Dear brothers,
Rejoice in the Lord. With God’s help, we are well. I would like to tell you a few things about our Mission here in Sumatra.
We managed to keep running all our educational institutions this year too, from the primary school to the Theological School. From them, which you yourselves have made, lots of young Orthodox people have graduated.
Our hospital in Medan, Theotokos, is operating normally and offers any kind of help to the sick. However, the responsibility I bear for it is extremely big. How can I organize this hospital which is in need of so many things? The only income we have is the little money paid by the poor patients for hospital costs.
Here in Indonesia, there is lack of priests, that is why we cannot do a great deal of spiritual work since we cannot serve everyone adequately. At least, we make great efforts in order to have permanent resources for our fund and be able to continue this pleasing to God mission. Two years ago, as you probably remember, we bought, through the assistance of the Orthodox Missionary Fraternity, a few fields in the mountainous village of Sumbul. This year we planted pepper and potatoes and- thank God- we had a good harvest and we got good prices.
Permanent needs of the Mission
However, there are too many needs to be covered. Thank God, the financial support which you send us from time to time is of great help. We use most of this money to cover the following needs:
- At the Theological School of Apostle Paul in Medan, we employ a staff of 10 people (secretaries, librarians, cleaners, one watchman) and 17 teachers, who serve 450 students every day.
- At the Computers Academy in Medan, we have 5 employees and 20 teachers who serve 460 students on a daily basis.
- At the School of Saint Nikitas in Medan, we have 4 employees, 15 teachers and 350 students.
- At the School of Saint Nicholas in Nias, we have 3 employees, 12 teachers and 90 students.
- At the Medan Hospital we employ 8 people as auxiliary staff, 10 nurses and 2 doctors. The rest of the doctors are outworkers.
- At the Holy Convent of Theotokos in Medan lives Sister Agnes. This convent is very small and cannot afford to cover its expenses, such as electricity, water and daily needs. That is why we have to take care of it as well.
In addition, the running expenses increase if I go to the rest of our communities in order to perform a mystery, or when I am called by the government to go to Jakarta about the schools or our Church. Then, the expenses increase even more since we have to cover the plane fares and the hotel accommodation as well.
Moreover, another main problem is that soon the operation license is going to expire. The amount of money required for a renewal is 3,000 €, So far we haven’t been able to find donors. Pray for us to find the money because we are in a very difficult position.
Now, you are aware of the big burden we have to carry. Thank God, you have been by our side in all the difficult projects of our mission from the very beginning. The Orthodox people of Indonesia are grateful to you for your undivided support. I believe in our Good God, and I am absolutely convinced that your contributions are not wasted but sooner or later they will bear fruit in Glory of our Holy Trinity.
That’s all our news, my brothers. May God, the source of all goods, reward you lavishly.
Father Chrysostomos Manalu
