Dear friends and supporters of the Foreign Mission,
We are writing to you from far away Malawi, Africa, to share with you once again the joys and sorrows of the mission. With the blessing of our Metropolitan always, we continue our humble ministry, to the glory of the Almighty God, and day by day, even with small steps, our Church here is progressing.
Through many difficulties and with your valuable assistance we have managed so far to build a few churches and schools and thus serve the needs of the new believers. But unfortunately there are not enough churches nor schools. In about 10 parishes that have been established, our Orthodox are gathering in straw huts. There they pray. That’s where the services are held. Often, in the season of heavy rains, the roofs leak or the bricks made of mud are knocked down.
One of these parishes is Tsiratzoulou, in the mountain village of Ngouara. In this village for 4 years now we have baptized the first Orthodox Christians. Their patience and patience is admirable. They built the thatched hut by themselves and gather there on Sundays and holidays. One would think that their interest in the faith would wane and we would lose them. But on the contrary, they were not disappointed. They did not betray their faith. They often say: “we Orthodox Christians were baptized and with this faith we will die”. They often wet the earth with tears, begging God to find a donor to build them a church, a holy temple, where they will be able to worship our Triune God with dignity.
It is their concern to have a strong and robust parish that moves us. They have organized themselves very well. They have elected commissioners for the church. They all discuss their problems together and collectively visit other Christians who are in greater need. Each one gives them a few pennies each and so with this meagre amount of money some aching souls are relieved. This parish is a model of charity and love that many of us would envy.
My brothers and sisters, these good people, these conscious Christians, who have put the Gospel into practice, let us not have to wait for them any longer. Please, if anyone has the ability, let them offer this area a church. The builder of the Church will reap many blessings. These people will forever feel gratitude for the one who offers them the building of a simple Holy Temple. Their fervent prayers will constantly embrace him. They will feel him to be their own man. Their priest will commemorate him continually in the Divine Liturgy.
With the love of Christ,
Priest Hermolaus from Malawi
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