“I am rich. I have eight godchildren from South Madagascar. Among them M…the last of the children I baptised. She was eight years old at the time. She grew up. She got married. Her embrace fills my soul with peace and her suggestion, ‘Νονά, get married’, lifts me to the skies.”
No need to mention the name of our compatriot as, after all, that was not her purpose. But what was vividly impressed on my memory as we were going from The Presentation Our Lady to the Temple in North Balwyn on Friday 14 March to the adjoining hall for dinner was her face, shining brightly through her black dress!
Bishop Prodomos of Toliara and South Madagascar presided at the vespers, assisted by Fathers Efstatios and Nikolaos, who leads the mission of Toliara and South Madagascar and is currently touring the dioceses of Australia, highlighting the multiple needs of the mission.
The Bishop is known for his charitable work, helping his fellow human beings (regardless of religion), his faith and his selfless service to children which he offers with humility and with the sincerity of his heart.
In a 35-minute video we observed the lack of basic necessities, hunger, the minimal means of cultivating the land, the poor education and poor medical care of the natives is clearly shown.
Pictures speak louder than words.
So the work of the mission is both difficult and demanding. It seems like a heavenly gift to these underprivileged fellows, who repay it with many smiles and multiple hugs. God’s blessing!
Madagascar
Madagascar, with an area of 587,041 square kilometres and a population of 30, 811, 969, is the fourth largest island on Earth. It is located south-east of the African continent, has a tropical climate and often suffers from drought and humidity.
The economy is mainly based on agriculture, fishing, logging and tourism. The country’s subsoil is rich in deposits and minerals.
In 1960, from a French colony, it became an independent state with many internal power crises. Statistical data indicates that 70% of the inhabitants live below the poverty line. Life expectancy is 65.3 years for mean and 66.6 for women.
The natives speak Malagasy while French and English also serve as its official languages.
This is where we find the Orthodox Diocese of Toliara and South Madagascar, which is under the Patriarchate of Alexandria.
Although the Bishop’s time is limited and his schedule tight, we managed to fit in a short interview.
Bishop Prodomos, what is the main responsibility of the mission in South Madagascar?
Our mission is an embrace that opens wide to accommodate the pain, hopes and dreams of these blessed but very tested people. We offer no riches, no comforts. We offer the basics: clean water, a hot plate of food, education for children and medical care for the sick. Through this work, Orthodoxy become the living testimony of Christ’s love and a flame that illuminates the darkness of abandonment and poverty.
Poverty is a harsh reality for the inhabitants of the region. How do you respond to their needs?
Poverty here is not just a lack of material goods. It is a lack of hope, a lack of opportunity, a lack of future. Children are born into deprivation, without knowing what school, play, and childlike care means. That is why our mission creates schools where, in addition to knowledge, we offer a plate of food so that they can learn without being tormented by hunger. We have built 28 wells in villages that were previously thirst, giving people the most precious commodity: water. In our clinic, which serves over 3,000 patients a month, we offer completely free medical care, even though the needs are overwhelmingly greater than our capacity.
What is the biggest difficulty you face?
The greatest difficulty is not only extreme poverty, but also my conscience, which torments me daily. I see these children looking for a drop of water, a piece of bread, while I, like all of us in the developed world, have everything. How much food do we throw away every day? How much money do we spend on unnecessary things while here a child sleeps? And yet, in the midst of all this hardship, I see hope: a child who picks up a pencil instead of a hoe, a mother who smiles because her child is going to school, a patient who is cured and returns home with dignity.
How do you see the future of the mission?
The future of the mission are the children. If we help them to be educated, to believe in themselves, to acquire skills, then their whole society will change. The School of Computing we have created is a window to the future. We want these children to dream, to hope, to have choices that their parents never did. We pray to see a new generation of Orthodox Malagasy who will support their country not only with faith, but also with knowledge and hard work.
What would you like to say to our brothers and sisters in Australia and around the world?
First of all, I want to express my gratitude to Your Eminence Archbishop, who is hosting me for the second time in the Holy Archdiocese of Australia. Two years ago, with his blessing and with the support of many good people, we built a primary and high school that now accommodates 510 children! These kids now have a future, thanks to your love.
I would like to ask you not to stop praying and loving your brothers and sisters in South Madagascar. We are all one body in Christ and love knows no distance. A child here can go to school, eat a plate of food, drink clean water, have medical care because you have supported them. You may not know their name, but they pray for you every night. Every offering, no matter how small it may seem, changes lives.
What are you taking with you from Australia?
I take with me your love. I take with me the images of the people who embraced me, the warm hearts that opened for our mission. I take with me the hope that our world can change when there is love and faith. Your support gives strength to our work and hope to those who have nothing. And that hope is the greatest gift I could ever receive.
For anyone who wishes to support the mission, there is the opportunity to become a subscriber or foster parent of a child, providing them with food, medical care and education.
For more information visit the website: www.orthodoxdiocesesthmadagascar.org.mg/donate
