I am in Bananaville, I have come by Helimission helicopter to this remote village on the edge of the rainforest and two days’ walk from Mandritsara as part of the regular outreach of the Good News Hospital community health team. My task is to see those who are sick…
This story is slightly unusual, in that I was moved to write it by an urgent call for help that has come from the team in Mandritsara - the need for medical doctors. Staffing levels from August onwards look absolutely critical…
This is the story of a little girl, named Siadine. Siadine is eight and lives with her parents in a remote village. One day, she was being a big sister to her little brother, when she fell…
In May ’23 I came out to Mandritsara to set up a new dental surgery in the hospital. I didn’t think I had too much to fear back then, but possibly not being allowed to do what you are trained to do is a bit scary…
One of the delights of working at Hopitaly Vaovao Mahafaly is seeing God answer prayers… And it is a special joy to be able to come to a patient’s bedside and testify to our Father’s goodness in answering those prayers.
"Something's wrong with my baby! I need help! This isn't normal!" Olivia is in a panic (true story, name changed for privacy
Whilst growing up considering what to study at University, I had an enthusiasm for supporting medical mission work to meet spiritual and physical needs of people in contexts with less material resources than our own.
A story for Christmas from the Good News Hospital, Mandritsara (though the true story on which it is based actually took place in July).
I wasn’t planning anything else. I was retired and settling down to life in UK. Or so I thought! As I write (early November 2023) I am sitting in a hotel room in Antananarivo, the capital of Madagascar
For a pregnant woman, this journey of several days is exhausting. Lamina was incredibly happy when she finally saw Mandritsara in the distance and by chance even found a bajaj (a small three-wheeled taxi) that could take her and her companions.
Jehovah-Jireh, the Lord will provide, was the faith and testimony of Abraham in Genesis 22 when God called him to offer his son Isaac as a burnt offering on Mount Moriah. At the Good News Hospital, God's people have been reminded time and again that "The Lord provides."
I was born and grew up in Amparafaravola, near Lake Alaotra, 230km north-east of Antananarivo. It’s now 20 years that I’ve been in Mandritsara. I didn’t expect to stay such a long time when I arrived in 2003. But I am still here.
We arrived in Mandritsara in mid-May so are very new to the town and the project… To give a balanced picture, I’ve been asked to list nine things – three surprises, three disappointments and three challenges in these early days.
Where better to start than at 2am last night… The lights in the new surgical building start are turning on one by one. The team are arriving…
Posters were put up in the neighbouring villages of Ambalamahogo and Ambalasatrana, teachers were meeting in preparation and prayer… What a response! Expecting only a few children the first Saturday, the team were amazed to have over 100 children and adults arrive.
Although it has been 6 years since I was last here, I still feel at home as I exit the fancy new Chinese built airport into the warm afternoon sunshine. There are some new and different things…
Diamondra has been the director of the radio station since its inception. He is a man with a vision, and a burden to reach the lost with the Good News of Jesus…
The maternity department at the Good News Hospital has been busy since the day it was built, but the number of patients coming for care has now reached the point where bigger facilities are urgently needed…
John wakes up with his alarm - it’s 6am in London and he has a long commute, Jean Pierre wakes up with the sunshine - it’s 5am in Beangezoka and he has 4km to walk.
The Good News School started as a very small affair but now has over 450 children. Mme Faniry is the school principal, we asked her some questions to help us understand more about the school.
Sarindra and Claudia came to Mandritsara at the call of God over 25 years ago. Over that time they have been pillars in the work and have pointed many people to Christ…
The Pan African Academy of Christian Surgeons (PAACS) trains African Christian Doctors to become excellent Christian Surgeons. Mandritsara is now one of the centres of PAACS training.
I come from a village that’s a couple of hours’ walk from Mandritsara – Ambodilengo. I lived there in spiritual darkness. I did not know God. In fact I knew very little about God or about the Lord Jesus Christ…
From July 2023 onwards, the medical team, that is to say the doctors looking after the non-surgical patients, at the Good News Hospital will be very short staffed.
Berton is one of three men who work full time in the Good News Hospital project as Hospital Evangelists. Most of the project staff are committed Christians, but the hospital evangelists are able to give themselves fully to evangelism…
“28, 29, 30… Good compressions, 2 breaths please” How did this happen? “OK, pulse check please. Hang on, I think I feel a pulse……”
Dr Hanitra has been the hospital eye surgeon for 20 years. Now she has reached retirement age. We are grateful that she plans to stay on at the Good News Hospital for a few more years, but it is time to think of training a new younger eye surgeon…
Last December, I was thinking, “surely God can provide what we need in the way of water… So in late October a Malagasy drilling team began drilling the first hole. At 28m, the driller suddenly began smiling…
Malagasy place names usually have a meaning. Ambohimandroso is such a place. Ambohimandroso means “The village that’s making progress”…
I wasn’t having the best weekend. My flight had been delayed, my suitcase hadn’t arrived, and the contents of my hand-baggage were not sufficient for the cold winter nights of Tana. Everything felt scary and unfamiliar…