Mary SherwoodMissionary to Madagascar |
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Mary SherwoodMissionary to Madagascar |
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God drew me into overseas mission service through a deep healing experience in January 1985. He touched me and gave me new purpose and focus in my life. Through this He directed me to resign my teaching position and sell my house and said "now take my hand and go!" The Holy Spirit put me in touch with Episcopal World Mission (now called Global Teams) and I have been part of the Global Teams "mission family" since May 1985.
After serving several years in the Solomon Islands, South Pacific, I accepted my present assignment in Madagascar in 1995. Through the years there have been may challenges: local lifestyles, food, learning a new language, and being so very distant from my family. But God is good!! He has been faithful and always present throughout my journey of faith and service for Him.
At the invitation of my Malagasy Bishop, I went to Madagascar in September 1995 to help establish and develop a much needed orphanage. This orphanage, called Akany Famonjena, is a project of the Anglican Mothers' Union (women of the church). We now have a lovely home where we are raising 43 children from the ages of 3 to 16 years. It is a joy to see the miraculous change that very quickly transforms the "sad little waifs" into healthy, happy, well-adjusted children when they come to us and receive nourishing food, fresh mil, love and other happy children to play with! We now have an enthusiastic, very capable Malagasy Directress who keeps the on-site daily caring of the orphanage and associate farm operating smootholy.
My relationship with Akany Famonjena remains strong. I will always be "Grandma" to the children, encourager to the Directress and the Board, and continue to raise funds to provide for almost all of their monthly budget needs. We must keep this orphanage alive and strong!!
Akany Tafita is a newly constructed outreach center which has been built in Anosibe, a very poor district of the capital city, Antananarivo. The ministry from this Center reaches out to needy children and young adults. Two ladies are teaching, feeding and caring for 31 children. There is also a program for young women. Unlimited possibilities for ministry continue to challenge the Board of Akany Tafita. This very capable Board is administering every aspect of this work. My role is to support and encourage, help as I am able, and raise funds to allow this huge ministry to develop and remain alive and strong.