Focus on Madagascar
May 2016
PRAYER POINTS
Give thanks for:
Rice Harvest and Eye Trauma
At this time of year and after a good rainy season, the harvesting of the
1. Fun days out at the
picnics.
rice is in full swing. It is quite a labour intensive process and often
2. The temporary church
shelter in
Ambohimandroso.
taken to the family threshing floor. Here, it is either trampled on by oxen,
3. Continued health and
protection.
across the landscape as well as on the move as seen in the photo above.
involves the whole family. The rice is cut and left out to dry. It is then
beaten over a brick or empty oil drum, or hit with a stick so that the rice is
released from the stalk. “Haystacks” of the left over stalks can be seen
The rice is then stored with the husk on in sacks in the house. Most houses
will have a special room for rice storage, often with no door, but just a
Please pray for:
little window. This rice harvest will feed the family for the next year.
1. The closing ceremony
of
the
Saturday
Children’s Club on
Sunday 19th June.
In the eye department, we have seen the consequences of harvesting.
2. The nine candidates
from the church plant
preparing for their
baptism on 5th June.
unidentifiable objects. Sadly, we have also seen some more serious
Many people have come in with foreign bodies in their eyes and Hanitra
and I have removed several specks of rice husk amongst other
injuries involving trauma to the eye from the sticks. We were saddened
last week to see a man who had been hit in the eye by an oxen horn, but
had delayed coming to the eye department for treatment. By the time we
3. My financial situation
and final planning for
home assignment.
saw him, his retina had completely detached from the back of his eye due
to the impact of the trauma and there was nothing more we could do. We
continue to encourage people to come in as early as possible after an
accident and we also encourage as many patients as possible to wear
sunglasses as in this setting, they not only protect against the suns harmful
rays, but also against the dust and all sorts of airborne particles.
Picnic Season
The month of May is also the picnic season. The temperature is much
more pleasant, so it is actually possible to go out in the midday sun
without getting burnt to a frazzle. We have already enjoyed the
children’s club picnic. There must have been about 400 children, all
playing various age appropriate games and then all sitting down
beautifully together in family groups with the older children serving a
rice meal for their younger siblings. It really is a joy to see.
Vicky Hopley
Last Monday was the Pentecost bank holiday here in Madagascar and
Missionary Optometrist
it is traditionally the moment for the annual church picnic. This year,
Serving in Madagascar
because we now have the church plant, it was an ideal time to get to
with
know each other better. Twelve chickens were taken to the picnic spot
and prepared on site. A Scottish colleague organised a fantastic game
Friends of Mandritsara
Trust UK
of rounders for the children which they absolutely loved. It was such a
lovely, relaxed day. I was hoping to get to know people better, but it
www.mandritsara.org.uk
didn’t really work as the children never left my side!
Temporary Church
Our little church plant has already outgrown the school we were
meeting in. Last week, we moved to a temporary location while we
raise the funds to build a church. It consists of a tin roof and several
rows of wooden benches in the grounds of one of the leader’s house. In
fact, it is a great location as we can use one of the rooms in the house
for the children. The only problem on Sunday was that it rained, so all
the musicians had to move further under the roof to avoid the
equipment getting wet. Plastic sheeting for the sides are already being
Registered Office:
5 Tinker Lane
Sheffield
S10 1SE
Registered Charity: 1092709
Company limited by guarantee
Registered in England no: 4345183
Giving a donation towards my
support has now been made
easier via the website. Check
out the new page:
http://mandritsara.org.uk/givi
ng/supporting-missionaries/
considered.
Home Assignment and Financial Situation
It is now only a month before I head back to the UK for 3 months
Postal Address:
Hopitaly Vaovao Mahafaly
BP12, Mandritsara 415
Madagascar
home assignment. I would really appreciate prayer for my financial
situation. If I am to return for another term of service in Mandritsara, I
Tel:
will need the financial support to cover this. I now have a “Just
Email:[email protected]
Giving” page and our Treasurer is happy to help if anyone would like
to do some fundraising. Please would you consider prayerfully whether
you could join in my support team?
00261330802645
Sending Church:
St Mary’s, Ponteland
[email protected]