We are very pleased to announce the arrival of Rev. Adam Boulter and his family ( wife Beth, Joseph (11), Hannah (7) and Benjamin (3)) in Toliara.
Bishop Todd has appointed Rev. Adam as Dean and Principal of St Patrick’s Bible College, which is training up both lay evangelists, and preparing candidates for ordination training.
The plan with the candidates for priesthood is that Adam will arrange the initial training, and then after a year or two, when they are ready, the diocese will send them for three years of theological study at the University in the capital. That study is being sponsored, but their educational level is too low to get in the University without pre-training, which the Bible college will give. The college is very basic at the moment, with hardly any books, commentaries or text books, but we are blessed with a number of people who can help deliver the courses. The language barrier is also a problem so we are looking at hiring an interpreter.
Rev. Adam was formerly priest in charge of Poitou Charente, France, and prior to that he was the Mission to Seafarers Chaplain to the port of Aqaba in Jordan. He is also a noted painter of landscapes and religious art.
Adam Boulter with the Bishop of Europe, Robert McInnes
“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 congregationTwo 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 AnkilibeThe 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
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
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?
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!
We had set off at 6.30 a.m. and finally arrived in Morombe at 7.45 p.m. It was only 180 miles but the road was non-existent in places. We were shown our room and the single three foot bed for us to share for the next five nights. We could hardly complain as Hanitra, a delightful young trainee evangelist, had given up her room for us and was now sleeping on a concrete floor with four others. We survived and even slept a little.
We had gone to lead the second of nine conferences around the parishes of our large diocese. The aim of these conferences is to train leaders of disciple-making groups. These groups will use the Rooted in Jesus course.
The training is intensive lasting from 8.00 a.m. to 5.00 p.m. for three days but we are lifted by the enthusiasm of the participants and the joyous Malagasy singing. We were thrilled to have Derek’s new assistant, Evangelist Florent, with us for the first time.
Since then we have completed a third course and a fourth starts on November 22nd in Betioky, another long drive.
For these conferences Jane does much of the organizing and Derek the teaching, though Florent will increasingly share the teaching.
Please pray that those who have been trained will start discipleship groups in their local churches.
Between conferences Jane has started teaching English. She is much in demand. It seems that everyone here wants to learn English. With the backing of Bishop Todd, she has chosen to focus on particular groups. The first priority is the Diocesan staff working on the Cathedral compound – six in all, of widely varying ability – which makes teaching a challenge. They all come to her classes with big smiles and lots of enthusiasm.
Please pray for wisdom and skill for Jane.
As we approach our first anniversary in Toliara, we thank God for his grace and that we have made significant steps forward in our roles. Our prayer is that God will be glorified in who we are and what he calls us to do.
Ephesians 5:20 In the name of our Lord Jesus give thanks every day for everything to our God and Father.
After a very busy September, I went on a five day retreat to the beach, to be with God in the silence. Each morning, after breakfast, I would walk a mile to a cross in the sand made by the roots of a large tree.
During the walk I would simply enjoy the beauty of God’s creation, the ocean, birds, rocks, goats, children playing, sound of the waves, beautiful art in the sand made by waves, shells, and rocks. It was an amazing experience and a wonderful way to start the day.
The women were very busy in October making 500 Days for Girls basics kits. Harisoa and some of the women distributed the kits to a number of villages near Toliara. The kits were paid for by The Days for Girls organization in America and were free for the women, so now many women do not have to miss work or school because of their menstrual cycle.
Olivia, Nivo, Dola, Mbiny, Josianne, Tantely making Days for Girls Kits
Josianne cutting Days for Girls Kits
On Thursday afternoons and Friday mornings the women are learning to crochet with the goal of making prayer pockets. The prayer pockets will be blessed and then distributed in the diocese during pastoral visits, when people are sick or need prayers for other reasons.
Women learning to crochet
Women who attend the center live in a variety of houses, some are made of concrete, of sheets of metal or woven grass. There is no running water in any of the houses, water is carried in plastic containers from communal taps. Toilets are a hole in the ground in a small building, and bathrooms are a separate small building where one takes a bucket of cold water to bathe.
House made of grass and house made of concrete with metal roof
Roadside café, plastic yellow containers contain water, the pots are cooking on charcoal
Children are the joy of Madagascar. There are many and they always have a smile on their face. They play in garbage dumpsters or puddles after rains. The boys play soccer with balls made from plastic bags and girls cook using rocks and soil.
Children who live on the compound
Rafini cooks for the evangelists; her daughter is standing on the table.
Oliviah and Marinah doing laundry
On Sundays Bible stories are taught using colorful pictures on a flannel graph board. The children love the stories and are mesmerized by the wonderful illustrations. Olivia and Tantely teach the Bible stories and I help them to prepare as the instructions are in English. The children also learn simple songs it is such a joy to watch them their eyes are wide and full of wonder.
Oliviah teaching Bible stories in Cathedral
Children listening to Bible story in Cathedral
At the end of October,we were visited by Rev. Hal Spears and his secretary, Trudi Tooby, from England. They had visited a convent in Antananarivo to be present as two nuns took their final vows and then they came to Toliara to visit with Bishop Samitiani and family. I had met Rev. Spears as he lives near my brother. Trudi stayed with me and we had a very pleasant few days.
Fifa Trudi, Niavo, Rev. Spears standing in front of the boutique at the Women’s Center
