All posts by Sue Babbs

Missionaries, Rev. Derek & Jane Waller, CMS

Message from Northamptonshire!

Here is the latest news from Derek and Jane Waller:

 

Dear Friends, 

We are back in the UK!  We are looking out onto an English country garden from this converted barn in the lovely village of Byfield, Northamptonshire. We are amazed at the rapid way events have moved in just a week.  It’s hard to believe.

Two months after COVID-19 reached Madagascar we decided to review our situation and we felt that the balance was shifting towards leaving. Here is some of our reasoning:

  • Because we were unable to travel, our Rooted in Jesus work was very restricted.  Rev Florent will make an excellent Discipleship Coordinator, carrying on what we have begun together. So our work is largely complete.
  • We could relieve our family’s worries about us being here and support them in the UK.
  • The health care system in Madagascar is poor.  As we are both over 60, we were in a higher risk group.
  • If we caught Covid-19 or the disease spread rapidly to Toliara, we would be a burden upon the Malagasy church.

So on Wednesday 10th June, with the support of our Bishops and CMS, we asked the British Embassy to put us on their repatriation list.  Much to our surprise on 12th they strongly recommended a charter flight leaving Antananarivo on 17th June!  We had three days to say goodbye to friends, sort out our house, pack and have a farewell thanksgiving service in the cathedral.  We travelled by road on 15th and 16th, our last opportunity to see this beautiful land.  Permission for the flight was granted in the evening of 16th and we flew to Addis on 17th, arriving in the UK on the 18th.  We had wonderful support from Bishop Todd, Bishop Samy and many others as we left Toliara and now we find ourselves being looked after by a retired Bishop and his wife, as we spend quarantine in their converted barn. We have just heard that our tenant has found new accommodation at short notice so we can move into our own home in early July.

It’s been quite a rollercoaster of emotions but our overwhelming sense is of gratitude to God for his grace towards us. Once we began this process, many doors flew open. Like St. Paul we can say that all this has been made possible through your prayers and the help of the Spirit of Jesus (see Philippians 1:19). Thank you!

With our love,

Derek and Jane

 

Parish Links

St James the Less, Northfield, Illinois, USA links with the Parish of Amboasary, Toliara, Madagascar.

Rev Lisa of St James the Less writes:

Friends in Christ —

I am so excited to announce even amid the COVID19 that St James the Less Vestry is developing a more robust relationship with the Diocese of Toliara in Madagascar. A global pandemic will not stop the church from being the church!

As you will learn in the wonderful YouTube video, our parish has long financially supported the ministries of Bishop Todd and The Rev. Patsy McGregor, who began as missionaries in the slums of Toliara many years ago. Making many relationships with Malagasy people, they formed the diocese of Toliara to organize and grow the Anglican form of Christianity while improving life for the poor, using this philosophy “Go where you are most needed.”

Over the years, our parish’s relationship with the diocese in Madagascar has grown. When I visited last August, I found that our little parish is widely known across the diocese because of Sue and Simon Babbs and Betsy and Glen Tracy, who visited before me. Their ministries supported by SJTL have made a lasting impact. During my visit I was approached to consider a parish link.

Linking with a parish in Madagascar may be best described as a friendship, a spiritual friendship between our church and the churches in Madagascar. Do not think of this as outreach, instead this is a friendship among equals. The link will foster getting to know one another, praying for each other, growing in faith and hope and love of Christ our Lord together.

For example, I became friends with the Rev. Gaston who is the transitional deacon charged with the care of the Parish of Amboasary. He is humble, faithful, eager, smart, and loving. During the course of several conversations we prayed, we shared our challenges in parish leadership and we encouraged each other. Because we live and serve in such vastly different environments and yet are united in One Lord, One Faith, One Love, he remains a very special colleague to me.

In the same way, a parish link with the people of Amboasary will enrich our lives. Think of our children sharing videos with children in Madagascar about what we are doing in Sunday School, or communicating our differing interpretations of a gospel passage with each other, or knowing we are remembered in prayer by people worshipping half way around the world from us! No doubt, we will be enriched and that is why I am excited for this parish link. Watch the video and learn more about Madagascar, Rev. Gaston and the Church in Amboasary.

With you on the journey,
Lisa+

Coronavirus

Opening of Church gatherings in-person

On May 5th, the following announcement went out regarding the opening of Anglican Church gatherings in-person in Madagascar:

To all Anglican Christians throughout the Island.

Reason: Statement on the possibility of services in the Anglican church.

Brethren,

May the peace of the Lord be multiplied unto you. In light of the evolving situation in our country, it is with great joy to announce to all Christians in the Malagasy Episcopal Church that churches can be opened again throughout the diocese of Madagascar.

To deal with this, we want to introduce and reinforce the following ideas, common to the entire Episcopal Church of Madagascar:

1) For areas still subject to specific conditions (Analamanga, East, Upper Divorce and Mangoro Forest), the church may be open but a maximum of fifty (50) Christians present.

2)For all churches outside those areas subject to specific conditions set by the state, the church shall be open to the public. However, because of the large number of people, the distance between church members should be respected.

3)Continue to emphasize the following criteria:

(a) Everyone must wear a “face mask”.

(b) All members of the church should wash their hands with soap or hand sanitizer.

(c) The church must be “disinfected” or cleaned up before any other church members can enter.

4) About receiving the Holy Communion:

(a) Divide the Holy Communion method so that it is not possible to have a common cup. Only the celebrant dips the bread into the wine instead of the recipient.

(b) In the standing position.  The recipient of the Holy Communion does not kneel before the Altar to avoid contact.

(c) There is no possible contact during the peace or the laying on of hands

(d) Everyone must wear a mask.

In addition to all of the above, each diocese will review and make the decision to carry it out under the direction of each Bishop. So let us all accept and follow the various instructions that they may convey.

In conclusion, we continue to express our gratitude and encouragement to all Anglican Christians throughout the Island, for patience and dignity, and especially for the faithfulness and obedience of our Bishops in the face of the current challenges of our faith.

We are not yet out of the woods, so let’s try to protect each other from this common enemy. We do this not for fear but for the love of the Lord, and for the good of the world.  “But true love overcomes fear” (1 John 4: 18a).

Peace be with you always!

On behalf of all the Bishops in FEEM:

St. SOLO Jean Paul, Bishop of Toamasina

Mgr RATELOSON Rakotondravelo Gilbert, Bishop of Fianarantsoa

Mgr Todd McGREGOR, Bishop of Tulear

Mgr BOTOMAZAVA Theophile, Bishop of the Archdiocese

Mgr Hall SPEERS, Bishop of Mahajanga

Mgr RAZAFINDRALAMBO Samitiana Jhonson, Assistant Bishop of Toliara

Antananarivo, May 05, 2020

MOR RANARIVELO Samuel John

President of FEEM

Bishop of Antananarivo

General

EASTER MESSAGE 2020

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Missionaries, Rev. Derek & Jane Waller, CMS

Waiting in Hope – message from missionaries Derek & Jane Waller, Easter Saturday 2020

Dear Friends,

Thank you for your prayers for us and for Toliara Diocese and for your words of encouragement.  We received so many responses to our last message that we apologise for not being able to respond individually.  We hope that you understand.  We are keeping well, as are all our friends here.

We are writing on Holy Saturday as it is called here, the pause between the crucifixion and the resurrection, a day of waiting and wondering.

Here in the city of Toliara the first two cases of Coronavirus have been confirmed.  Will the authorities be able to control this outbreak?  Are there already others who have not been tested?  We wait.  We wait and we take precautions.  We wait and we pray.  We wait and we worry – we feel the anxiety of facing the unknown.  But we also act.  We are supporting Bishop Todd and Bishop Samitiana in educating the Diocese about this new disease.  Many are ignorant and some deny that it even exists.

Derek and Neny Holy, the wife of Bishop Samitiana, have met the Diocesan staff and visited each home on our compound (seven in all) to speak about Coronavirus.  Our demonstrations and visual aids help adults and children alike.  We’ve given them 10 rules for keeping safe, around the twin principles of physical distancing and good hygiene.  We give the children black and white copies of the hands for them to colour themselves.  Neny Holy is now putting these rules onto the Diocesan Facebook page in short videos.  We’re also joining in developing resources for prayer in people’s homes as churches remain closed.

 

 

In our waiting and acting we are spurred on by the love of Jesus poured out for the world on the cross.  How we long that the people here are kept safe!  And we wait for Easter Sunday when we will shout out, “Christ is Risen!  Alleluia!”  We suspect that this acclamation will take on new depth tomorrow.  May we all be filled with living hope in the one who has defeated death and whose Kingdom will come!

With our love,

Derek and Jane
Coronavirus

Crosses for sick in hospital

Today, Good Friday, the Church of St James the Less in Northfield, Illinois received a request from the chaplain at the local hospital.  She wanted 50-100 crosses to give to those who are sick with the coronavirus, for them to hold.  Rev Lisa contacted Sue & Simon Babbs, who had 88 paper bead crosses and 12 wooden crosses in stock to sell on behalf of the Diocese when visiting churches etc.  It is lovely to have been able to provide comforting crosses to those who are seriously ill to remind them of Jesus’ presence with them, and at the same time to raise funds for the Diocese from St James the Less.

Coronavirus

Compline via YouTube!

Bishop Todd and Rev Patsy joined Father Marty at St Joseph’s, Boyton Beach, Florida on Thursday April 2nd for Compline (generally a late evening prayer service).
 
During the time, Bishop Todd and Rev Patsy shared how they are sharing Church services in the Diocese via the radio. They also talk about the impact of COVID-19 in Madagascar, and specifically in the Diocese of Toliara.
 
There are no testing kits in Toliara, so any reported numbers of cases from Madagascar will not be accurate. When they heard on March 20th, of the first three cases in Madagascar, the clergy and leaders were all sent home from their conference early the following morning. All Churches, Diocesan Offices, Bible College, schools, Women’s Center have been closed.
 
They are following social distancing rules, as far as can be possible, when so many people live in close contact with each other. Soap is a luxury which most can’t afford.
 
Antananarivo and Tamatave are on lock-down and many of the inhabitants of those cities have moved to live with relatives in rural areas. The road from Antananarivo to Toliara has been closed so food prices are rising.
 
Bishop Todd and Rev Patsy have bought in enough gas bottles for cooking, filled the tank of their vehicle and bought in soap. The Diocese has bought in 2 tons of rice against the possibility of none becoming available
 
Coronavirus

God is our strength and refuge – a very present help in trouble (Psalm 46)

Please hold the people of Madagascar in your prayers. The Madagascar President has reported its first 3 known cases of coronavirus. All schools and govt office are closed as well as internal and external flights.
 
Bishop Todd has cancelled all meetings and services for 2 weeks / until further notice. All 15 clergy have been meeting together here in Toliara for the past few days. Tomorrow was to be the last day of retreat. The clergy are now leaving tomorrow morning to take public transportation to be with their families as transportation could soon be limited.
 
Thank you all for your prayers for protection, safety and peace.