Simon and Miriam are serving in Antananarivo, Madagascar, encouraging and equipping the Malagasy church for mission and reaching out to vulnerable women. Praise God that one of the women has started a new course with Miriam’s team and is making good progress.  Please pray that she will know the transforming power of God’s love during this time in their care. On the other hand, things with their other women have been incredibly difficult, which has left the staff feeling rather discouraged. It can be easy to be taken advantage of, and hard to know who is in greatest need of their time and resources.  To this end, they are moving forward with plans for a central business in which to employ the women. They have found a local lady to teach them how to make natural soap so they can begin trialling recipes together. Ask the Lord to provide the funds and the people to help, and that Miriam will be able to trust these plans into His care.

Simon and Miriam are serving in Antananarivo, Madagascar, encouraging and equipping the Malagasy church for mission, and reaching out to vulnerable women. Praise God for a recent highlight for them, in getting to interview a Malagasy family for AIM membership, who want to preach the gospel to the unreached Antakarana in the north of Madagascar. The team has been filled with encouragement as they have walked through the membership process with this family. They have shown integrity and a willingness to be open and honest about their strengths and weaknesses. The interview involved a panel that was both online and in-person, across two countries, three church denominations, and in two different languages! The decision was unanimous and subject to the approval of the South African Board, this couple will become the first people to become AIM members through the Madagascar committee. It has been the culmination of many years of prayer and hard work, but God has been faithful throughout. Please pray for this couple, their church, and the future steps needed to equip them for the field.

Simon and Miriam Desborough are serving in Antananarivo, Madagascar, encouraging and equipping the Malagasy church for mission, and reaching out to vulnerable women. During their time in Antananarivo, taboos have had an impact on their work and ministry. For instance, Miriam’s organisation recently tried to help a woman receive some treatment from the doctor, but sadly she wouldn’t even attend an appointment due to several taboos that she feared. Whilst they understand that some of these taboos have come from cultural wisdom, many are a reflection of the fear-power dynamic of Malagasy culture. Many Malagasy are in fear of dreaded consequences should they transgress the taboo. Pray Galatians 5:1 over the Malagasy “For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.”