With God’s help, we were worthy this year to live the holy days of Easter with devotion. We are a little tired, but our hearts are full of the joy of God, the joy of the Resurrection.
I have just returned from our community of St. Ephraim, where I went to see the works at our school of St. John the Baptist. The works are almost finished, the doors and chairs are still to be done. Of course we still have time, because the school year starts in mid-July. Apart from that, we are also waiting for the operating permit from the government. My brothers and sisters, we have the liturgical books (Mass, Baptism, Marriage, Funeral, Preface, Paraclete, Akathist) translated into Indonesian. We have been using these books for over 10 years, but we found several errors, which we have corrected. So we intend to print corrected translations to distribute them to some communities. If possible, my brothers, it would be good to print it this year and we can print the name of the donor on the book. For this project we need money of around 5,000 euros for 1,500 books. The works at our Theotokos Hospital are almost finished. We still need some additions to the equipment (beds, computers, oxygen tanks, etc.). As I have told you, 31,200 euros are needed to purchase it. You have already sent me the 10,000 euros and we have bought the first items and we thank you very much. So, my brothers, we still need 20,000 euros.
Project report
On the occasion of the Easter 2013 celebration, I would like to express my great gratitude for some of your great works here at the Indonesian Orthodox Mission. – Thank you for the Schools you have built. St. Sophia Orthodox School has 400 students, starting from elementary school and going all the way to high school. The Computer Academy has 150 students. The buildings of Aghia Sophia and the Academy are donated by the Brotherhood of Orthodox Foreign Missionaries. – You have built some communities, a community in the village of Pargambiran, dedicated to the Annunciation, and a community in the village of Siparbue, dedicated to the Resurrection of Christ, a community in the village of Hiligeo Nias, dedicated to the Holy Apostles Paul and Martha. – We are also taking part in the completion of the building of the Hospital of Our Lady in Medan, particularly on the third floor. – A part of the farm in the village of Lae Rias, where we are now planting corn, is purchased by you. And what did you not give to the Orthodox Mission of Indonesia? You have even given your heart for the Orthodox Mission all over the world and, among them, to the small Orthodox Mission of Indonesia.
Vision for the future
You have laid the first foundation for the Orthodoxy of Sumatra in the 12 years of my ministry. First of all, I pray to God to give us a blessing to prepare the second generation of believers to continue this work in the right spirit. Secondly, that we stand on our feet financially so that the works of the mission may run smoothly and regularly. I see our youth, the future of the Church, who will graduate from the University in 3 years at the latest and will work properly and bring good spirit and financial resources to our Community. These are my dreams to move Orthodoxy forward in far away Indonesia. For this to happen, my brothers, I still need your hands, your help, until Orthodoxy in Indonesia becomes mature at all levels. This, my brothers, is our news and my great gratitude to You, who have strengthened the God-given works of the Mission in Indonesia. May our good God, the owner of the Orthodox Mission in Indonesia give you His rich goods. Christ is risen! Kristus Sudah Bangkit!
π. Chrysostomos Manalu
We are pleased to inform you that the 5.000 € required for the printing of liturgical books have already been collected thanks to the sensitivity of an anonymous donor from Volos.
