Prayers and prayers...

Simon was unwell for a couple of days, even bedridden, but is now on the mend.  He is back to eating a little food. Thankfully he was just about strong enough to fly across the diocese to Fort Dauphin, in the south east corner of Toliara province. 

We received a wonderful welcome from Dean Donne (the priest) and Neny Vero  (his wife) at the airport.  Neny Vero had been in the class in Toliara town, and had travelled back by taxi brousse.  She looked so pleased to see Simon and I when she saw us inside the terminal.  They then rode on their motor bike ahead of the taxi along with a group of women, children and a couple of men at the church, Santa Gregoire, which is paired with St Gregory’s, Deerfield, IL.  Some of these women had walked for two hours from Betaliny and Ampasinapoana churches to come to welcome Simon and Sue.  This was the first time that we received the French style greeting of three “kisses” on the cheek with everyone.  It takes much longer!!  At the end we received the traditional ten-clap Malagasy welcome, followed by sodas and cookies in Dean Donne’s home.

Simon is so grateful for his recovery and prays he continues to stay healthy.

I, Sue, have now had a less bad version of Simon’s stomach upset – and hope that I am now over that. Patsy, Jacky and Simon laid hands on me yesterday afternoon before Patsy and Jacky left for the afternoon DfG presentation. I felt a prompting within me to take a deep breath, breathing in the Holy Spirit who gives us life – and there was an instant change in my stomach and intestines: peace reigned (and has done so since then!) Hallelujah!

The bad news about it meant that Simon and I were not well enough to go to yesterday’s presentation at Betaliny (but missed a spectacular car ride: gas fumes in taxi; water coming in through the car floor when they forded a stream; battery then being flat for their return journey because of the water and finally an electrical fire in the engine!) The good news was that we were able to spend 4.5 hours re-packing DfG heavy flow kits into post-partum kits for the maternity clinic visits).

Today (Friday) is a full day out – taking the team to a lemur reserve in the morning followed by another DfG presentation at Ampasinapoana.  Saturday is a maternity clinic visit, bookkeeping for Simon and DfG presentation at Santa Gregoire.  Please pray that we have strength for these longer days. 

I have woken with a sore throat, and am concerned that I need my voice to preach on Sunday.  Please pray for me to make a quick recovery from that also.

There is very slow internet here.  We are grateful for your messages to us, but it is difficult to reply.  I won’t be able to post any photos.