missionary from Kenya to Madagascar and he will interpret for us at both conferences. Rev. Lova will host us at Morondava. We expect around twenty people at each training conference and our hope and prayer is that, once trained, they will go back to their village churches and start discipleship groups.
It’s a huge privilege to lead these conferences. By the grace of God, discipleship groups are springing up. We are also getting an insight into life in Southern Madagascar and experiencing the contrasting beauty of this fascinating island. We thank God for these opportunities. But travelling and staying in different places is tiring. And teaching in temperatures of around 30 degrees centigrade and 70% humidity is demanding on our energy levels and patience!
We so value your partnership in this work of growing disciples of Jesus. We hope that you see our ministry as part of your ministry, for it is your prayers and giving that keep us here.
May the Lord of steadfast love and compassion bless you richly through this season of Lent!
Derek and Jane