All posts by Sue Babbs

Jacky Lowe, SAMS, Missionaries

Latest Newsletter from Jacky Lowe, SAMS Missionary in Toliara:

“Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit”                                                                   Matthew 28: 19

On the beach with  a group of children from Ankilibe a fishing village 4 miles from Toliara

Sunday July 28, Rev. Patsy was leading the service at Ankilibe, where Esterline is the evangelist. Patsy and I travelled to Ankilibe in a Tuc Tuc a three wheeled vehicle with open sides, faster than a rickshaw (pousse pousse) but very breezy.  Though  much quicker than walking which is the mode of travel for many Malagasy people.

Going to market in a tuc tuc

We walked the last half a mile as the dirt road was to soft and the tuc tuc could not move. The people from the village came to greet us it was a beautiful morning full of the glory of God. The church was a one room, the structure was wood with aluminum sides, and a few rice bags where they ran out of aluminum sheets. The roof was long grasses woven together and held in place with thick pieces of wood. There was one door and no windows but plenty of light through spaces.

Church at Ankilibe

Inside the church there was an altar, 5 chairs and the pews were long pieces of wood on concrete blocks eight inches from the floor. I did not attempt to sit in the pews I asked if I may use a chair, as I would not be able to get up.

Esterline, the evangelist, and some of the congregation
Two gentlemen in the congregation

The altar table was covered with a white cloth decorated with a green cross. The candle holders were unique, recycled yogurt containers containing sand to give weight and they worked very well. The host was safely placed in a used coffee jar and the wine in a red ketchup container. Rev. Patsy brought a chalice and a plate for the host.

Ankilibe church altar

The people were so humble at the church and they were so grateful that we came to visit.  One felt so welcome. We were truly on holy ground and the service was very special.

Rev. Patsy and Evangelist Esterline at Ankilibe
The beach at Ankilibe, fishing is very important here

One requires lots of patience in Madagascar as time passes very slowly.  I know God is teaching us all patience and the real meaning of, ‘in God’s time.’  Recently, I  had a weekend of problems.  My phone decided to stop working on Friday morning at 5am it made a strange noise and the screen went black. I sat on my cracked toilet seat and it broke completely.  Ouch!  Saturday, the water to the kitchen and bathroom stopped running but everyone else on the compound had water. I solved the water problem by going to the faucet outside and filling several buckets with water and carried them into the Women’s Center. Monday, Fiavy found a blockage in the pipe and the water started to flow.

Carrying water to the women’s center from the outside faucet

The toilet seat was a job for Fiavy (he lives on the compound as one of our security men). He came and made a cardboard cut-out of the seat and went off to buy a new one which he replaced the following Monday.

I now feel like a queen with my own throne

The phone took a few days longer and a trip into town with Patsy and I now have a working phone. I am very grateful but it takes patience and endurance to wait for repairs to take place.

The women are baking I demonstrated how to make cookies on Thursday and Friday 6 women in pairs made the cookie dough. We froze the cookie dough and will bake the cookies and sell them at the Synod at the end of August.

The women are also learning about Centering Prayer. On the days we cooked we sat for 10 minutes in silence and then they talked about their experience. Andre the young man in the picture is an interpreter when I am teaching.

“Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts.”                                                                         Colossians 3:16

I would love to hear comments or notes of how you are doing.  You can send them to jacquelinelowe51@gmail.com.  Thank you

Events & Projects

Tidying the Cathedral Grounds!

Saturday 27th July saw a work day in the Cathedral complex, where the parishioners were busy cleaning the inside of the Cathedral and the grounds around it. All worked hard including Rev Patsy, Assistant Bishop Sami, his wife Holy down to the littlest child! (Bishop Todd was away visiting Churches elsewhere or we know he’d have helped too!)

.

Everybody brought one cup of rice and the Miaraka Community provided the meat and vegetables to go with it.

Thanks to all those who put their time and energies into caring for the property so that it looks welcoming to all who visit

Missionaries, Rev. Derek & Jane Waller, CMS

The Kingdom of heaven is like a couple who make a garden in a dry and salty land

Latest newsletter from Derek and Jane Waller:

It all began after Easter. We were having a more settled period in Toliara after much travelling and the weather was cooling down in our Southern Hemisphere winter. What better time to plant some young trees and even try some vegetables and flowers – so we explored the local nurseries, found a supply of “muck” and our garden began. Every evening sees us out with buckets, watering with the help of our young neighbours, Katerinah and Marinah.

 

As well as being fun and good exercise, there is something profoundly gospel about creating a garden in a dry place – “the wilderness and the dry land shall be glad; the desert shall rejoice and blossom like the crocus” (Isaiah 35:1). We love the idea of future generations enjoying the beauty and shade from “our trees” and who knows – others may copy us and plant their own good news!  Click here to read more

 

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