Christian Witness of Living and dying in honor of Lynette hoppe

Transcription

FALL 2006
Volume 22, Number 2
A Life of
Missionary
Ministry
Lynette Hoppe—
Memory Eternal
page 5
A Radiant Light
Following the Apostles—
Spreading the Good News to
the Ends of the Earth
His Eminence
Archbishop Demetrios,
Chairman of SCOBA
page 3
Mission TEAMS 2007!
Are you Ready to
Make A Difference?
page 12
T h e
I n t e r n a t i o n a l
M i s s i o n
A g e n c y
o f
S C O B A
MISSION M A G A Z I N E
Fall 2006 • Volume 22, Number 2
A Radiant LIGHT
CONTENTS
Following the Apostles—Spreading the Good News to the Ends of the Earth.
A Radiant Light- Following the Apostles—Spreading the Good News to the Ends of the Earth
Contribution by His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios, Chairman of SCOBA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
year for members of the Saints Cyril and Methodios
Orthodox Mission Society by the Orthodox Christian
Mission Center.
EDITOR: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Fr. Martin Ritsi
> > F E A T U R E S
INTERIM MANAGING EDITOR:. . . . Oksana Klufas Willower
DESIGN:. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Cameron Thorp
Lynette Hoppe
The Orthodox Christian Mission Center (OCMC) is the official
international mission agency of the Standing Conference of
The Eulogy of Archbishop Anastasios for Lynette Hoppe. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Delivered in Shen Vlash, Albania, August 29, 2006
Sermon: On Lynette Hoppe’s Final Moments. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Excerpt from Fr. Alex Veronis
In Memory of Lynette Hoppe & Her Missionary Work. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
A Christian Witness of Living and Dying in Honor of Lynette Hoppe . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Excerpt from a Eulogy prepared by Fr. Luke A. Veronis
Family Friend and Fellow Missionary in Albania
4 Highlighting
OCMC for
20 Years of Service in
Kenya: A letter from Archbishop Makarios of Kenya
10
15 Works of Great Conse- 19 Through
the World of
N. Cameroon and Chad:
For more information about OCMC
visit our website at www.ocmc.org
or contact us at
Orthodox Christian Mission Center
P.O. Box 4319 St. Augustine, FL 32085
PH: (904) 829-5132 Fax: (904) 829-1635
Toll Free: 1-877-GO-FORTH (463-6784)
Email: [email protected]
or visit us at: .
85 S. Dixie Highway, St. Augustine, FL
quence—Mission Team
Families: Alex Goodwin—
Notes from a First Travelogue of
Mission Team Member to Ke-
Metropolitan Gregorios of
Executive Director . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Fr. Martin Ritsi
nya & OCMC Communications
Cameroon
Associate Director/
Teams . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Andrew J. Lekos
17 Mustard Seed, Patience
Mission Team member to
and Salvation: John Burnett
Tanzania
—OCMC Missionary serving at St.
Program Contacts:
Missionaries. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Fr. David Rucker
Director
The Same Body &
Heart: Stacy Shipman—
Canonical Orthodox Bishops in the Americas (SCOBA).
Development. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . John-Paul Conners
Communications. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Alex Goodwin
Agape Canister & SAMP. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Kenny Kidd
Finance. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jack Klees
Paul Seminary in Uganda
OCMC Missionaries and their families:
A L SO IN THIS ISS U E
Alaska: Paul Sidebottom Albania: Georgia Gilman * Nathan,
Taste & See . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Andrew Lentz—Mission Team member to Tanzania
What is God Teaching Me? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Rachel Mellas—Mission Team member to Albania
2007 Mission Team Opportunities. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Let Your Journey Begin—Detachable Poster
A Fluid Blessing. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Anthony, Joanna, Adrian and Melania Linderman * Driko .
(Andrew) Christine, Anthony and Constantine Pappas *
George, Pauline, Christopher and Madeline Russell * .
Dn. Hector and Katerina Firoglanis Argentina: Cynthia
Baldwin-Thanos Guatemala: Christina Hagelios * Edwin Pier
Romania: Flyod and Ancuta Frantz Uganda: John Burnett *
Peter & Sharon Georges
Daniel Belonick—Mission Team Member to Alaska
A Day in a Life . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
Peter Georges—OCMC Missionary in Uganda
I’d Like a One Way Ticket – Arriving in Albania. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
OCMC BOARD OF DIRECTORS:
Mr. Cliff Argue. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . President
The Luisi Family—OCMC Missionaries in Albania
V. Rev. Dr. Chad Hatfield. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Vice President
Your Continued Prayers for India . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
Fr. Raymond Velencia. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Treasurer
Tim Arestou—OCMC Missionary in India
“Dad” Work at the Hogar Ayau Orphanage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
Ed Pier—OCMC Missionary in Guatemala
Mission News . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
Letters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
On the cover: A reflection of Lynette Hoppe’s ministries.
The Orthodox Christian Mission Center: Helping Orthodox Christians respond to Christ’s call to preach, teach,
baptize, minister to the poor and make disciples of all nations.
Tristan and Katherine Hoppe * Dr. Charles, Maria, George
Fr. George P. Liacopulos. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Secretary
Fr. Alexander Veronis. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . President Emeritus
OCMC BOARD MEMBERS:
Fr. Nicholas Anctil, Fr. John Chakos, Fr. Louis Christopulos, .
Mr. George Conopeotis, Mr. Patrick Crosson, Mrs. Cina
Daskalakis, Dr. John Demakis, Fr. Peter Gillquist, .
Mr. Robert Gremley, Fr. John Harvey, Fr. Gregory Horton, .
Fr. David Hudson, Dr. Spero Kinnas, Fr. Dimitri Leussis, Mr. George Maragakes, Fr. Constantine Mersinas, Fr. Luke Mihaly,
Mr. Scott Mitchell, Mrs. Helen Nicozisis, Fr. Ted Pisarchuk,
Fr. John Rallis, Fr. David Rucker, Mrs. Elizabeth Slanta, Fr. Matthew Tate, Fr. Nicholas Verdaris, Dr. Gayle Woloschak, Mr. Andrew Yiannakos
Opinions expressed are those of the individual authors and not necessarily
those of OCMC. We reserve the right to edit all articles and all submissions
for length and content. Articles may be reproduced and used with written
acknowledgement of the source.
O C M C M I S S I O N M A G A Z I N E • W W W. O C M C . O R G
Contribution by His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios, Chairman
O
n behalf of the Standing Conference of
the Canonical Orthodox Bishops in the
Americas (SCOBA), I am pleased to offer
words of encouragement for the continued
good work of our Orthodox Christian Mission Center (OCMC). Formally established
in 1994 as the official international mission
agency of SCOBA, the important ministry of
OCMC has been, in reality, an Apostolic endeavor that our Holy Orthodox Church has
carried out from its foundation. Indeed, the
very lifeline of the Christian Church rests
in the primacy of Her mission, namely, to
spread the Good News of eternal salvation
in Jesus Christ to peoples in all corners of
the earth consistent with the Lord’s commandment to His Apostles to “go…and
make disciples of all nations, baptizing them
in the Name of the Father and of the Son
and of the Holy Spirit…” (Matthew 28:19).
In light of this understanding of the primacy
of mission, it is correct to assert that we
are not properly acting as the Church, the
Body of Christ, unless we, as a Church, are
actively and globally engaged in the work of
missions.
Today, OCMC has reached considerable
levels of growth, as demonstrated by its
fully staffed office of dedicated clergy and
lay professionals and teams of Orthodox
Christian missionaries and their families
throughout the world. The people who carry
out this very special and important ministry
hail from widely varied backgrounds, cultures, ages, and life experiences; but they
all share a commonly held conviction which
hearkens back to the same conviction held
by the Apostles themselves: “They cannot but speak of what they have seen and
heard.” (cf. Acts 4:20).
In the articles that follow in this informative and inspirational issue of the OCMC Mission Magazine, you will see illustrations and
read a variety of accounts from missionaries and team members in the field who are
engaged in the sacred work of missionary
activity across the globe. All of these illustrations and accounts are different by virtue
of their social contexts, yet each of them
reveals and communicates an identical
source of inspiration, namely, the Holy Spirit. You will note that this issue begins with
a special tribute to the late Lynette Hoppe
of blessed memory, a dedicated missionary
of our Church in Albania who fell asleep in
our Lord on August 27, 2006, after fighting
a courageous battle with cancer. On behalf
of
SCOBA
of all the hierarchs of SCOBA, I offer heartfelt prayers and condolences to her beloved
family. May her memory be eternal.
Additional articles in this issue focus
on the tremendous Orthodox Christian
work that is being carried out by others in
the name of Jesus Christ in places all over
our world. From Alaska, to Albania, to Af-
work of the Church in mission, which is
nothing less than sharing with others the
truth of the Gospel and the love of Jesus
Christ. We share this offering as a Church
to others freely, and we do this out of our
love for all people, whom we recognize as
living icons of God. As you read this issue,
please consider supporting the beautiful
PHOTO: by Peter Ilchuk
The OCMC’s Mission Magazine is published twice a
The Orthodox Bishops convened at the SCOBA conference in Chicago, October 2006. His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios is located in the front row, fourth from the right.
Each of these examples reflects the work of the Church in
mission, which is nothing less than sharing with others the truth of
the Gospel and the love of Jesus Christ. We share this offering as
a Church to others freely, and we do this out of our love for all
people, whom we recognize as living icons of God.
rica, countless people are being introduced to the Holy Gospel, many of them
for the first time in their lives. In some
nations where the Orthodox Christian faith
has grown significantly over time, for example in Uganda, we see the emergence
of seminaries which are uniquely situated
to meet the social and spiritual needs and
conditions of their people and to train local priests accordingly. In other countries,
we see the love of Christ demonstrated
by specialized initiatives of OCMC, such
as the dispatching of trained teams of
professionals to aid with the implementation and support of substance abuse
programs; or to engage in building and
construction projects to meet the basic
needs of others in developing countries.
Each of these examples reflects the
O C M C M I S S I O N M AG A Z I N E • FA L L 2 0 0 6
and life-giving work of OCMC, either through
a monetary contribution, or even perhaps
through the rewarding experience of serving
on a missionary team. In any event, we ask
for your continued and steadfast prayers for
the growing prosperity of OCMC, so that others might know the glory of the Lord Jesus
Christ, His message of love, and the promise of eternal life in His Name. On behalf of
all the hierarchs of SCOBA, I bid each of you
peace in Christ Jesus, and I pray that His
radiant light may shine perpetually in your
hearts, minds, and souls.
With paternal love in Christ,
† DEMETRIOS
Primate of the Greek Orthodox Church in America and Chairman of the Standing Conference of
the Canonical Orthodox Bishops in the Americas
f r o m
A r c h b i s h o p
M a k a r i o s
Dear Fr. Martin and our beloved Friend in Christ,
Christ is in our midst!
W
e send our warmest felicitations and compliments as the
Orthodox Christian Mission Center celebrates 20 years of
sending missionaries. Truly, this occasion is a joyous one of
which you must be so proud. You, Fr. Martin and Presvytera Renee,
Nicole and Stephanos, all are such a dedicted part of this wonderful
undertaking of Orthodox Christians in the United States and Canada
with so many Canonical Orthodox Jurisdictions working together to
help build Orthodoxy in Kenya, in Africa and throughout the World.
You, and your entire family have been seriously and sincerely involved
in the work of missions since the beginning, as Missionaries in our very
own Archdiocese, and now as Executive Director of OCMC. Even in
this 20th year of celebration of OCMC you have been in Kenya doing
the work of Christ, Jesus.
So many, similarly devoted Orthodox Christians have had their
Children in Kenya clapping and singing during a
celebration with Archbishop Makarios
o f
K e n y a
give educational opportunities for those who will use them as part of
their daily lives.
With that said, we are very thankful for the support of the Students
of Archbishopric who have benefited from further education at Holy
Cross and St. Vladimir’s Seminaries. You have helped the local church
through this essential support because it prepares these pious young
priests for future leadership within the Orthodox Church in Kenya. We
ask that you continue this vital support, as educated leadership continues
the process of building a strong Orthodox presence in Africa.
The Orthodox Christian Mission Center’s presence is strongly felt
in the Chevogere medical clinic which has become so crucial to local
life. You have contributed greatly to the welfare of the local people in so
many ways for which God will radiate His Love and Light upon you.
The Elder Iakovos Tsalikis, pinpoints the spirit of your
work:
“…I give one and God gives me ten. As soon as I think of giving something,
immediately God’s response gives me many times over…our charity must be
unmurmuring.” 1991
The service of the Orthodox Christian Mission Center reaches out to so
many sources, human and material, because emphasis is placed upon the
Lord and His Holy Teachings. Your Mission Teams are blessed because
you emphasize the spiritual element of each member. The interaction
and fellowship of the Mission Team with local Orthodox is a spiritual
blessing, as well as an example. The experiences are shared in the common
prayer and the common work which brings people together in Christ.
St. John of Kronstadt (1908) teaches:
roles in the work of Orthodoxy throughout the World; as donors
helping financially, spiritually through their prayers, and by even
offering themselves as missionaries and members of the many Mission
Teams which helped in the construction of the Holy Trinity Orthodox
Church in Laikipia, the Chevogere Mission Clinic, the Church of St.
Mark, the Orthodox Secondary School in Chevogere and the recent
Mission Team which helped to construct the Orthodox Church in
Mpeketoni, in the Lamu area.
The Orthodox Archbishopric of Kenya has also benefited from
the SAMP program (Support A Mission Priest). This support for our
clergy has been so critical in the growth of the faith. Since the early
days, American Orthodox have been involved directly in teaching in the
Orthodox Patriarchal Ecclesiastical School, ‘Makarios III of Cyprus’.
In those days the number of clergy were so few in number. Today
we have 165 priests, serving Christ through His Holy Sacraments
throughout the country; in Nyanza Province, in the Rift Valley from
Turkana, Nandi, Nakuru and the Maasai areas of Ewuasu Kedong to
Loitokitik in the shadows of Mt. Kilimanjaro. There are also priests in
Central Province, the City of Nairobi, Nyeri, Meru and even Embu
and now on the Coast in Mpeketoni! Surely, without the generous aid
from the SAMP program, we might not have made the progress we
have. OCMC has also made contributions of Holy Utensils, Vestments
and books for the Ecclesiastical School’s Library which are so essential
to our Liturgical Practices and to the reading of our students. Not only
do you build the physical structures of Churches and Schools, but you
“The almightiness of the Lord is without limits. Whatever His power and
His Grace touches, becomes life-giving…Jesus Christ is the consolation, joy,
life and peace of our hearts.”
It is our prayer and wish that the work of the Orthodox Christian
Mission Center will continue to be blessed by the Grace of God and
the touch of the Holy Spirit. Traditionally, we sing the hymn, “God
grant you many years!” We also sing, “Having asked for the unity of
the Faith and the communion of the Holy Spirit, let us commend
ourselves and each other and our life unto Christ our God”. With this
we feel indeed deep gratitude for the work of OCMC especially for the
sacrifices made by the entire Staff, Missionaries, Mission Teams and
Donors on behalf of the Orthodox Church in Kenya and in Africa.
“Divine aid on the one hand and our will on the other hand bring victory
against the devil.” St. Basil the Great
There is a song in Swahili which says: “Maisha ru milima, huwezi
anguka” (Life is like a mount, you cannot fall off ). The implication is that
on our Way to Christ, we face many temptations but our togetherness
in Christ keeps us from failing to reach God.
St. Ephraim, the Syrian, speaks directly to all of us:
“…Love is the capital of all virtues, the cause of all good, the salt of
virtues…Blessed and thrice blessed is everyone who has obtained true and
un-hypocritical love.”
The Spirit of the Holy Trinity dwells in each of you. May you be
encouraged to love those who are in need. Know that whatever your
role in Mission…through prayer, through donations of materials and
money, or through your own personal contribution of yourselves, you
are doing the Will of God. Feel blessed knowing that God loves you
and your good works. St. John Chrysostom reminds us: “Whoever
bears fruit with works of faith and love, he is a real disciple of Christ”.
Asanteni! Thank you for your gifts and your Holy Works.
Lynette Hoppe
T R I B U T E
l e t t e r
Delivered in Shen Vlash, Albania • August 29, 2006
Y
ou have just heard the Lord
say, “Truly, truly I say to you, he
who hears My Word and believes
in Him Who sent Me has eternal life and
does not come into judgment but has
passed from death to life” ( John 5:24). This
was surely the case of our beloved Lynette
Katherine. She heard Christ’s word and
believed with all her heart in the Father
who sent the Son. She gave witness to
this truth through the Holy Spirit. Lo,
Lynette was in communion with Christ
Who is the Resurrection and the Life.
She obeyed the last commandment,
“You shall receive power when the Holy
Spirit has come upon you and you shall
be My witness in Jerusalem, and in all
Judea, and Samaria, and to the end of
the earth” (Acts 1:8). The last time I
saw Lynette standing was at the girls’
camp on the 16th of August. She was
thin, smiling, and radiating a secret
light. Lynette had the seal of the Holy
Spirit, knowing clearly that the fruit of
the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience,
kindness,
goodness,
faithfulness,
gentleness, and self control. With this
power of the Spirit, Lynette confronted
sickness and pain for twenty months.
I remember her as a martyr ready to
accept martyrdom in a certain unknown
process. Lynette has confronted death—
face to face—for a very long period—
first, with a strong faith, a crucified and
resurrected love; second, with a deep peace;
third, with a sense of gratitude in the
Lord; fourth, with an authentic joy; and
finally, with radiating love transmitting
around her more faith, more peace, and
more love. She became a model of love
and always, as you saw during these days,
created this atmosphere.
Lynette is a modern secret martyr. In
other ages, the faithful were confronted
by lions and other threats; now, in our
age, one of their names is cancer. A brave,
gentle, noble soul, Lynette confronted
death singing: Who shall separate us from
the love of Christ? Shall it be tribulation, or
distress or, or? For I am sure that neither
death nor life, nor hate, nor anything else in
all creation will be able to separate us from
the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
By her life she underlined that whether
we live or whether we die, we are God’s.
Lynette is of great importance for the new
era of missionary work—underlining the
importance of inspiring people, not only
of clergy but especially of lay people, men,
and women alike.
I would also like to emphasize the
importance of Lynette and her family to
the Orthodox Church of Albania. I said
that today there is a great loss for us,
L ynette had the seal of the Holy Spirit,
knowing clearly that the fruit of the
Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience,
kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
gentleness, and self control.
but at the same time a gain of a precious
treasure and asset. Nathan and Lynette
decided to come to Albania only for
the love of Christ…only obeying His
commandment. It was not an easy
decision. They were foreigners, accepting
difficulties and risks. For them it was
nothing in the presence of Christ. And
this last commandment, “Go in peace,”
was exactly their experience.
Lynette is an example of a devoted
spouse. Nathan remains always the same:
a person with a deep love, affection, and
concern for all his family. They have
shared all the troubles of our life in
Albania for eight years with their two
beloved children, Tristan and Katherine.
Lynette and Nathan accepted living in
simplicity, curing their behavior and life
for the better. Humble, meek, pure in
heart, merciful in His making. They have
worked among the youth, edited different
Church publications and made many
other concrete contributions.
Finally, Lynette and Nathan decided
to return in order to die here, or rather to
pass from death to life here - to be buried
in Albania, an everlasting symbol of the
love of Christ which is stronger than
Archbishop ANASTASIOS offers strength to
Katherine during her mother’s funeral.
death, a secret treasure of the Orthodox
Church, a sign of the universal character
of the Orthodox Church. We are thankful
for Nathan, Lynette, and their children.
We are thankful to the whole family who
all these years and days have embraced
our beloved Lynette with so much love.
I would like to express on behalf of the
Church of Albania our thanks to her
father, brothers, and sister for supporting
her in her decision to return (I know that
this is not self evident—some families
actually create problems for people who
would like to come here). Now Lynette
will be an ambassador in heaven with the
other holy women from Albania, who also
gave their own witness in a very strong
way here.
Pray for the progress of our
Church, in order to always stay in this
atmosphere of the Resurrection of Jesus
Christ. Especially pray for the youth
that Lynette loved so much. I hope that
the young people and all those facing
sickness and troubles will have her
example as a concrete guide in all these
struggles, an example of Christian
courage and strength. May the Lord
inspire more people to follow Lynette
in her obedience to Christ and become
partners in Jerusalem, in Albania, and
to the ends of the earth—we do not
know where.
Once again let us read the first verse,
“Truly, truly I say to you, he who hears My
Word and believes in Him Who sent Me
has eternal life…but has passed from death
to life.” Then this last grief is not in an
atmosphere of sorrow and suffering, but an
atmosphere of hope, an atmosphere of the
resurrection, because we know that Lynette
is in the hands of our Lord. She always
lived with this hope, this expectation, this
life of the Resurrection.
May Lynette’s memory be eternal! •
H O P P E
A
Kenya
The Eulogy of Archbishop Anastasios for
L Y N E T T E
Highlighting OCMC
for 20 Years of Service in
body was racked with cancer and returned to
the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota for treatment.
Presbytera Pearl and I visited Lynette and
Nathan twice in Albania and witnessed their
vibrant Spirit filled ministry firsthand. Lynette
impressed us deeply. Her contagious faith
radiates Christ’s love. Her simplicity, her joy,
her gentle manner and gracious personality,
and her skill with words pervade her ministry.
Lynette kept a diary about her battle
with cancer and her many friends and
admirers began a website on the Internet at
www.prayforlynette.org to post passages.
Lynette knew her own days were limited.
She and her family recently returned to Albania
to be among the people she had served and
loved so dearly.
Lynette, very near the end, surrounded by
her family. Left to right are: Lynette’s father,
Lynn Holm, her brothers, Brian, Joel, and
John, and her sister Sherry
Lynette writes as she faces imminent death:
“When I first got news of my pending departure,
I was frantic, thinking I needed to do some kind
of ‘ministry,’ but I soon realized that there was no
value in ministry at this point. What I have done
until now is what I have done.…I am allowing
myself to simply relax in the love of Jesus, to enjoy
Him in a new way. To think about joining Him
soon.”
“I have so much peace in thinking that there
is nothing I can do to win over Christ. All I can
do is throw myself into His arms…. I feel that I
am ready to die a ‘painless, blameless, and peaceful
death’ as we pray every liturgy. I may have a lot
of physical pain, but in spirit I feel no pain, other
than the pain of leaving those I love.”
St. Paul wrote, “For me to live is Christ,
but to die is gain.” Like him, Lynette lived for
Christ and in Christ and is now ready to join
Him. Like the great Apostle, she accumulated
no wealth on earth, only treasures in heaven.
When our own time comes, may we, too, be able
also to say with Lynette’s faith and conviction,
as did the Apostle Paul before his martyrdom:
“I have fought the good fight, I have finished
the race, I have kept the faith. There is now laid
up for me the crown of righteousness which
the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to
me on that day, and not only to me, but to all
who have loved His appearing.” (II Tim. 7:8)
AMEN.
To read the full text of Fr. Alexander Veronis’
Sermon on Lynette Hoppe, please visit our website
at www.ocmc.org and click under News.
L Y N E T T E
H O P P E
T R I B U T E
L
ynette is in her mid-forties, the mother
of two young children 8 and 6. She
and her husband Nathan, both welleducated with advanced degrees, are OCMC
missionaries. They converted to the Orthodox
Church about 12 years ago.
Lynette and Nathan, children of
missionaries, departed from the comforts and
security of America to enter the Albanian
Mission eight years ago to teach at the
Resurrection Orthodox Seminary. Lynette,
a graphic artist and writer, also edited the
Church’s newspaper. She recently published
a beautifully illustrated photo history of the
12-year Albanian Mission under the inspired
leadership of Archbishop Anastasios. In
December of 2004, Lynette learned that her
Ministry
T
L
ynette entered the mission field in
early 1998 with her husband Nathan
and 3 month old son Tristan. Her role
as a wife, mother and homemaker plus her
experience in illustration and graphic design
were the foundation for vibrant ministries
that influenced the growth in the Church of
Albania. Lynette soon found that her primary
role as a missionary was to assist with the
church publications office, creating various
church materials and mentoring others in
graphic design. Even during the Kosovo crisis,
Lynette’s compassion for others was evident as
Lynette sings at an outdoor concert in the countryside of Albania as part of an outreach
project in conjunction with the 2002 OCMC summer team.
Lynette’s battle with cancer continued, yet
her solid faith served as a shining light of
dependence on Christ.
she took care of a refugee family in their home
for two months.
The Hoppe family grew with the birth of
Katherine in April 2000. Her duties included
creating an annual liturgical calendar, which
was a challenge because the four color
processing equipment available in Albania
was either damaged or outdated. She also
edited Archbishop ANASTASIOS’ English
correspondence. Added to her tasks, Lynette
illustrated a book for the Church of Albania
and another about Albanian saints and
designed English newsletters.
She played a vital role in the Albanian
Camp ministries. Each year she developed and
Lynette trained
key young
Albanians in
graphic design to
build their capacity for ministry.
A Life of
T R I B U T E
Delivered one week before her death at theAnnunciation Greek Orthodox Church, Lancaster, PA
BY Fr. Alexander Veronis, August 20, 2006
H O P P E
Lynette’s Final Moments
In Memory
of Lynette
Hoppe & Her
Missionary Work
implemented the craft projects. By 2003 the
program continued to expand and flourish.
Her presence as loving mother and full
member of the church, impacted many young
girls and women. She also reached out to the
children in her neighborhood with a four day
Neighborhood Kid’s Camp program, held
at the Hoppe home, which helped draw the
children from their street into closer contact
with Christ.
In December 2004, Lynette was diagnosed
with breast cancer by Dr. Charles Linderman,
who urged her to seek treatment in the States.
Her parents lived just 30-minutes from the
famed Mayo Clinic in Minnesota where she
sought treatment. In the two week between her
diagnosis and the Hoppes’ return to the United
States, Lynette traveled to Greece to check the
final proofs of her book at the printing press there.
By February 2005, her book, Resurrection: The
Orthodox Autocephalous Church of Albania,
1991-2003, was in print after almost seven years
of effort.
The Hoppe family returned to Albania in May,
2006. Lynette’s battle with cancer continued,
yet her solid faith served as a shining light of
dependence on Christ. Through her Albanian
diaries and newsletters, she shared her journey.
Even during her final stages and struggles with
cancer, Lynette gathered her strength and mental
faculties to spend time speaking to the girls’ camp
about the physical death and preparation to meet
our Lord. Lynette’s testimony and her devotion
to our Lord continue to be an example to help
all of us, not only in our daily lives but on how to
prepare for a Christian end.
At the National Art Gallery of Albania,
Lynette stands in front of the poster
advertising her book signing event.
he Lord has blessed the Mission Center for the past eight years with
a missionary of Lynette’s caliber. The Albanians will never forget her!
Nor will all who saw her in action in Albania. Lynette taught many how
a Christian faces death with hope, faith and love. Her ministry brought
many people closer to Christ. May her life be an example to us all and an
inspiration to those called to a life in Missions.
Lynette played a vital role in the Albanian
Camp Ministries, especially planning and
implementing the craft projects. Here Lynette
demonstrates how to make a mosaic with the
girls at her first summer camp.
During the
Kosovo
crisis, Lynette
ministered to
refugees.
Just ten days before her death Lynette spoke
at the St. John Vladimir’s girls’ camp, where
she spent much of the last two months of
her life, about a Christian end to life.
>> To read more of Lynette’s inspiring journals visit; www.prayforLynette.org
L Y N E T T E
SERMON:
“But the righteous person, though she die early,
will be at rest…There was one who pleased God
and was loved by him, and while living among
sinners she was taken up. She was caught up
before evil could change her…. Being perfected in
a short time, she fulfilled long years; for her soul
was pleasing to the Lord, therefore He took her
quickly from the midst of evil.” (Wisdom of
Solomon 4:7-15)
hese words from the Wisdom of
Solomon aptly describe Lynette Hoppe’s
46 years of life. Many people have been
inspired by the witness of faith, courage, strength,
peace, joy and love which Lynette and Nathan
have displayed these past 20 months. St. Paul
writes, “For if we live, we live to the Lord; and if
we die, we die to the Lord. Therefore, whether we
live or die, we are the Lord’s.” (Rom 14:8) Lynette
has modeled these words not only through the
way she lived as a Christian, a missionary, mother,
wife, daughter, mentor and friend, but especially
through her unforgettable and inspiring journey
of cancer, suffering, and death.
While some may wonder why a faithful servant
of the Lord in the prime of her life needed to face
T
Lynette shows the girls at winter camp
2002 how to do a stamping craft
Life is but a brief sojourn on planet earth.
God created us for eternity, and Lynette
understood that eternal perspective so well.
cancer and death —and no less with two young
children—Lynette exemplified how such a path
of illness and death, when experienced with faith,
can lead one into a fuller union with God and
offer a witness more powerful and memorable
than many lifetimes on earth. As the Wisdom
of Solomon so poetically describes, the righteous
often don’t live to a ripe old age, but in the prime
of their lives God calls them to remind the world
of what a genuine, Christ-centered life of divine
love and invincible faith is all about.
The saintly Bishop Gerasimos of Abydou
once said, “Life is not a problem to be solved, but
a mystery to be lived.” Lynette embraced this
divine, and sometime harsh mystery of life, and
allowed it to hone her faith, deepen her love,
and increase her compassion. From a human
perspective, we don’t understand cancer and
death at a young age. From a divine point of
view, however, life is a deep mystery that when
lived properly, leads us into the Kingdom of
Heaven here and now. And Lynette lived well
this mystery of life and death like few people
we have ever known.
What has made this mystery even more
poignant is how Lynette and Nathan invited
others to join them in her final journey
through the website www.prayforlynette.org.
They reflected a genuine understanding of
Christian community by inviting others to
share their experience and walk with them —
both by inspiring others through their example
and lessons learned, while not hesitating to ask
others to pray, visit, and help them in their
moments of darkness.
I had the special and blessed privilege
to experience this journey from an intimate
perspective. Not only are our families dearest
of friends, but throughout her illness, I spoke
with Lynette almost weekly, along with being
able to see her six times over the past 20
months. From such contact, several aspects
of Lynette’s journey brilliantly stand out as a
light and example for all of us.
St. Paul wrote, “For me to live is Christ, and
to die is gain.” (Phil 1:21) Shortly before she
died, Lynette shared with me, “Although I cry
at the thought of leaving my dear husband
and precious children, I simultaneously realize
that our heavenly homeland awaits me, and I
look forward to dwelling with our Lord.” Life
is but a brief sojourn on planet earth. God
created us for eternity, and Lynette understood
that eternal perspective so well. She had a
passionate love for Christ, which filled her
with the joy of going home.
Of course, her illness held many “valleys
of the shadow of death” which often
humbled her. In following the path of the
saints, though, she was an astute pupil who
humbly learned many invaluable lessons
from her illness. In her inspiring journal,
she describes her struggles with pride,
self-righteousness, lack of understanding,
immature desires, and life-long temptations.
Yet, while honestly critiquing herself, she
discovered anew the unconditional and
divine love of God.
One of the most illuminating characteristics
Lynette radiated throughout her illness was
her spirit of joy and gratitude. St. Paul writes
lost that sense of deep, inner joy. As she wrote
in one of her final diary entries, “Both Nathan
and I feel overwhelmed by the amazing grace
that God has given to us. We could not be so
joyful without His help….I am happy and
feel a great sense of joyful anticipation at my
home-going. God is with us and will continue
to be with us until the end.”
And such joy led to a deep, inner peace.
During one of her final days of life, my wife
Faith and I sat around her bed, together with
Nathan, her father, siblings and friends, singing
hymns and reminiscing about Lynette’s legacy.
In those final hours, Lynette radiated divine
peace. At times, she would open her eyes
and struggle to smile. Yes, she was dying, but
simultaneously she dwelt securely in the peace
of her Lord.
So much more could be said about what
a gifted woman Lynette was, but I think her
beloved husband summarized it well a few
days before her death: “My eyes are full of
tears as I write but I also have a strong sense
of joy. The jewel which I have been privileged
to hold a short time is slipping away from
me, but I know that she will be held in far
more worthy arms until we are reunited. I
am so blessed in these days by her joy and
her faith and her love. She is truly an icon
of Christ to me.” •
T R I B U T E
by Fr. Luke Veronis
that we are to “Rejoice always…and give thanks
in all circumstances.” (1 Thess 5:16,18) I’m not
exaggerating when I say that at each stage of
Lynette’s illness, her first words to me would
always be, “Well, although the news isn’t good,
still I thank God…”
She possessed the rare, yet divine, ability to
see God’s hand at work in the midst of any
and every situation. She held a deep rooted
attitude of gratitude, understanding full well
St. Paul’s promise that “Neither death, nor life…
nor things present nor things to come…will be
able to separate us from the love of God in Christ
Jesus our Lord.” (Rom 8:38-39) I heard Lynette
thank God shortly after she discovered her
cancer, after her cancer had metastasized,
after the cancer entered her bones, and even
in her last days, when the cancer entered her
liver and the doctors gave her a few weeks to
live. To be honest with you, if I had not talked
with Lynette so frequently, and witnessed the
authenticity of her gratitude, I’m not sure I
could have believed that it was so sincere.
Feeling the concrete presence of God, and
living with this spirit of gratitude, gave root to
one of the most visible signs of an authentic
relationship with our Lord—that of deep,
spiritual joy and peace. In the midst of illness,
suffering and dying, with the temptation of fear
and doubt ever lurking nearby, Lynette never
H O P P E
A Christian witness of living and dying
In honor of
Archbishop ANASTASIOS presides at Lynette’s
funeral services at the Monastery of St. Vlash.
Also presiding were Metropolitan John of Korca, Metropolitan Ignatius of Berat and Father
Martin Ritsi, Executive Director of OCMC in
the United States.
Tributes to Lynette
Many notes and contributions have been received in loving memory of
Lynette Hoppe. Here are a few of the many messages that reflect the
strength and faith that Lynette displayed in her life:
I
met them (the Hoppe’s) a few weeks ago on
a mission trip in Albania. They are the most
loving, brilliant, God-fearing, and inspirational
family I have ever encountered. I hope, now
that she has passed, people do not forget the
beautiful examples and hope she provided for
so many! May Lynette’s memory be eternal!
Sophia Olson,
Mission Team Albania 2006
P
lease know that many who have been
introduced to Lynette and her family
only since the onset of her illness are at
once saddened for her obviously devoted,
loving, faithful family and edified by her life
and her passing from this life....May the
Holy Spirit, the Comforter be their comfort.
With our respect,
Father Peter and Nikki Salmas
W
e all send our Prayers and Sympathies
to Lynette’s family and friends from
the Assumption Greek Orthodox Church,
here in Madison, Wisconsin. We ask that
our Blessed Savior grant her soul rest; and
courage to the family to continue without
her. The world only knows a few individuals
of her stature and her love for life. May those
who she came in contact with have pleasant
memories to cherish and may God grant her
rest and may her memory be eternal.
Presvytera Vasiliki &
Fr. Joseph Tzougros
& the Assumption Family
W
e can thank God for all the ways
Lynette was used by God and how she
accepted His guidance all her life, in times
of strength and weakness.
Because of the Hoppe Family’s presence in
Albania, as well as Archbishop Anastasios
and the OCMC Missionaries & Mission
Teams, the nation of Albania will be in a
better position to fend off the forces of evil.
In Christ,
Darla Haines
Top: Nathan and Lynette’s sister Sherry with
the children, Tristan and Katherine, plant a
spruce tree in front of the church at St. Vlash
in Lynette’s memory. Left: As Tristan Hoppe
looks on, Father Martin Ritsi lays a wreath
on Lynette’s gravesite on behalf of the Mission Center and its Board of Directors. Right:
Katherine and Tristan lighting a candle at the
40 day service.
L Y N E T T E
L Y N E T T E
H O P P E
T R I B U T E
tt t t
t t Lynette
Hoppe
t
t
Body&Heart
The
Same
By Stacy Shipman—Mission Team Member to Tanzania
I am a young woman of 31 who has dreamed of going to
Africa. I have been preparing myself for the work of missions
for the better part of my adult life. My mother might argue
that I’ve been preparing for it since I was a child, but that’s
another matter. When God orchestrated the time and means
for that door to finally open, I found myself heading off on a
Mission Team with the Orthodox Christian Mission Center.
O C M C T E A M S ( E ast A f r ica )
I
ventured off with some of the quirkiest, funnest
people to be found within Orthodoxy, and as a
convert, I can attest that quirky and fun are both
abundant here. They are also among the most
compassionate and sincere people that I have met.
We boarded our planes and made our way to the
likes of Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania. Memories
flood me now… Dr. Bill skipping in the Nairobi
airport high-fiving everyone in his jet-lagged stupor,
delirious with excitement and the experience of
setting foot in Africa… the giant grasshopper that
nearly ate Dimitri while still training in Florida…
the look on Fr. Michael’s face when our gift from
one village came walking toward us bleating and
blinking. My Tanzania team debated on a good
name for our goat, but in the end I think it just
seemed too harsh to name dinner.
Of course, there are other memories, too.
Memories of the Africans themselves, but one
memory resonates in my mind, the memories
of Josephina… or Fina, as they called her, a small
little girl about five years old. There are children
everywhere, all displaying the natural curiosity that
makes all children endearing. They rubbed our skin
to see if the color would come off. They touched our
hair. They shyly sat in our laps when handed over by
their welcoming parents. But Fina… Fina had a light
in her eyes that shown unmistakably with joy. Her
little face was radiant with life!
The first time I met Fina was in the village of
Rubale where we taught a catechism seminar for the
Bukoba Diocese under the invitation of His Grace,
Bishop JERONYMOS. When our team arrived
they rang the bell and everyone came running
into the church, as the service was about to begin.
Admittedly I was distracted from the service by
the stares of the small children about me and the
Kiswahili that impregnated the space around me.
In the midst of all those beautiful children stood
Fina. As others looked on shyly or in the boldest of
curiosity, Fina simply smiled and looked up at me as
though I were an old friend, anticipation lining her
face. Amidst the “karibu’s” (welcome) and “faraha
na amani’s” (peace and joy) her face is the one that
made me truly feel welcome in this place on the
other side of the world.
Morning after morning this delicious child
would run up the village road to greet our team. She
would accompany our team from class to class as we
taught about salvation, missions, the role of fasting,
and other such catechetical topics. Then, one day,
she wasn’t there. We inquired with her father as to
“
When our team
arrived they rang the
bell and everyone
came running into
the church, as the
service was about
to begin.
”
her mystical absence. “It’s a bout with malaria,” he
told us through Sanktus, our translator. Our hearts
broke as our minds all immediately traced back to
ensuring that we, ourselves, had taken our own antimalaria pills, and we reapplied bug spray as we made
mental notes to re-tape the holes in the mosquito
nets covering our beds.
Thanks be to God that little Fina bounced back
before our departure. How delighted I was when
the crowd of students around me began to split and
create a path, down which the amazingly resilient
Fina walked carrying a gift. Her tiny little body was
shadowed by the long pole of sugar cane which she
had carefully wrapped in a banana-tree leaf and
carried it toward me. Shyly she handed it to me
and as though she had also given me the gift of her
radiance. I beamed back at her as I received it.
When Bishop JERONYMOS arrived, little Fina
marched with us through the village of Rubale as we
sang hymns to the glory of our God. As the students
danced and sang for Bishop JERONYMOS and said
good-bye to our team, the tuckered out little Fina at
last fell asleep in my arms. Little Josephina and I
never spoke an understandable word to one another,
but we understood each other perfectly. I continue
to think of Fina daily. I wonder what will become of
her life lived in such amazing poverty and constantly
threatened by diseases completely treatable in my
own country. Like we all do, I foolishly ponder the
design of God—myself born into abundance and
opportunities and she born into desperation and the
fear of hopelessness. I ache to know if that glow in
her beautiful young face will remain.
I suppose, though, in the end, what has changed
me the most; no longer is Africa the romanticized
dream I’ve carried about since I was eight. The
names and faces are now those that belong to people
with whom I have journeyed this life. These aren’t
“simply” the starving Africans of commercials and
“We are the World” sing-alongs, they are Orthodox
Christians with whom I mystically commune at every
Eucharist offering. They are of the same body and I
am now gripped with the awesome responsibility
to care for them as I would myself. All theological
missiology debates aside, all jurisdictional squabbles
stifled… we are of the same Body. Josephine is my
sister and I miss her.
LEFT: Bonding with the local children
was a highlight for the Author, Stacy
Shipman Below: In Tanzania, the Mission Team joins the faithful for service
at a new church still under construction
RIGHT: In the eyes of a child, there’s
hope for all that is to come for the
Church in Tanzania.
TasteSee
and
By Andrew Lentz
I
f I were to tell you that there is a job so
fulfilling that you couldn’t pass it up, would
you listen? You would have everything you
need and you would be living in the comfort of
knowing you are doing God’s work. Interested
yet? No? Then how about experiencing a joy
in your job so wonderful, that you couldn’t
possibly imagine doing anything else with your
life? Are you ready now? All you have to do is
be a Christian!
What most tend to forget is that being a
Christian is synonymous with being a missionary.
Yeah, that’s right. I hate to break it to you,
but you are in fact a missionary. It was your
commission when you were baptized as a
Christian. It takes some longer than others to
realize, but once you do your life is changed
forever. I had such a life-changing experience on
my mission trip to Tanzania.
Everyday on my trip, I arose with a joy I had
never experienced before. The 5 a.m. wake up
was difficult, but the joy pushed me out of bed.
There was work to be done! Our mission was to
teach basic catechism courses and visit with local
communities who would otherwise have little or
no contact with the rest of the world. In my time
in Tanzania I learned what hospitality truly means,
generosity was redefined, and being sincere in
everything you say and do was as natural as
breathing. My work became my life and my life
became my work.
Being halfway around the world can be an
incredible experience in itself, but we had the
blessing to interact with fellow Orthodox Christians
Teaching Me?”
By Rachel Mellas
“W
hat is God teaching me?” As
an eighteen year old on my
first mission trip, this question by
Andy Lekos (Mission Team Director
at OCMC) echoed in my mind
throughout our team’s 2½ week
stay at the Children’s Home of Hope
in St. Vlash, Albania.
How inspiring the children of
the Home were! Each one of them
lived in Christ, “letting their little
light so shine” (Matthew 5:16) that
I felt humbled and privileged to be
there as a Mission Team member.
In the two short weeks I was there, I
learned valuable lessons in patience,
the common room, a room with a
large fireplace, a circle of couches
and chairs, and all sorts of colorful
crafts that hung from the ceiling.
The children sang songs in both
Albanian and English, in loud
voices, eager to show off for their
visitors. The children each told us
their aspirations for the future: to be
doctors, missionaries, priests and
nuns! I was amazed to see such
young kids with such big hearts. I
thought to myself, “How can I be an
example of mission work to these
children? What can I do”? Andy’s
words echoed in my mind, “What is
I was amazed to see such
young kids
“How can I be an example of mission work
to these children?
10
What can I do”?
flexibility, faith and love that I will
carry with me throughout my life.
I only hope to follow the children’s
examples: to be a beacon of light,
praising God and sharing that light
with others.
One day we were situated in
halfway around the world in their very homes.
The importance of our mission journey was
not in the places we went, but in the spiritual
journey we took with the people we met. The
blessing was having such incredible companions
on the journey in Christ. The reward was
receiving a taste of the Christian missionary life,
a life in Christ.
“Taste and see that the Lord is good”
(Psalm 34). Fr. Alexander Schmemann
explains that this verse tells us we must
first experience (taste) and only then will we
understand (see). I offer a challenge to you:
experience the Christian missionary life.
Then, you will truly understand this account
of my mission team journey in Christ in
Tanzania. Furaha na amani! Joy and peace!
“What is God
with such big hearts. I thought to myself,
ABOVE: As a welcome gift
from a Tanzanian parish,
Fr. Michael Miklos, Mission
Team Leader, receives a
goat on behalf of the team.
A procession of the faithful in one of the ten
communities visited by this year’s Tanzania team.
God teaching me?” In just my first
day, I experienced so much, beyond
what I expected and witnessed God
working through each and every one
of us as Mission Team members
and children alike.
The children’s lives were so full
Joyous faces show true test that Christ lives in the
children from the Home of Hope as they chase bubbles.
of faith, love and the light of Christ
that by the time we departed for
the United States I was amazed to
realize that these children taught
me more about living in Christ than
anything I could have ever hoped to
teach them!
Yet another example of Christ
working through others was the
influence the long-term missionaries
had on us. We had the opportunity
to meet the Linderman, Pappas,
Russell and Hoppe families. Each
family impacted our missionary
experience in unique and special
ways and we were inspired by the
faith and love that emanated from
each missionary. I was incredibly
fortunate to have been able to meet
Lynette Hoppe and learn from her
and her family’s example in faith.
I can speak for the entire Albanian
short-term Mission Team that
we felt truly blessed to be in the
presence of such devoted Orthodox
Christians.
“What is God teaching me?
What have I learned from this
experience?” For me, Andy, your
question doesn’t need a long deep
theological answer. It is found in the
very scripture verse that we read at
orientation; 1 Corinthians 13:13
“And now abide faith, hope, love,
these three; but the greatest of
these is love”.
11
O R T H O D O X
C H R I S T I A N
M I S S I O N
C E N T E R
0
0
7
C H R I S T I A N
M I S S I O N
C E N T E R
>>GO DO
SOME
GREAT
>> Alaska
>> Argentina
>> Ghana
>> India
>> Tanzania
>> South Africa
>> Albania
>> Guatemala
>> Romania
>> Cameroon
>> Kenya
>> South Africa
>> Ethiopia
>> Guatemala
>> Kenya
>> Romania
All hard workers willing to
share the Faith and wishing
to participate and serve on
an ORTHODOX MISSION TEAM
are urged to apply today.
>>Andrew Lentz, 2006 Mission Team member,
extends the many arms of supporters as he
embraces a child in Tanzania
>>GO DO>>GO DO SOMETHING
SOMETHING
GREAT!
GREAT!
rovide a holistic witness of the Gospel
by ministering to the physical needs of
children and adults while providing basic
health care and education. Health care
personnel; doctors, dentists, nurses,
counselors, HIV/AIDS specialists, therapists—are especially needed.
P
Health Care
elp build an Orthodox Church for a
growing community by offering your labor and service. Engineers, construction
workers, contractors, carpenters, painters, electricians and all hard workers are
invited to apply today. Construction experience is welcomed, but not necessary.
H
Construction
articipate in youth camp programs
in communities that have requested
religious education for the youth. Camp
counselors, youth ministry directors,
students and those with camp experience
are encouraged to apply.
P
Youth Camps
hare and teach the Orthodox Faith to
youth, adults, catechumens, ministry
leaders, and faithful. Clergy, seminarians,
teachers, youth leaders, students and
those willing to teach the Faith are urged
to apply.
S
Teaching
O R T H O D O X
MISSION TEAMS
2
• A completed application with letter of recommendation from an Orthodox Priest
• An active member of the Church
• Spiritually mature individual with good social skills, motivated to learn and serve
• At least 18 years of age and in good physical health
• Participants are expected to cover costs of their participation and to travel on the
scheduled dates.
Orthodox Christians are called and needed to join in this effort. Participation requirements include:
Detachable Keepsake Poster
Apply Today! For information and applications call
Toll-Free: 1-877-GO FORTH • Email [email protected]
Check-out Teams at our Website: www.ocmc.org/teams/php
>>AMERICAS: Alaska • Argentina • Guatemala >>EUROPE: Albania • Romania >>AFRICA: Cameroon • Ethiopia • Ghana • Kenya • South Africa • Tanzania >>ASIA: India
12
13
Blessing
by Daniel Belonick
here is usually a certain amount of anxiety
associated with any travel, What should I
pack? Will my luggage arrive on time? A
mission trip carries additional concerns, How will
the group dynamics be? What can we expect? Will
they have laundry facilities? Will we be effective in
our goals? Many of these questions, ranging from the
reasonable to the rather silly, crossed my mind several
times during the journey across North America to
what was for me a distant land—Alaska.
When I first heard of the opportunity to go to
Alaska through OCMC I jumped at the chance,
partly for selfish reasons. The mission team was
designed to assist in teaching a youth retreat and help
with the annual pilgrimage to Spruce Island. I had
always wanted to visit Alaska. Not only was I attracted
to the natural beauty I saw in photos but I wanted to
walk the land where our first North American Saints,
such as Saints Herman and Innocent, traversed.
Several friends who had previously done missions
trips in Alaska confirmed my desire. Moreover, I was
attracted to the opportunity to teach the Orthodox
faith to youth of the Kodiak region. Being a student
at St. Vladimir’s Seminary I felt compelled to share,
in some small way, the knowledge of the faith I had
been given. What I did not expect however, was the
learning experience that I was to go through.
After a day’s worth of traveling from New York,
I finally arrived on Kodiak to the welcome of two
of the Alaskan clergy. Although weary from the
long trip, I was eager to get to work with fellow
OCMC members who had already arrived and an
Orthodox Christian Fellowship (OCF) group from
the University of Connecticut. My first act, however,
was to venerate the relics of St. Herman which
MissionTeam
Families
O C M C T E A M S ( A L A S K A )
T
By Alex Goodwin
Upper Left: Chapel on Spruce Island built over St.
Herman’s original burial site. LEFT: Liturgy on Spruce
Island ABOVE: Ouzinkie Team at Monk’s Lagoon BELOW: Ouzinkie Youth performing native dances
in this manner. St. Herman after all wasn’t glorified
only due to the numerous miracles he performed, but
because of his tireless efforts in the simple, ordinary
labors of love for the Alaskan people.
The day after, while half of our 14 member team
remained in Kodiak to teach a youth retreat, seven
of us, along with a seminarian from St. Herman’s,
undertook the trek to the village of Ouzinkie,
located on Spruce Island. Our task seemed simple
enough, to run a teen camp for the Kodiak diocese.
But I suppose the only way to describe our trip is a
word we used often: fluid. We arrived in Ouzinkie
hauling food, supplies, and other necessities for the
five day camp, enough to cover 35 youth and our
team. Knowing of only a few teens having signed
St. Herman after all wasn’t glorified only due to the numerous
miracles he performed, but because of his tireless efforts in the
simple, ordinary labors of love for the Alaskan people.
reside within the Cathedral on Kodiak. As a fellow
pilgrim mentioned; “you have to start out right.”
Here, in front of me, lay St. Herman’s relics, along
with the heavy iron-cross and hat that accompanied
him through the Alaskan terrain.
Many times I thought of Saints’ lives and works
as distant from my own. But to stand before St.
Herman and begin work where he labored was an
experience that brought significantly more meaning
to our efforts. Knowing about St. Herman’s life, this
was a blessing I hadn’t expected, and I think, the only
way to start this particular trip.
From this glorious beginning, I spent the rest of the
day hitting cement with a pick-axe near the Cathedral
to clear for drainage. This was followed by helping to
stain the wooden chapel at St. Herman’s Seminary
that was wearied by a long winter. Neither of these
tasks I envisioned. But it seems more fitting to begin
14
up in Ouzinkie and bringing along a few from
mainland Kodiak, our expectations seemed to be
higher than circumstances permitted. Before arriving
in Kodiak we had anticipated almost 30 youth, which
turned into less than 15 by the time of our arrival in
Ouzinkie. I think most of us at that point were feeling
anxious, especially with confusion about where the
camp was to be held. We eventually settled into the
recently built community center which offered us
both cooking facilities and room to hold classes and
activities, the perfect hub for our camp.
Over the course of the week, what was to be a
teen retreat became a village youth event. Our focus
was the Creed, having two Christian educations
per day, along with art and physical activities. The
strongest moments of the camp, however, were not
felt in the classroom, but in singing the Troparion
to St. Peter the Aleut by the campers, the games of
basketball at the gym, the Akathist to St. Herman
in the Chapel with the villagers, the preparing of
fish soup with the elders, sharing fellowship with
everyone on the last night, and concluding the trip
in the best way we knew how, celebrating the Divine
Liturgy together. We went as a team to teach the
faith, but we learned as a team how that faith is lived
in the love, warmth, and incredible generosity of
this little Alaskan village. I was joking with other
members that when we left they gave me the key to
the village. It’s simply knowing how to open a door
without knocking!
The remainder of the trip was just as remarkable,
taking part in the annual pilgrimage to Spruce
Island, serving Liturgy both on Spruce Island and in
Kodiak on successive days, with a Vigil in between!
To say the least, we were all quite tired. But as His
Grace Bishop NIKOLAI of Alaska reminded us, a
pilgrimage is designed to take effort, but out of that
effort one finds their spiritual rewards. To serve an
Akathist to St. Herman is a beautiful experience. To
serve the Vigil and Liturgy for his feast is just as
stunning. But to be a part of these services in the
presence of St. Herman himself is simply heavenly.
Despite our fatigue from our camp experiences,
manual labors around the Cathedral and Seminary,
in addition to the many services, we found strength
every day in the presence of St. Herman and the
people of Alaska.
Our Alaskan experience was more than we could
have expected. Plans changed, locations moved,
feet and backs wearied. But right before our eyes
miracles occurred. Doors opened that once were
shut, ten youth turned into almost fifty, smiles came
from shyness, cultures embraced, strangers became
friends, even Fr. Michael completed knots in his
prayer rope! We came to Alaska as visitors, we left
as family. Throughout, we felt God’s grace through
St. Herman guiding us. We left knowing that all we
encountered proved to be a fluid blessing.
A
t 30,000 feet the red sands of the Sahara looked like an ocean of fire.
The desert’s stillness could be felt even from on high, providing the
perfect opportunity to reflect on the great work that we had just completed.
Most of the other team members were sleeping soundly, lulled by the roar
of the engines and the smooth skies that God had blessed us with. Amongst
them could be found parents, children, husbands, wives, brothers and sisters
desiring not to serve merely as individuals, but as a family.
The ranks of this year’s short-term mission teams
were filled with families in unprecedented numbers,
heading a single call to serve and spread God’s word
to all four corners of the earth. They all congregated
far from their own homes in a seemingly coincidental
anomaly; all hoping that a voyage of great distance
would somehow bring them closer together. As it
turned out, these journeys were longer than even the
expansive and boundless wasteland that lazily floated
by, for they began with a love for one another and
they will live on as treasured shared experiences.
Warren Goodwin, of Roseville California, who
served with his wife and son, stated, “We were
blessed with the opportunity to experience our
first OCMC short-term mission as a family. We
experienced the wonders of Kenya, the enthusiasm
of its people, and the solidarity of their Orthodox
faith. We also were witness to the spiritual growth of
one another as individuals. The two most significant
events for my wife and I were the warmth and the
gratitude given to the entire mission team by the
parishioners of the community we were there to
serve, and the opportunity to see our son expand
his mission experiences and continue his spiritual
journey.”
There are memories that mark seminal moments
in every human life. The images of these moments
warm our hearts, remaining clear in our minds,
immune to the movements of time. The passing of a
brick from the tattered hands of a daughter to those
of her mother as they toiled in a small village on the
horn of Africa to build a house of worship was just
one such memory. “For my whole life, my mom has
watched and supported me as I’ve grown,” recalled
Sara Breitsprecher of Minneapolis, Minnesota.
“It made me proud to see her step outside of her
comfort zone and I was thankful that I could be
there to support her in her growth. Our trip signified
a change in our relationship. She will always be my
mom, but we saw each other as peers for the first
time giving us a greater appreciation for one another
as people.”
God has always worked profoundly through
families. With them He has altered the course of
human history forever. He reintroduced mankind
Alex Goodwin, with his parents, Warren
and Madeline Goodwin.
to its Creator in the generations that
stretched from Abraham to Jacob.
Through Saint Joachim and Anna came
Mary, the mother of our Lord and Savior
Jesus Christ. Constantine and his mother
Helen brought faith to an empire. And
two brothers, Saint Basil the Great and
Saint Gregory of Nyssa, born in the fourth
century to parents who are also canonized
saints, shaped Christianity as we know it.
History reveals that works of great consequence
have often come through the family. As such, the
seemingly coincidental contribution of so many
families to mission work in 2006 is not coincidental
at all. From Alaska to Guatemala, in Albania and
Romania, and from Kenya to Uganda fourteen
families shared the Gospel through their prayers,
their words, and their service. As teachers, builders,
and medical professionals, God worked through
them, bestowing upon them the gift of time with
one another and with Him.
Will the efforts of the families that shared in
this year’s short-term mission experiences have as
profound an impact on the course of humanity as
Abraham or Saint Basil the Great? Indeed, they
already have. In time their names may be forgotten,
but their contribution, as part of God’s plan for
salvation, will be eternal.
The common blood that flows through the veins
of family creates an unspoken bond that is stronger
than steel and more precious than the rarest of
gemstones. It is incorruptible and timeless. The Holy
Spirit rides on this current like the winds across the
rolling dunes of the Sahara, tying one generation to
the next , revealing the depths of the Father’s love
for us, His prodigal children, offering us salvation,
and beckoning us home. •
We were blessed with the opportunity to
experience our first OCMC short-term mission
as a family. We experienced the wonders of
Kenya, the enthusiasm of its people, and
the solidarity of their Orthodox faith.
Upper Left : Breaking a sweat for the Gospel. ABOVE: Father and son
Mission Team members during orientation in St. Augustine RIGHT: A new
Church takes shape thanks to the work of Mission Team members. Left:
The sun sets on another day in Africa, affording the perfect opportunity to
reflect on the great work that had just been completed.
15
O C M C T E A M S ( K E N Y A )
A Fluid
“ Wo r k s o f G r e a t C o n s e q u e n c e ”
A Day in the Life
Missionaries
O C M C M issiona r ies
I
am often asked to describe my typical day here in
Uganda and I never know quite how to answer.
Some days are more eventful than others, and
no day is ever completely routine. Today there is no
music festival, nor is it a school visitation day. I’m
not traveling to a village deep in the bush, nor am I
visiting our parishes in Gulu. I’m not even going to
downtown Kampala. There are no prize bulls or goats
in this story, but a pig will make a brief appearance.
The school term ended yesterday, and we
collected report cards from about sixty of our
sponsored students. I photocopied the reports for
our files while we had power. Because of national
load-shedding, we have commercial electricity every
other day. Today was an “on” day and I wanted to
take advantage of the situation so we could return
the original reports to the children after church
on Sunday. Then I spent some time preparing
solicitation letters for our Children’s Fund.
Sharon has been working six and a half days
a week at the hospital, so I offered to do a little
shopping for fresh vegetables. On the way to the
Kasubi open-air market, I stopped by the house
where our “daughter” Panayota was spending the
school holiday. Panayota is in sixth grade at a village
boarding school. She ended up there last year after
she had a discipline problem with an aunt with whom
she had been staying. Panayota had been beaten on
the head with a soda bottle and subsequently ran
away from home. I didn’t want her to remain alone
in the village, nor could I send her back to the aunt’s,
so I prevailed upon her stepmother to take her in
to spend the holiday with her half-siblings Sophia,
George, and Paraskevi. I had crayons and coloring
books for the kids and a little extra money for mom
to buy food.
I’d heard stories about the irresponsible, drug-
addicted, alcoholic father, but there he was when I
arrived—calm, industrious, and sober. His latest
venture is raising pigs, and he hasn’t yet accumulated
enough cash to build a sty. A number of giant hogs
were rooting around the yard, and as I tried to navigate
my way around their stout, aromatic bodies, one big
fellow unexpectedly charged and nuzzled my rear
end with his snout, much to the amusement of the
children. After greeting the family, I privately gave
mom the money for the family’s needs at Kasubi.
The sprawling outdoor market was bustling
with activity and the women selling the vegetables
brazenly and laughingly called to me, “Muzungu, over
Children of Uganda smile as their lives
are blessed by Missionaries Peter & Sharon
Arriving in Albania The Luisi Family
“Dëshiroj një biletë vajije (I’d like a
one-way ticket).”
After many months of preparation, the
Luisi Family (Constance, Dennis and their
five year old son Dominico) have arrived
safely in Albania. Below, is a reflection
from Constance of the family’s journey as
missionaries to Albania:
he morning of September 8th, many of
you will be waking up, and longing for
coffee when we arrive in Tirana. We’ll be a bit
T
The Luisi Family, Constance,
Domenico, and Dennis
16
bleary-eyed, too, having flown from Chicago
to Frankfurt, to Vienna, to Tirana in about 19
hours. We’ll have left the comfortable, familiar
surroundings of Chicago, and will have arrived
in the poorest nation in Europe.
We are joining a vibrant, growing community
of Christians in Albania. The building of the new
cathedral is well underway. There are plans for
new Orthodox schools. There are hopes for a
senior home, near the successful soup kitchen.
The Children’s Home of Hope is now about full,
with 30-35 children. Classes continue at the
Seminary, the church camp season is over. It’s
inspiring, and a little daunting, to be joining
a community that the Holy Spirit has clearly
taken in hand.
There are improvements in Albania. There
is a new, brightly-lit imported goods ~ grocery
store. There are other recently opened stores
– a posh, four-floor shopping mall with European
luxury stores has been putting up posters around
town. Tirana has also been repaving the streets
and with the new streets come new street signs,
to the joy of many who have had some trouble
finding their way around.
We were on the road almost every weekend
for the first 6 months of the year, traveling nonstop for more than a month during Lent. We’ve
logged more than 100 hours just driving and
have visited 12 states. None of this would have
been possible without the encouragement,
support and prayers of all of you. We are more
grateful than we can possibly say.
During their missionary service, the Luisi’s
primary job will be to work with the youth
and children’s choirs, first in Tirana and then
throughout the country. Dennis’ skills will
be put to work on various building and repair
projects. There may also be opportunities
to put Constance’s language skills to work in
teaching English and French.
We ask for your continued prayers for the
Constance, Dennis and Domenico. Funds to
help support the Luisi Family can be sent to the
Orthodox Christian Mission Center, designated
for the “Luisi Family” in the memo line, to P.O.
Box 4319, St. Augustine, FL 32085-4319.
To find out more about the Mission Center’s
missionaries, visit www.ocmc.org. or contact
us at [email protected].
adding a “bathroom” to the premises. JjaJja is an old
woman who takes care of about a dozen orphaned
grandchildren in a small house between the main
road and a swamp. Last year we finished her house
and earlier this year we added a pit latrine, but the
family has no private place to bathe. A bathroom
can actually be an outdoor stall where one takes soap
and a basin of water, and maybe a towel! That’s how
many people wash themselves here.
Ssem arrived and we headed off to JjaJja’s.
She and the kids were happy to see us, and after
the obligatory greetings we inspected the site and
agreed on a proposed location for the addition. As
we were about to leave, JjaJja insisted we come
in to see baby Simon whom she said was “sick.” I
remembered that he had cerebral palsy, but still I
was shocked by what I saw. The two-year-old was all
head and belly, with tiny, vestigial-looking legs and
arms dangling limply from his distended torso. His
head lolled open-mouthed and his eyes gazed into
nowhere. Eleven-year-old Fiona picked him up and
gently held him while I sat down on the bed, feeling
stunned and helpless.
I soon came to my senses, though, and called
Sharon on my mobile phone. She prompted me
with some pointed questions, and, ably assisted
by Ssem as a translator we determined that
Simon was seriously malnourished. His mother
has been feeding him only milk from a cup. We
gave JjaJja instructions on how to prepare maizeflour porridge fortified with milk, eggs, and other
nutrients, provided her with a little money to buy
these items, and told her to come to our hospital
for some nutritional counseling.
We departed, and just to add a bizarre note to our
leave-taking, we passed a woman sitting on the side
of the road playing with gravel. As we approached,
I recognized her as one of JjaJja’s daughters, the
mother of two of our kids. She seemed about manic,
so I greeted her in Luganda and had a brief but
interesting conversation. Then Ssem and I boarded
a matatu back to Namungoona.
That evening after Vespers, I found two of our
high school students, Sophia and Batte, waiting
to give me their school reports. I reviewed their
performances, gave a little advice for improvement,
and sent them on their way as night was falling. So
ends another day in Uganda.
Postscript: Thursday, August 24
Today while I was in town, Sophia and her sister
Maria, cousins to little Simon, tearfully came
to tell Sharon that he had died this morning.
Merciful God, may his memory be eternal. His
suffering is over; now he is perfect and dwelling
in perfect Love.
Mustard Seed, Patience and
Salvation—The Seminary in Uganda
By John Burnett—OCMC Missionary in Uganda
M
y work in the Ugandan Orthodox Church
consists mainly in teaching and trying to
strengthen St. Paul Seminary in any way that I
can. Generally, I teach Dogmatics, Liturgics, Old
Testament and New. There are 16 seminarians
from villages all over Uganda, of different tribes
and tongues. We’re hoping to initiate some
practical programs in 2007, which will make
use of their skills as farmers. Like the mustard,
which is the smallest of seeds, we will patiently
Students of St. Paul’s Seminary listen attentively while
John Burnett offers Theological Training.
develop dignity, cooperation, and self-support
in and among the parishes. There is a lot of
room, and need, for creativity in Africa, and I
am tremendously inspired and confident in the
abilities of our seminarians.
Teaching is not my only activity. In church,
I am struggling to provide translations of all
the service books in modern English, some
10,000 pages of text. It’s been a great help
for people to pray the entire daily cycle for the
first time in a language they can understand.
Once the Horologion and Octoechos/
Paraklitiki have been distributed to all the
parishes, and priests and catechists trained
in using them—they can serve as a strong,
uniform, accessible, and in fact, almost ideal
foundation for catechetics. I’m impressed
at how wise the fathers were, who put the
Octoechos together and gave it to us as the
main fare of each liturgical day.
By no means am I a professional musician,
but I’ve sung in Orthodox choirs for 30 years
and seem to have a good ear. As I’ve begun
providing the English texts, it’s fallen to me
to lead some of the chanting, especially of
the Daily Cycle on weekdays. These efforts
have been for the most part well-received.
We’ve all gained a deeper understanding
of the services from working with them
every day. Serving Vespers and Matins with
the seminarians and other faithful every
day has been a major part of my ministry.
There is vast room for liturgical growth
here and it will play a key role in the future
evangelization/catechetical programs we will
be developing.
I’m trying to encourage some young
artists to study icons and learn to write them,
since our churches have so few. I’m trying to
organize translations and service books in
four languages. I’m trying to get a few people
started learning computers. We can sure use
their help when they do! We need a catechetical
program. We need to train teachers and singers
and catechists. We need to train priests and
deacons. I love it here!
Weebale! (Thank you!)
What Can You Do?
We ask for your continued prayers for John
Burnett’s ministry with seminarians in Uganda.
Funds to help support the him can be sent to the
Orthodox Christian Mission Center, designated
for “John Burnett” in the memo line, at P.O.
Box 4319, St. Augustine, FL 32085-4319.
To find out more about the Mission Center’s
missionaries, visit www.ocmc.org. or contact
us at [email protected].
Help us to equip some wonderful young
men to carry the flame of Christ’s love and
truth deep into the vast continent south of the
Sahara!
17
O C M C M issiona r ies
By Peter Georges—OCMC Missionary in Uganda
Peter Georges, OCMC Missionary in Uganda,
watches the children dance.
here!” I found what I needed and marveled at how
much I could buy for so little money. I accumulated
a large bag of fresh tomatoes, green peppers, carrots,
and potatoes for the equivalent of two dollars! Then
I crossed the road to buy bread and eggs.
Having accomplished my mission, I looked up
and saw the church van parked nearby. Aha! A cheap
and convenient ride home. While I was waiting, I
heard a musical voice greeting me. It was Father
Joseph’s wife, Anastasia, with baby Pelagia. She
had also seen the van and had the same idea. I took
Pelagia from her arms and tried to convince the
bread vendor that she was my kid but he wouldn’t
buy it. The driver appeared and soon we were all
safely back on our little hill.
Last week I told Ssem, a contractor friend,
that I wanted to visit JjaJja’s house to see about
“DAD” Work at the Hogar Ayau Orphanage
By Edwin Pier—OCMC Missionary
THROUGH THE WORLD OF N. CAMEROON AND CHAD
After experiencing a Mission Team in 2005, Ed Pier decided to leave his home in Seattle and
serve the OCMC at the Hogar Rafael Orphanage in Guatemala. Based on his training and
experience, Ed performs whatever work is needed, and offers assistance in the management
of the orphanage facilities. One significant contribution Ed has made is to simply “offer his
presence” among the children—to be a good example of a safe, appropriately loving and
observant Orthodox man to the children. Below he reports on his efforts.
A
s my Spanish improves, and it still has a long
way to go, I’m able to make more conversation
with the kids. Now they see me as more of a “Dad”
type figure, and by doing so, I have been taking on
more “Dad” work. This continues to be my most
important task.
Thanks to a gracious donor, we were able to treat
some of the children to concerts by the National
Guatemalan
Symphony.
We took about six of the
older kids at a time. Not
only were the kids able to
hear good music, it gave
them an opportunity to learn to dress up practice
their manners. Since we would take about three boys
and three girls, one of my jobs was to teach the boys
how to behave as proper escorts for the girls. We all
agreed the best part about learning manners was the
treats in the theatre’s café during intermission!
This semester, we start scheduled classes in the
afternoons. The first project was to build a toolbox.
This project provided practice in simple
woodworking skills. In accomplishing
these tasks the children learned how to
read simple plans, use a tape measure,
compass, handsaw, block plane, coping saw,
screwdriver and screws.
We’ve also began construction of
a new greenhouse. So far, we’ve poured
concrete footings, laid brick foundations,
and begun the framing of the walls. Soon
we will receive the remaining lumber to
ABOVE: Ed Pier poses with
finish the project.
the young girls of the Hogar
Ayau Orphanage as they
The children are helping me design and
attend the National Guateconstruct a storm water disposal system,
malan Symphony. Left: Ed
that will help dispose of runoff from the
with one of the Nuns.
intense rains that occur throughout the
H
is Grace, Bishop Gregorios takes us through his journey of North
Cameroon and Chad last year, showing his gratitude to the people
he serves. Here are some excerpts from his travel log.
21 February
We set off for North Cameroon by car. It is unbeliev
able how the scenery changes into an endless road in
the jungle. On a dirt road, red earth everywhere, we
proceed slowly behind large trucks carrying all sorts of
merchandise, the earth covers everything. Late at night
we arrive at Bertua, exhausted and unrecognizable
from the dust. We have already traveled 850 km and
still have a long journey ahead of us.
Assisting Ed to design and construct a storm water disposal system, this boy helps measures the
percolation rate of the soil.
wet season. I continue to investigate, map and repair
the Hogar water system; designing elevated water
storage, and upgrading the well pump.
As I see it, one of my responsibilities is to be
a representative here; I am your presence with the
nuns and children as I continue to do “Dad” work.
Funds to help support Ed Pier can be sent to the
Orthodox Christian Mission Center designated for “Pier”
in the memo line at PO Box 4319, St. Augustine, FL,
32085. Thank you for your prayers, love, and support!
INDIA Your Continued Prayers needed
By Tim Arestou
Under His Eminence Metropolitan Nikitas
of Hong Kong and Southeast Asia, the
Orthodox Church ministers in India,
through “The Philanthropic Society of the
Orthodox Church.” Below are some of the
major activities it performs.
Orphanage
The all girl Orphanage of 158 is in Bakesware, a
rural area located about 6 miles from Kalighat,
Calcutta. The Orphanage currently supports
orphans from school levels Kindergarten through
College. It is the only orphanage that I know of
in India that is willing to educate and support
the girls from Kindergarten to completion of
a university degree. All the orphan’s needs
are completely free of cost to them. The
Philanthropic Society has also built a vocational
facility, right next to the orphanage, for those
orphans who chose an alternative career path
to provide training for developing skills in arts
and crafts. Our goal is to educate and train the
orphans to be contributing members of society
in many respects.
School for the Blind
We currently have 5 blind students and their
teachers living at our orphanage and utilizing our
18
vocational building. They are currently involved
in a pilot program that is trying to integrate
them into the mainstream school system. They
will be shifted to the blind school once it is
completed. This is done in association with the
National Association of the Blind in India.
Church of the Transfiguration
Ten kilometers from the Orphanage, in an
impoverished area of Kalighat, a light shines—the
Orthodox Church of the Transfiguration. Situated
in a compound that contains a guest house,
offices for the Philanthropic Society and clergy,
and a free medical clinic, it provides space for
tutoring services for local youths. Vitamin enriched
milk and biscuits are distributed to the children
in the poor neighborhood everyday. It distributes
food to approximately 2000 individuals through
a program that targets the poor. Those who are
screened and registered are divided into two groups,
which alternate on
Mondays to receive
rice, lentils, a soy
product, and a hygiene
item. Scattered in rural
areas of West Bengal
are
four
medical
clinics providing low
cost medical and
prescription services.
A First Travelogue
There is also a welfare program that provides
comprehensive care to those on an individual
basis.
Primary Schools
India has a high number of illiterates in its nation.
The Philanthropic Society has built, operates, and
funds five primary schools, from Kindergarten to
Class IV in rural areas of West Bengal. Free tuition
and text books are provided to several hundred
students, preparing them with a good foundation
for higher education.
Pastoral Works
There are currently 11 Orthodox churches
established in West Bengal, India, and all are
served by indigenous priests. It is my blessing
to meet with them once a month to receive
information concerning their pastoral activities.
“With the blessings of His Emminence
Metropolitan Nikitas, and my spiritual father
Fr. Costas Constantino, also with the help
of my parish at St. Gregory of Nyssa, and
many churches, relatives and friends, I,
as an OCMC missionary, am able to do a
small part in something great.”
24 February
The next day, the sun rose very early around 5 a.m. and
the people were already busy with their work as the
temperature started rapidly rising. After Matins we
began our visits to the parishes... people everywhere,
hundreds of children, “Nine out of ten women have a
baby on their back,” our driver explains. Everywhere
we were greeted with demonstrations of joy, respect,
and cries of approval were heard whenever the name
of Patriarch Theodoros was mentioned. Doukoula,
Dacheka, Gouai, Tchatibali, Bougai, Zouai, Giri,
Biri, Kongron Baiga, Touilale, Tsigla, ToulouID,
Gidigis, unknown villages—almost all of them laidout in the exact same fashion, in the same desert
and as strange as the accent with which they are
pronounced. A world dressed in bright colors and
strange impromptu songs welcomes us with wide,
genuine smiles and with childlikeness so beyond
any European maturity. I shake the hands of men,
women and children. Hands made rough from
hard manual labor. Never before has a hand-shake
made me feel so bad. I listen to problems, accounts,
speculations, all of which are tainted with a narrative
spell, the telling of a story that must begin and end
in a particular, perhaps epic, manner. Everywhere,
there is hope in the way these people look at me
- hope that certain things will change in their lives.
They ask for schools and small medical centers, and
I ask myself, are we the only organization active
in this area? At night we return to our Missionary
Centre, exhausted. I try to take notes of everything.
There is a need for bare necessities everywhere and
we need to develop a plan.
26 February
We moved what was needed for the consecration of
the Parish of the Three Hierarchs in Doukoula and,
after a special service, we moved the holy relics. We
placed the icons on the iconostasis, and instantly the
atmosphere of the church was transformed by the
delicate Byzantine paint-strokes and modest colors.
I performed the Consecration for the first time.
It was a unique experience not only for me, but also
for the people. We had distributed the Consecration
pamphlet, and then everyone watched in silence and
devoutness. The choir was chanting the psalms in
the Tipouri language with a heart-felt passion.
After the Liturgy, a meal was prepared for
everyone, in the rooms of the neighboring schools. A
celebration for all as the spirit of early Christendom
resonated. This is how the early Christian “agape”
must have felt with an atmosphere created by the
simplicity and openheartedness of the people.
28 February
At Touloum, I was offered a basket of dried fresh
beans and two batches of millet, both being
traditional cultivations of the area. In the evenings
at the Missionary Centre, we read the evening
service in the Parish of the Twelve Apostles, which
is packed with children. At the end, we give candy to
each of them. Great joy for the children and surprise
to us when we see that some of them are actually
putting the candy in their mouth along with the
wrapping!!!! Soon after, the songs begin.
6 March—Meatfare Sunday
I performed liturgy in the Parish of the Twelve
Apostles. After the Gospel, I stood at the Holy
Gate to speak. I had prepared a few thoughts
on the Gospel the night before. Never before
had I found it so hard to find the right words. I
just looked around and saw men with dissolved
clothing, children barefoot with what was left of
their clothes on them (only to look at them, filled
me with shame to be wearing shoes), mothers
with children on their backs. God, what am I to
say to these people who are the poorest of the
poor? What can I say to these people who, for
ages now, have only eaten one type of food? What
“Never before had I found
it so hard to find the
right words…God, what
am I to say to these
people who are the
poorest of the poor?”
can I say to these people who tread miles of land
to quench their thirst? What can I say to these
eternal prisoners of the desert? To these mothers
who have brought despair to despair itself? What
can I say to these people who will be the judges
of the First and the Second world? I thought of
prostrating before them, of apologizing for having
been born in the First world, and say nothing more.
Suddenly, an image of these very people during a
previous service came to mind; here during Holy
Communion, they placed a little basket in front
of the Holy Gate and each person, in turn, would
approach it and leave a few coins, “for the poor,”
recognizing, in this way, that there were others
even poorer than themselves. This image saved me
and so, I spoke of the even poorer of the poorest
brothers of the Lord. When I finished, I wasn’t
quite sure I had I done well in speaking or should
Parishioners sometimes walk miles to
attend liturgy
I just have prostrated before them?
7 March
Crossing the borders to the first city, Fianga, we
stopped at customs to obtain the required permit.
During our wait, which was long as usual, we heard
loud cries—a father running with a child in his arms,
chased by two women who cried desperately, raising
their hands every so often to the sky. They had just
returned from the doctor where they had taken the
child to be examined and during the examination, the
child died of some galloping illness, an indescribable
sight taken straight out of an ancient tragedy. Chad is
a different world. It took us a several hours to reach the
parishes, not only because of the distance, but also due
to the bad state of the roads. I always remember the
words of my departed father: “The varieties of people
compose the beauty of this world.” It is remarkable
how within such relatively small distances everything
can be so different! Like the bad quality of the water,
that looks more like rust than water. Yet the parishes
are filled with enthusiasm which is uncannily reflected
on the faces of the people. “Tradition commands that
a visitor must stay at least one night.” We abide by
the local laws.
8 March
The return to our Missionary Center is in
unbearable heat. I sit down and record the needs,
my impressions, words and expenses. In the
evening, the children return and begin singing.
A sudden silence baffles me and then I hear a
hoarse voice of a very young child. “Ema... ema...
Emanuel... ema... ema... Emanuel” it said. And
the choir repeated “Ema…ema…Emanuel...
ema…ema…Emanuel...” I was struck by the
passion and strength of this little hoarse voice
and approached the children. In the darkness,
I could barely make out the little solo singer.
He was probably not older than six years
old, with nothing on him other than what
appeared once to be a pair of shorts. He
clapped his hands while singing to maintain the
rhythm, “Ema... ema... Emanuel…ema…ema...
Emanuel…,” and something else I couldn’t quite
get. “What do the words of the song mean?” I
asked our translator “Emanuel, Son of God,
come, come to us, Emanuel come to us, Emanuel,
Son of God, why won’t You come to us?”!!
16 March
At the end, it seems that Africa is discovered by each
person, uniquely, and that Africa reveals her own self
to each person, uniquely. Sometimes in the form of
pain or thirst; other times in the form of a big heart
that beats to an unknown, but oh so very real beat—
a beat that, once listened to with resignation, makes
every return to the civilized world painful...
19
MissionNews
FALL 2006
Living With “Peace and Joy in the Holy Spirit” in Bukoba,
Tanzania by His Grace Jeronymos, Bishop of Bukoba.
T
he Diocese of Bukoba is thankful for
mission teams sent by OCMC that
help, in an integral way, new Orthodox
believers experience the day-to-day life
in Christ. Taking on Christ substantially
changes a person. It transfigures the inner person, helps to transcend the given, and enables one to be filled with joy
and happiness. A life in Christ is a life of
belonging to each other with relations
based on love and readiness to share. It
is here that there is a taste of the kingdom of God which is “peace and joy in
His Grace, Bishop JERONYMOS,
spending time with younger members
of the church.
20
the Holy Spirit” (Rom.14:17).
Truly, mission teams, in particular
short-term teams, help the new Orthodox Christians live in reality what they
believe. In Orthodoxy, all nations have
space, all languages can glorify the living God, all colors can gather together
and, in unity, worship God. Together
they can say: “Our Father Who art in
heaven.” St. Paul would tell us: “If we
live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the
Spirit” (Gal 5:25). The OCMC Mission
Teams which have come to our Diocese
have expressed the love that Orthodox
in the United States have for us. And out
of that love they are willing and ready
to share with us our common faith. We
feel we are true brothers and sisters in
Christ. The Orthodox faith has power - the power to transcend that which is
given and unite people in Christ.
In our Diocese, different teams have
come over the years and accomplished
different missions. Together we have
built the Kasikizi Catechetical School.
This is an important symbol for our Diocese. It is here that the future catechists
and priests are trained. Together we have
built the All Saints Church in Kasikizi. It
is a place for all nations, from all corners
of the world, to worship the living God.
What matters is our common faith—our
Orthodox faith. We have had teaching
teams come for three consecutive years.
The newly catechized have deepened
faith and learned more about their Orthodoxy. And if we planted, the teams
have watered, and we beseech God to
help them grow. During the teams’ stay
with us, we have worshipped together,
communed from one common cup the
Body and Blood of Christ, and shared
our cultural values. Indeed there has
been a give and a take.
When these teams leave, first we
are filled with tears. Separation is painful. Soon we realize that these tears cement our spiritual relations. We develop
a feeling that we have Orthodox brothers and sisters far away who love and
pray for us and we must do the same
for them. Our understanding of what the
Church of Christ is essentially changes.
The mission teams come to us because
we belong to the same Church - the one
Church of Christ, which is for all nations
all over the world. What is accomplished
contributes to the growth of our mission
Diocese of Bukoba. Things are not the
same as before. A new Catechistical
School is in place, a new church has
been constructed, and the neophytes
have widened their understanding of the
teachings of their Church. We wish we
could continue having a mission team
every year.
2007 Marks the
25 Years Celebrating
Orthodoxy in Ghana
T
he Orthodox Church of Ghana is
preparing for a year celebration
of Orthodoxy in the Diocese. 2007 will
mark 25 years since the Church in Ghana
was received into canonical Orthodoxy
by the Patriarchate of Alexandria and All
Africa. It will also mark 10 years since
the Diocese of Ghana was established.
The whole year has been set aside to
commemorate this important landmark
in the history of the Church with various
activities.
As the preparations for the celebration are underway, it is appropriate to
mention the two Churches in Ghana that
the OCMC has had a role in constructing. In Brakwa, the community of St.
George, and in Peki, the community of
St. Paul, have been completed through
the generous efforts of mission-minded
people from the United States. Another
community that will benefit by having a
permanent building in which to worship
in is Eshiem, which broke ground early
this year on the Presentation of our Lord
Orthodox Church. His Grace Damaskinos,
Bishop of Ghana, shares the exciting
news of a mass baptism from that community where 21 people were received
into the Church.
The Bishop of Ghana inaugurated a
two classroom Day Nursery school in the
Eastern Region of Ghana in the village
of Domeabra which serves as a training center for future leaders. In Asane, a
suburb of Oda, 40 people embraced the
Orthodox Church where they are worshipping under a wooden structure.
Another building is now under construction on the premises of the Holy
Transfiguration Orthodox Cathedral in
Accra which was built by OCMC. It will
house a seminary to train indigenous
clergy. This has been identified as an
urgent need by the Diocese which currently lacks the required number of
adequately trained clergy. This school
building is due to be completed by the
end of May 2007 with other preparations underway, hopefully starting the
Fr. Stephanos at the St. Thomas Home
in Singraja helps the children with their
studies.
academic year in September.
His Grace extends his gratitude to all
the donors of the OCMC who have assisted in making the ministry in Ghana
possible.
Alive in Christ
—Singaraja, Bali
I
n Singaraja, Bali, the community of All
Saints Orthodox Church celebrated
the completion of their church building
last year. This in itself was a wonderful event to celebrate, but having the
church completed had another positive
result. This year, seventeen new people
have been baptized and chrismated and
seven more are attending catechism.
This is a significant increase from last
year’s growth of only six new members.
Having a building in which to worship
has been instrumental in bringing more
people to the faith.
An ongoing ministry of the Church in
Singaraja is the St. Thomas Home where
orphaned children, young adults and the
poor are cared for. Every day, morning
and evening prayers, as well as Bible
studies, are offered to the 20 students.
Four of the students are currently studying English at the University, and six are
21
MISSIONNEWS continued
enrolled in tourism school. Food and
clothing are distributed to old people,
widows and widowers. The community
has also had the blessing of marrying
two couples from abroad, one from the
United States and one from Timor, East
Indonesia.
During the ten one-day clinics throughout
Uganda, Dr. Sanda Constantidi, along with an
interpreter, offers medical treatment to young
patients from the area.
Ocmc Healing Ministry—
Uganda 2006
A Word from the “Pearl of Africa”
by Rev. Dr. Nicholas Bayego, Uganda
e waited with great anxiety for the
arrival of the Health Care Team.
The two weeks that they were here was
like a marathon journey around the various parishes of the Orthodox Church in
Uganda. Every day the team journeyed
two to five hours, which was enough
to drive one crazy. The program was
certainly a taste for the American missionaries of what missions is like in the
heartland of Africa. Headaches, fatigue
and mixed joy was the order of the day
after the typical African bumpy road ride.
Many of the team members may have
considered the next plane back to the
States, but they resisted that temptation
so that the healing ministry of our Lord
Jesus Christ could be accomplished.
They stayed rekindled by the beautiful
words of two beloved hierarchs in Africa
who say that the three important virtues
a missionary should apply are: first patience, second patience, and third patience.
W
22
The two weeks that the team spent
in Uganda, traveling over rough terrain
and setting up temporary clinics, were
not only about diagnosing, prescribing
or dispensing drugs to the needy and
sick Africans in the upcountry communities. It was nothing else but an extension of the healing ministry of our Lord,
Jesus Christ. Our Lord’s therapy was
not only physical, but spiritual as well.
It was a joy to see the doctors and their
assistants so involved emotionally with
their patients. The doctors went overboard by giving out icons, crosses, assistance, and above all LOVE. That was
the Christian witness that other worldly
doctors miss. This OCMC Medical Mission Team was not intended for the sole
purpose of proselytism, but love has a
magnetic catch, or reaction. The Spirit
of the Lord was blowing wherever It
willed. The doctors and I had to send
away many hundreds of patients unattended because of our time constraints.
Yet after the team left we did not hear
ill words because people had not received the medical care for which they
had come. Instead, people were asking
when the good doctors would come
back. People, even in Africa, can perceive that there is a limit to human intervention or effort. What was not finished
by the medical team, the Holy Spirit will
fulfill. After the team left, many people
who were not Orthodox asked for more
information on the Orthodox Faith; others have already started catechism and,
God willing, many will come to the common table of our Lord through baptism.
Another blessing that the Medical
Team brought to Uganda was a clergy
seminar on death and dying led by Dr.
Dan Hinshaw. All of the clergy from
the entire country were invited to this
event.
On behalf of His Eminence Metropolitan Jonah, the patients served and
unserved, the priests serving in Uganda and on my own behalf as the local
team leader, we would like to express
our heart-felt deep appreciation to the
American medical team of 2006, the
members of OCMC in Florida and the
board members and donors who made
this healing ministry to Uganda a success. May the Name of the Holy Trinity
be glorified among His Saints.
Giving the Light of
Orthodoxy to All in Zimbabwe
H
is Eminence George, Metropolitan of Zimbabwe, shares the many
ways that the Light of Orthodoxy is
spreading in Zimbabwe and Malawi.
One of the most exciting of these are
the massive baptisms which occur
three times a year after candidates have
undergone a six-month period of catechism with lessons twice each week.
On the eve of Pentecost this year, 300
newly illumined were brought into the
fold of the Church. Two Zimbabwean
men began studies at the Patriarchal
Seminary in Nairobi, a three-year program of course studies for the priesthood. Nektarios Justin, graduated in
July 2006 and is now offering catechism
in Malawi.
to spread the
Gospel of Jesus
Christ around
the world.
Please mail your generous
contribution today!
Team Members from St. Barnabas Orthodox Church,
Huntington Beach, CA (Left to right) Peter Wilson, Hannah Ray,
Christine Gilbert, Sophia Olson, Joshua Haught, Claire Kruse, Fr. Wayne
Wilson (Parish Priest), Monika Lehman, Tim Fogle, Meghan Ray, Fr. Martin Ritsi,
OCMC Executive Director, Andrew Honore, Shannon Berry, Mary Braun
Dear Friends of the Mission Center,
Missions trips? Why yes, actually. I’ve recently
returned from a short term mission trip to Albania with OCMC. In fact, at my home parish, St. Barnabas, I was one of 11 college students (all from our parish) to go on short-term
trips with OCMC this summer. We went to
Kenya, Tanzania, Alaska, Albania, and Romania. It was such an incredible experience, and
I hope and pray to go back whenever I can. While we were there, each of us had a unique
and inspiring experience. We met most of the
long term missionaries, and were so touched
by the sacrifices that they make and the devotion that they had towards Christ and spreading the love of His Church. And now that all
eleven of us are home safely, we are working to
form a missions committee at our parish, and
also to spread the word about Orthodox Missions by visiting sister parishes here in Southern California to speak about our experiences.
Mary Braun
St. Barnabas Orthodox Church
Huntington Beach, CA
Children smiling as they greet His Eminence
GEORGE, Metropolitan of Zimbabwe
You can help us
LETTERS to the Editor
Dear OCMC,
On behalf of the congregation of Saint Herman Orthodox Church in Port Graham
Alaska, I would like to say “Thank You!” for
sending a Mission Team to our village. It was
the first time we’ve had a mission group here
and it was a real eye opener for many. Our
church attendance has declined greatly over
the years and these wonderful people came to
help us rebuild interest in coming to services.
There have been many comments on how kind
and friendly this group was, which is exactly
what our people need—to know that there
are Orthodox all over the United States and
the world is very exciting! We were delighted
with this group of people. Everyone of them
had something special to offer along with their
unique personalities. As for me, they touched
my heart and strengthened my faith in the Orthodox Church.
We gladly welcome another mission
group in the near future!
Thank you all,
Deborah McMullen
Port Graham, AK
Taking the Gospel of Christ
to the ends of the Earth
Coin boxes give kids a
chance to support Missions.
Dear OCMC,
It is my privilege and honor to give you this
donation on behalf of the Sunday school students of Holy Trinity. Our students look forward each year to take their coin boxes home
and come up with creative ways to raise money
for the Orthodox Christian Mission Center.
Whether they set up lemonade stands or have
a dollar for dollar match up with their parents,
it is fruitful way for them to make a difference
to others in need.
Sincerely,
Juli M. Pritsos
Sunday School Director
Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Cathedral
Phoenix, AZ
Go therefore and make
disciples of all the nations,
baptizing them in the
name of the Father and
of the Son and of the
Holy Spirit (Matthew 28:19)
1-877-GO-FORTH (463-6784)
www.ocmc.org
For More Information about OCMC: [email protected]
www.ocmc.org 1-(877)-Go-Forth (463-6784)
P. O . B o x 4 3 1 9 • S t . A u g u s t i n e , F L 3 2 0 8 5 - 4 3 1 9

Christian Witness of Living and dying in honor of Lynette hoppe

Transcription

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