By the Grace of God and the blessings of the reverend Head of the second to the throne Patriarchate and our spiritual father His Grace Patriarch Theodore, the works are in progress. The (economic) crisis has certainly affected us here, too, because our revenues have been reduced by 50%. Being human, it is only natural for us to be concerned. However, we believe that God supervises and provides for His works, because whatever happens, is His work and happens for a good cause. Faith and hope in His Providence will never be absent from our heart. We can draw so many examples out of our long experience that lack of faith and panic have no place in our life. We are moving towards both directions, missionary and charitable, with considerable difficulties though. We have reduced plenty of our important activities due to the financial crisis, but we are trying to continue any activity or program we can.
In search of drinkable water
Problems in missions have no end. Every day new problems arise unexpectedly. A serious problem we are facing with the southern part of the country around the region of Tulear is shortage of water A large region of several thousand acres lacks drinkable water, and the people have to carry it daily from far away, a distance of approximately 8 kilometers, on their carts, or in makeshift wheelbarrows, or even on the head in jerry-cans. This is a picture we see daily on the main roads when we go to Tulear. I remember once it had rained- rain is a rare phenomenon in that region – and the children would fill their buckets from the gutters on the roadsides. They were very happy because they had the chance to play with the rain water.
Considering the needs of this region, we thought of constructing cisterns of water with a capacity of 25-30,000 liters each and fill them up with the help of the water-wagon we brought from Greece once a month so that the people can have clean drinkable water and also water their livestock, which are suffering so much.
Taking into consideration the economic crisis our country is facing, I am begging the beloved friends of the Orthodox Mission to support us if they can, so that we will be able to face this urgent need for drinkable water. In total, we need three cisterns for three different villages. The cost of each cistern is expected to come to 10,000€. I honestly apologize for asking such a high amount of money in the middle of a crisis, but even your smallest contribution could be of great help to us.
The new orphanage in Antananarivo
I cannot help referring to the continuous financial help of your Fraternity and especially the regular offer of food given out every week to a large number of poor families. We also want to thank you for the donation of 50,000€ from a lady donor, who has undertaken one wing of the orphanage. The works for the erection are being continued but the number of the people working there has been reduced because we cannot pay quite often and in big installments the constructor who has undertaken the erection of the orphanage. We do not complain about anything but we praise God for everything and are also grateful to all of you, who, despite your financial difficulties, keep helping us to continue the work of our church.
Sacraments in mud huts
Despite our difficulties, we are honored to see the great appeal Orthodoxy has, always by the Grace of God.
Last week more than 100 people were added to the body of our Church through the holy sacrament of Baptism. Several months before, f. Paul had prepared and catechized those people in order to accept the Grace of the Holy Spirit. Their village is quite far from the central road, where cars have no access. We followed the cart track, at the risk of the car breaking down on the way.
This village has no church of its own, therefore, the holy liturgies and all the sacraments are held in a poorly made mud hut, which, I believe, has a solemn atmosphere, but the people are asking for a beautiful church, as in the other villages. It is the second time we have had group christenings and weddings in this village, but we cannot afford the construction of a new church. Let us hope that God presents a devout donor who will undertake the cost of this church.
Expedition to the jungle
The life of an orthodox missionary is mainly an uphill road, a calvary. In a distant village where there is still no church, the people were begging me through the priest to visit them. Despite the amount of work I had, the priest and I set a Sunday for the visit. It was a long way to the village, and the road was rough and broken, with big ditches in the way. We set off on Saturday noon taking with us all the necessary things for the Holy Liturgy. The mission jeep -loaded with stuff and people- was struggling to avoid the difficult parts of the road. Darkness fell long before we reached the village, and driving became even more difficult. We were all possessed by anxiety and fear in case something unexpected occurred on the way.
A few hundred meters before the village we were met by men who had come to take us there. When we eventually reached the village, it was very late but our praise to God was big and our emotion high when we saw all the Christians, young and old, waiting for us outside the school with lighted candles in order to welcome us.
Our joy was great, and this reminded us of the Acts of the Apostles and the Epistles of Apostle Paul, when, along with his custody, he met the Christians during his visits.
After they welcomed us and took our blessing by kissing our hands, we all got into a big classroom-since there is still no temple- and started catechism.
The room filled with young and old who were listening to the word of the Lord in exemplary silence. The few candles shed light on the place of the speaker, while the very little children started feeling sleepy. Although plenty of the adults did not want to leave, the speaker, having discretion, closed the subject because it was already very late.
For dinner they took us to the catechist’s house, where they had prepared the best food they had with plenty of love. It is very moving to see poor people depriving themselves of the best food in order to give it to others.
In the villages the houses are practically mud huts and the space for hospitality limited. In spite of this, we were all settled somewhere, and so was the Bishop in the back car seat. Demands have no place in missionary expeditions. In the morning the space in the school where the Holy Liturgy would be held was ready. A big classroom was emptied from the desks and was prepared for the Liturgy. In a while, it was filled to capacity. Their attention was exemplary. In the end, there was sermon followed by free discussion. Their request always the same: “we need a Holy Church, because the school, despite the fact that the headmaster offers it with all his heart, does not help us spiritually”. We promised to start right as soon as the money required was found. The plot is ready thanks to a devout person’s donation. These people know how to wait and be patient. Let us hope that God will provide the solution to this problem.
Ignatios of Madagascar
