All posts by Sue Babbs

Zooming McGregors

July 19, 2020 Sue Babbs

We had a wonderful Zoom session with Todd and Patsy on Saturday 18th July, when they talked about their ministry, the Diocese of Toliara, the impact of COVID19 in Madagascar, and how people can support the work in Toliara.

If you weren’t able to participate in the call, it was recorded and you can watch it at your convenience by clicking here.

Key points from the call were:

COVID 19 has increased in Toliara. There are now 30 confirmed cases in Toliara since Monday.
The government has imposed stricter regulations similar to those in the capital.
All churches and schools (including students studying for national exam) throughout the country have now been closed.
All shops and markets close at 3 pm, and a curfew is now enforced.
No one is allowed to leave the regions even for funerals. So Bishop Samy was not able to be present for his mother’s funeral, and her body was not able to be interred in the family tomb but was put in a different one. Rev. Adam and his family have not been able to return to England following his father’s sudden death.
The office staff will be working sporadically in the Diocesan offices now except for those who live on the compound.
There are eight family units and 2 building projects at the Cathedral complex. Social distancing is maintained and masks are worn. A temperature gun has just been acquired and temperatures will be taken daily for everyone on or entering the compound. There is a hand washing station at both gates.
Travel within the country is limited, so Bishop Todd has now spent the longest time continually at home in the Gathering Place!
The Malagasy are scared of this virus and taking it very seriously.
Schools are closed, including the 2 Diocesan schools, but funds are still needed to pay the teachers at those schools.
Todd and Patsy talked about their own personal reactions to the situation.
There are problems getting food to the South because drivers won’t deliver food without being accompanied by the military. Rice had doubled in price at one point. There continues to be ongoing famine caused by drought in the areas around Ambovombe, Tsihombe, Belohad and Ampanihy.
Donations are made by the Malagasy in cash to fund churches when services are held, but not when there are no meetings there is no income to keep the Church running.
The Diocese is developing liturgy to enable families within their homes and possibly with close neighbours to meet and pray 3-4 times a week, even if services can’t be held.
The Women’s Center has partnered with Base Toliara to make 45,000 masks.

Donations to help with relief needed as a consequence of Covid-19, child sponsorship or the Endowment Fund to keep the Diocese running long-term would all be welcomed

Coronavirus

First 2,000, then 45,000 masks!!

July 19, 2020 Sue Babbs

Once the Women’s Center opened again, after the initial coronavirus lockdown in Toliara, the women met to sew face masks instead of Days for Girls kits.

Earlier this month they completed sewing 2,000 face masks for the Diocese and have distributed them to the 2 schools and 10 parishes. Funds were donated to cover the costs of making these.

This photo shows Bishop Todd & Harisoa & the final 500 masks for the Diocese.

The women are now partnering with Base Toliara and the Malagasy government to make 45,000 face masks over the next 2 months. Base Toliara is a mining company, 25 miles north of Toliara town, sourcing ilmenite, zircon and rutile, which are used in the production of white pigment for paint, plastics and paper as well as for ceramics and metallurgy.

The contract between the Women’s Center and Base Toliara is for 2 months. 8 women, who normally work at the Women’s Center, will be supervising 40 women plus at Base Toliara. 3 women will go there for 2 weeks at a time and then rotate with others from the team. Working as supervisors is a step up for all of them, most of whom learned to use a sewing machine for the first time in 2016, to make Days for Girls kits.

Recently Bishop Todd and Rev. Patsy visited Base Toliara, and the whole project was filmed for local television, which can be seen on the Diocesan Facebook page

People

Bishop Samitiana’s 30th Anniversary of Priesthood

July 4, 2020 Sue Babbs

On Sunday June 28th, in Santa Patrika Cathedral, the Diocese celebrated Bishop Samitiana’s 30th anniversary since he was priested. Only a few people could be present on account of coronavirus.

The service went very well and we spent 3 1/2 hours celebrating and thanking the Lord for Bishop Samitiana’s servant attitude and committed service to the Kingdom of God.

Events & Projects

New Guest House for the Parish of Fenoarivo

July 4, 2020 Sue Babbs

On 27th June 2020, the people of the Parish of Fenoarivo gathered with Bishop Todd to pray and dedicate the new guest house at Ambohimahavelona.

Their first tenant arrived on 1st July. The rent will help fund the costs of the Parish.

Thanks be to God!

Missionaries, Rev. Derek & Jane Waller, CMS

Message from Northamptonshire!

June 23, 2020 Sue Babbs

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 10^th 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 12^th they strongly recommended a charter flight leaving Antananarivo on 17^th 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 15^th and 16^th, 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 18^th. 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.

May 9, 2020 Sue Babbs

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

May 8, 2020 Sue Babbs

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.

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.

(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