All posts by Sue Babbs

Missionaries, Rev. Derek & Jane Waller, CMS

Beauty and Poverty

Message from Derek and Jane Waller – June  2019 

 

Dear friends,

We travelled the twelve or so kilometres by tuktuk (a motorbike around which is built a small passenger compartment – not dissimilar to a bubble car for those old enough to remember!)  When the driver stopped all we could see was sand.  But after we had clambered up the dunes we saw a large village nestled between sand and ocean. Life here revolves around the sea with dozens of pirogues setting out each day to fish.  As so often in southern Madagascar, we were struck by the contrasts. Look towards the sea and there is the beauty of the turquoise blue waters.  Watch the catch coming in from the rich fishing waters and you see the abundance of creation.  Looking back one sees the simple homes of people struggling to feed, clothe and educate their families. The Anglican Church, a simple structure of corrugated metal walls reflects this poverty.

               

Ankilibe, in the parish of Fenoarivo, was the venue for our 9th leadership training conference for Rooted in Jesus.  Around 20 people came for the training. Once again we were faced with contrast. Two young mothers with babies were keen to learn.  An older man, who is a teacher, was eager to start a group in another village.  But others came who could not read and so would not be able to lead Rooted in Jesus.  Some came and went and came back again, leaving our registration sheet full of ticks and crosses – why did they miss so much of our training? The impression is of people whose understanding of their faith and commitment to Christ is at an early stage.

After the final service on the Sunday we were left to reflect on two questions.  Will the seed we have planted bear fruit?  And can we see God’s beauty in the people we encounter, just as we see it in the beauty of creation?

As always we thank God for your prayers. Will you pray for our last parish training from June 16th – 19th at Sakaraha in the parish of Archdeacon Hery?  

With our love and gratitude,

Derek and Jane

General

Thy Kingdom Come

The Diocese of Toliara joins  the global wave of prayer calling all Christians to pray between Ascension and Pentecost for more people to come to know Jesus Christ. May 30th – June 9th 2019 https://www.thykingdomcome.global/
 
Day 9 #Celebrate – ‘And to you my brothers and sisters, we walk alongside you in this prayer – Thy Kingdom Come.’  Bishop Sami speaks on the benefits of this 10 days of prayer:
Cyclones, Famine, Water Shortage

Rice Distribution in Amboasary Parish

We have just heard from the Economic Development Coordinator for the Diocese, Mr. Ialy, that rice has been distributed to the parish of Amboasary, which covers 4 churches in Amboasary, Ambovombe, Tsihombe and Beloha. The funds for this were donated by a church in Illinois, USA. The distribution reached 1,200 people, each person getting 1.5 cups of rice. 
 
Please continue to pray for the people who are experiencing seasonal famine. Bishop Samy reports that this time of year is called “the green grass period” – and as you can see the grass is green at present.
The rains have come, and new growth is happening in the plants, but there is not yet a crop. The children don’t go to school because of lack of food, they don’t go to church because of lack of food food problem. They have to find any kind of food in the forest or in the ground( like wild potatoes). This, hopefully, will be finishing around end of April or beginning of May. The local authority knows of this critical situation, and the government has started to sell “a cheaper rice”(half price) to help the situation, but selling rice presupposes people have the money to buy any rice.
Events & Projects, Missionaries, Rev. Derek & Jane Waller, CMS

Derek & Jane are heading north!

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. 

Dean Donne, Rev Derek & Jane Waller, Ev. Florent, & translator Miza in St Gregory’s Church, Fort Dauphin

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  

Cyclones, Famine, Water Shortage

Prayers Please!

Bishop Sami reports that famine is touching many parts of the Diocese at this time. The situation is made more complex because there is also measles, stomach-ache and water problems. Last weekend, Bishop Sami went to Andranovory and another place for confirmations and they cooked everything from a pool of water filled by the last rains 3 – 4  weeks ago.  In some areas the rains came in December and filled the new water tanks, which was good, but were so heavy that they have damaged the crops.  Please pray for all who are suffering as a result of disease, lack of nutrition and poor water supplies.    

Please also hold in your prayers the Diocesan bookkeeper, Thierry.  He was in a motorbike accident a few weeks ago and his wound is still seriously bad.
 
Events & Projects

Jesus Takes Root!

Evangelist Crescend tells us:
Thank you to God that the training of the Rooted in Jesus has been taking place in Ambovombe area, led by Rev Derek and Evangelist Florent. 23 adults and 27 children received certificates for passing the course.
  

 
 
Also there were 40 adults and 45 children baptized yesterday. Glory be to God!!