Dear Friends
"Come my soul, thy suit prepare; Jesus loves to answer prayer:
He Himself has bid thee pray, therefore will not say thee nay.
Thou art coming to a King: large petitions with thee bring;
For His grace and power are such, none can ever ask too much."
(John Newton)
We are grateful to those who have written asking if we are still alive, or whether they have been dropped off the prayer letter list! We are humbled to think of folk eager to pray and waiting for news. We hope to be able to bring you up to date.
If Mandritsara is the "back of beyond", there are nevertheless still more "regions beyond". Almost 30 (out of 200) villages in the Mandritsara district (equal in area to Kent, Surrey and Sussex combined, or half of Wales, or a third of Belgium) now have small groups of Christians linked to the Bible Baptist church in Mandritsara. Earlier this month, 40 men, the leaders of these groups, spent 2 weeks in Mandritsara for the annual leaders training course. Most had walked here - the furthest away had walked 100 miles! Rich Shattenberg (missionary) and Pastor Tovo came to teach from Mahajanga, and the other teachers, including David, were from the Mandritsara church.
David's topic was "The Pastor and his relationship with God, his family and his church." What a joy to teach such an amazing group of men that the Lord has called to Himself in the past few years. Under "Relationship with God" David started with basics - "Are you sure that you are truly saved?" He asked the men to reply. One said "Oh yes, I know I am saved because I am trusting in Jesus." "Yes, that's the way to be saved, but how do you know that you are trusting in Jesus?" "Well", said another, "I know because I have been born again." "But how do you know that you have been born again - what is the proof?" "Well", said a third, "I am sure because I have repented." "Yes, you have all spoken of the way to become a true Christian, but how do you know for sure that you have really repented?" Then a fourth man spoke slowly, pensively, "The thing that makes me sure that I am really saved," he said, "is when I think about my life before I was Christian and then I look at my life now and see how much God has changed me. That's how I know that I really am saved." What a blessing and encouragement this time was! Please pray for these men in their villages, seeking to bring the light of the gospel to those in heathen darkness.
October 14th was the official inauguration of our new buildings (maternity, community health, nursing school) and the official opening of the nursing school. 11 students have started - 4 already worked here as assistant nurses, 3 of the others also come from Mandritsara and the rest from further afield. Please pray for John and Mair Pugh and Estelle Ropp who are responsible for the teaching programme, and pray that the students will be not only well trained, but also strengthened in their faith and daily walk with the Lord.
Also in early October "Feon'ny Vaovao Mahafaly" (Voice of the Good News) went on the air. We are broadcasting from 6am to 8pm each day on 92.0 mHz FM. The programme can easily be picked up in Mandritsara and up to 25km away. Our hope is to have a 30m mast for the antenna in the future so as to reach more distant villages. Please pray for Robinson (a Malagasy man!) who works in the Community Health team, and who is currently responsible for the programmes. In addition to a lot of Christian music and singing there is Bible reading, Bible teaching/preaching in Malagasy and French, and health education etc. It was encouraging recently to meet a carpenter that we have known since we first came to Mandritsara. He is half Chinese and speaks French. "Oh, doctor", he said "thank you very much for the "Echos de la Verite" programme. I don't leave for work in the morning until I've listened to it (at 7am)." What an opportunity this presents!
There are quite a number of Pakistani Muslim traders in Mandritsara with whom we have friendly but passing contact. Debbie Simpson, our lab technician, has now started a weekly English class, basically for them, hoping to establish friendships. Please pray that these will develop into gospel opportunities.
The team from New Zealand installed a new internal telephone network for us and a bleep system which works all over the town and is a big help for calling out our emergency staff. Now, amazingly, Celtel, a mobile phone company, is installing a mobile phone network. It was due to be working last week - but will probably take another 2 or 3 weeks. It will certainly make communications with the outside world much easier. In addition, Telma, the Malagasy equivalent of BT, is in process of setting up fixed telephones here that may even mean internet access!
All this technology is light years away from the real world of most of the local population. We have been suffering from drought conditions for a couple of months with no water in the taps. We are so grateful for the borehole we drilled a few years ago that has provided the hospital and our staff who live nearby with adequate clean water during this time, albeit in buckets. Most of the population have been going to the dry riverbed and digging deep into the sand to get enough (murky) water for drinking and washing. Earlier this week it started to rain and in 5 days we have had 185 mm of rain (7 inches). What a difference that makes - water in the taps and shower now!
Thank you so much for your prayers. The Lord has given a wonderful open door here. For example last night a young man of 21 was brought to the hospital by gendarmes. He had been caught stealing a cow from the local cattle market and been subject to rough justice from his captors (bricks thrown at his head) before the gendarmes took over. David spent an hour suturing face and scalp wounds. An hour in which he and Pierrette, our theatre nurse, were able to speak plainly to him of the gospel and his need of forgiveness and salvation though Jesus.
May we wish you all much joy this Christmas thinking of the coming of Jesus, the Saviour for sinners like us.
With our love,
David and Jane
Gifts for the project should be sent to Bryan Lumb, 41 Upper Tooting Park, London SW17 7SN.
Please make out cheques to "Friends of Mandritsara Trust" (F.O.M.T.) Gift Aid forms are available.