Please take the time to read the annual report from the Sisters in Mamre (Madagascar) - it's a long but very interesting report. Please remember Sister Angeline and the sisters in your prayers (and share in your communities).
If you want to send an email with greetings and encouragement, you can email them at maserafjkm@gmail.com.
The Sisters of Mamré are happy to greet you and wish you all the best for 2021 with this blessing from our Lord God. May He fulfil this blessing in each and every one of you throughout this year: in our joys and in our struggles, which are the two sides of our lives during our earthly pilgrimage.
On this day as I write: on the one hand, I feel that time is passing very quickly, but on the other hand, it is slowed down by the worries of daily life and national and global news, which provoke sensitivities and anxieties in the hearts of human beings. Here is a concrete example of our experience. Because of the acute poverty in Madagascar, violence reigns throughout the island. Our community has been a victim as well. In August 2020, our three houses in Ambavahadimitafo were burgled several times. In Mamré: they stole our two large tortoises Soky and Lova, who had been our close friends for a long time; they took benches that we use to accommodate those in need of listening and prayer; pots of orchid and anthurium flowers were stolen; they even killed our cats. In Moria: they stole the children's white bean supply for a year and materials for the garden and laundry. In Bethel: they were able to open our iron gate and the doors of the house. They broke the padlocks on Mathilde's two iron trunks and took everything they wanted. We had to empty the house by transporting the remains of her luggage to Mamre. We don't have a tenant for this house yet and we are looking for someone to replace her. For this reason, we had to install security systems for our two houses but that still does not prevent burglars from entering.
Coronavirus still exists in Madagascar; the anti-Covid rules are still very strict. These are the other consequences of the pandemic here at home: Closing industries that causes unemployment to rise; cost of living inflation; insecurity; Rape; corruption etc...
So, life becomes scary. Community life is gradually returning to normality. We resumed our community meeting on 11 September 2020 after those six months of confinement, a joy to be together again. Each took six days of retreat according to their own time. The theme in this retreat was for each to review her consecration retreat.
Sister Josephine and Sister Elienne had the opportunity to holiday with their families on September 19 for a month, while Sister Lanto left for her vacation later, on October 02. After her vacation, she stayed for a month in Zoara to help the sisters with different cultures: transplanting rice, vegetable crops, chillies, ginger, etc. Sister Berthine took a French course from September 17 to November 6.
The four senior novices (Minah, Dina, Pierrette, Fara) continue their training through their research project. They are living across the three houses: in Horeb, Mamre and Zoara. The two young people: Lalatiana and Tatamo still stay in Horeb to consolidate their lives together. The two aspirants: Hélène and Nadiah are well integrated into their stage of life by gradually following the community rhythm. Together with Sister Elisabeth and Sister Pelagia, they visited a new college run by a very committed Christian couple in our parish. They started with very few children and minimal materials. The sisters were surprised at the evolution of this college and the way in which it was run.
Almost all the sisters are healthy except for a few who are still undergoing treatment: Sister Pelagia, Sister Danie, Sister Elisabeth, Sister Angeline. Each of them is getting better.
The third Sunday of October is still Mamre Sunday. We had to do two services at the same time. One was broadcast on the radio of the Church of Jesus Christ in Madagascar, guided by Sister Danie with Sister Elizabeth preaching. Dina and Pierrette shared on a program on the same radio about their choice of vocation – it was a strong testimony for them.
The other service was televised. We did the recording at our parish of Ambavahadimitafo with the congregation on the Thursday before the Sunday. Four entities worked together: a representative of the F.J.K.M headquarters; the Pastor and the deacons of the parish; Pastor Yvette and Pastor William our only two advisors; and the Mamré community sisters with Sister Angeline who explained the community. Sister Alexandrine led the worship at our own parish that Sunday morning.
We were able to resume our services with the children of the canteen in early November and evangelism at the prison. There are a few groups that are gradually coming for hospitality and we are starting to take orders for the sewing of pastoral and deacon’s robes.
Pastor Yvette called the consecrated sisters to meetings with the two counsellors 2-9 November to elect a new group of counsellors.
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