Stories
In October 1993, the Good News Hospital signed a contract with a building company from Antananarivo for the construction of the first phase of the hospital. At that point only a third of the funds needed for the construction were in hand. “What will you do if the funds don’t come in?” people asked. “Pray.” Was the reply. “We have no other source of funds. God is our only resource.”
Despite the numbers of reported cases and deaths being relatively low compared with many places, the impact of this pandemic has certainly been felt across the nation, in the hospital here and in our lives. We pray that God would continue to show mercy to this nation and its people, for protection from COVID-19 and for the light of the gospel to shine through during this time.
We are sad, but not without hope, in sharing the news that a dear friend and brother, hospital evangelist Alfred Ndrenasoa, died last week.
I’m Claudia, Sarindra’s wife (he is the Head of Maintenance) and I run Oasis, the guest house on the Good News Hospital compound. It is a really quiet, peaceful place, away from the hustle and bustle.
We have had the first confirmed cases of COVID-19 here in Mandritsara and also the first COVID-related death has been reported. We are thankful to God that he has given us time to prepare and we trust his faithfulness.
The current pandemic has interrupted essential vaccination and healthcare services. Thankfully we have a God who cares about every man, woman and child affected by this pandemic. We can continue to plead with him to halt the spread and limit the impact of COVID-19.
A few hours into the ward round I learned there was a visit to to the village later in the day, and there was a space for me. We would stay for 5 days, and sleep in the village houses, where I was told there would be rats climbing all over us at night.
On Friday 15th May, the first stones were laid for the new surgical block here at the Good News Hospital, Mandritsara. The ceremony included speeches from missionary surgeon Ted Watts, General Director of the Good News Project Euryaldys Tombomora and the governor of the Sofia region, René de Rolland Lylison.
The Madagascar government has put stringent measures in place to try to limit the spread and development of the disease. These measures have had a big impact on the daily life and ministry of those in Mandritsara.
