Simon and Miriam Desborough are serving in Antananarivo, Madagascar, encouraging and equipping the Malagasy church for mission, and reaching out to vulnerable women. Miriam is rethinking the programme and business model for the ministry to vulnerable women. She hopes to start a central business which means the women can be much more intensely supported and discipled and can focus on one thing rather than all trying to run individual businesses. One of the recent graduates of the programme became a Christian and seems to be really genuine in her faith, although not all plain sailing. Six new staff volunteers have been trained which means more availability for visits, and can even have multiple meetings/visits simultaneously. During the volunteer training it came to light that one lady’s faith was nominal and she did not clearly understand the gospel despite being in church most of her life. Along with her pastor they had several conversations with her and, to their delight, she became a Christian! Pray for ongoing wisdom as this ministry develops.

However, the most pressing prayer need currently for the Desboroughs and the Hofmanns is the civil unrest, caused by people’s frustration with the frequent power and water cuts which make life very difficult. Madagascar has been experiencing civil unrest since 25th Sept, with protests, riots, looting and shooting. Antananarivo has been the centre of the unrest but all cities, and even some towns, have experienced violence. Many shops and schools have been shut since then. They don’t know how long it will continue for or what the outcome will be. Pray for peaceful dialogue and change to happen and for safety in the meantime.

Simon and Miriam Desborough are serving in Antananarivo, Madagascar, encouraging and equipping the Malagasy church for mission and reaching out to vulnerable women. They want to ensure their mobilisation efforts are founded upon much prayer and reflection. As they have now formed a mobilisation committee, they are beginning to advertise new roles. Simon presented on the work of AIM to the Firahalahian’ny Mpitandrina Evanjelika (Brotherhood of Evangelical Pastors) and many were excited to receive training and partner in various initiatives. They are due to provide some missions training to a church in July, and take part in a youth camp teaching on mission in September. It’s been a flurry of new opportunities since returning, but they are thankful to God for ensuring they are not overwhelmed and that they have time to cover these events in prayer.

Simon and Miriam Desborough are serving in Antananarivo, Madagascar, encouraging and equipping the Malagasy church for mission and reaching out to vulnerable women. Three of the vulnerable women continue to be committed to the three-month program and the team are making plans with at least two of them to start their own businesses. It’s a joy to hear of their growing interest in God and their growing self-worth and skills as they experience the holistic love of Jesus in word and action. At the end of March they are welcoming a placement student from All Nations Christian College to work with the programme for three weeks. She is a French/Malagasy young lady so pray for the reciprocal learning that will take place during this time and that it will be instrumental for her future.