Many areas around the world are experiencing more turbulent weather than they are accustomed to dealing with. This is especially challenging for the poor.

Last week, Cyclone Ana hit central Madagascar, including the capital Antananarivo, on its way to mainland Africa, causing severe flooding and a river to break its banks. At least 48 were killed and 130,000 people have been forced to flee their homes to makeshift shelters. Johary, Rev. Canon Donné’s eldest son, sent this photo from Anosibe Anala where he now lives and works:

He says “The house where I live is at the top of the hill, so I think my family and I are safe but the other people down there need much prayer. There are some houses that we can’t see anymore, the cultivated areas are really destroyed, as are all the bridges from here to the the town where we import some of our needs like oil, salt, rice. So we know that prices will go up and some people will fall into famine.”

News reports indicate that there are fears that a second cyclone (Tropical Cyclone Batsirai) will hit the east coast of Madagascar this coming weekend. You can monitor the progress of approaching storms on the METEO Madagascar website

The Diocese of Toliara is several hundred miles south of the capital. Bishop Samy tells us that  it was 110 degrees F (43 degrees C) on Sunday and Monday in Toliara.  The heat is suffocating and burning in the south west particularly Toliara, Andranovory, Betioky and Ampanihy.   There is serious famine in Betioky.

It is crucial that this rainy season delivers adequate rain to prevent a return to drought-induced famine and to allow crops to grow, without there being so much rain that damage is done.

Please remember all these situations and the people of Madagascar in your prayers

On Thanksgiving Day here in America, may we join with the Malagasy in giving thanks for the recent rain in Ambovombe in the last week or so, but understandably grateful as they are to have water they are sad to only have this dirty water to drink.

Bishop Samitiana reports from Morondava that they have just had their first rain since 2019, while they were praying in All Saint’s Church, Morondava. Praise God!

The Archdeacon’s wife, Neny Oliviah, reports that it has also rained at the Cathedral Complex. The first rain of the season in Toliara town.

Please join in praying for this to be a good rainy season in Madagascar, filling the rivers and streams, and raising underground water levels.

As the the COP26 global climate summit is about to start in Scotland,  Anglican Bishop Gilbert of Fianarantsoa (a neighboring Diocese of Toliara) says the island nation is suffering its worst famine in a generation, and urges the world to address climate change.

He warns that at least one million people may be at risk.

When he refers to the south of the country, he is talking about the Diocese of Toliara: “The situation south of the country is not good. Out of our 22 regions, it has been hit the hardest. Some crops have also been destroyed by bandits.”

Read more here

In responding to the current situation, Rakotondravelo believes the Body of Christ in Madagascar will do well not to live in isolation. Please join us in praying for the island of Madagascar as the people suffer this dreadful famine, and for the global climate summit.