Thank you very much for the money you sent us. May God give you his riches.
Faculty of Theology
Thank you very much for your financial help for the Apostle Paul Theological School in Medan. This money was spent for the purchase of many theological books in Indonesian and ordered some in English. In addition to that we bought some cupboards to put these books in.
Our Faculty of Theology has two departments (the theological and the educational). Both departments are recognized by the government. But every two years the government inspects the faculty to check our progress. Last year we sorted out our offices (Principal’s office, teachers’ office, clerks’ offices). This year we will sort out our library. That is why your help is very important for us at the Apostle Paul Medan School of Theology. Now registration has started and will end on August 13, 2009 and on August 14 we will have exams. We have 60 new students this year. Our total number of students is 250.
They don’t pay tuition because most of them are poor. That’s why the money you sent us is not wasted, it goes to the poor. Every afternoon our students pray that the good Lord will give you health, joy and longevity. They send you their gratitude for the many books we have bought at your expense. Thank you. After exams, Soteria passed the state university in the psychology department, but she will enroll in medical school at a private university. The tuition for one year is 3,000€, except for the books we have to buy. For the first year we have to pay 6,000€. God willing, Soteria will start her studies at the beginning of September 2009.
Brother President, is there any possibility for Soteria to receive the scholarship for her medical studies in Indonesia from our Brotherhood?
Clinic
At the beginning of April 2009, a respected priest and his community sent us a sum of money to build a clinic in Medan, close to the poor who live on the outskirts of the city. We bought a large building unfinished (two floors). The project is progressing. The clinic is called THEOTOKOS because it is the wish of Fr. Nicholas Marketos. We are now making an effort to apply for a license to operate the clinic. This is the schedule, if all goes well, we will open the clinic exactly on the day of the Feast of the Presentation. The building is almost finished. We’ve got the power on, the phones. Now we still need the following:
- 10 wards for the sick (1.500€)
- 19 beds (1.500€)
- 1 pharmacy (1.000€)
- Medicines (5.000€)
- Furniture (1.000€) Total 10.000€
My brothers and sisters, in order for our clinic to function properly, we need to have at least two doctors and four nurses, so that we can work all day long. For the six employees of our clinic for one year we need 10,000€.
The monastery
Two months ago we built the first and historic Orthodox women’s monastery in Indonesia. For the beginning we built Sister Agnes’ cell (kitchen, small living room, etc.) and next to the cell we are building a chapel. Sister Agni learned the monastic life for 5 years in Arta where she left in February and came back to Indonesia to start the monastery. What can I tell you, I am ashamed to tell you again that the monastery is without furniture etc. I believe that this monastery should be opened before the Enthronement.
The children in the Nias
In June I went down to Nias to see the works of our mission there. But since July 13, 2009 is the first day of the 2009-2010 school year, I came down on July 21-22 to see the new children in particular. They send you their warm greetings. These are our new brothers and sisters. May the Lord, the source of all good things, reward you with his rich bounties.
With many best wishes
π. Chrysostomos Manalou 
Small comment: The great trial and sorrow that Fr Chrysostomos and his family experienced with the death of his son John seems not to have diminished them. Fr. Chrysostomos’ wounded heart received the balm of consolation of the Paraclete Holy Spirit and he continues with confidence in God his missionary work in Indonesia with the same zeal. His dreams now turn to his daughter Salvation. He wishes to see her as a doctor and missionary so that she can continue the Orthodox mission they started in Medan, Indonesia. We hope that God will bless his dreams.
