Dear friends of the Mission, With God’s help we are well. I would like to write you some of our news from Indonesia.
- On August 25th, Father Charitonos was ordained as an elder at the St. Demetrios Church in Medan. It is a great blessing for us that our Orthodox Church in Indonesia gains another minister. Fr. Chariton comes from this island and is a graduate of our Theological School. Also, his elder is also a graduate of our seminary and has a diploma in education. They have a girl, whose name is Eugenia. Fr. Chariton will minister in Nias because we have three communities there. Also, the St. Nicholas Orthodox School operates there with 135 students. Fr. Chariton and his family will live in a small room in the school. Therefore, if you have the possibility, please help us to build a permanent house for them.
- This year, 87 students graduated from our Saint Paul Theological Seminary. The graduation took place on August 27th and our pastor, Metropolitan Constantine was present.
- In our Faculty of Theology we have five postgraduate students, who we are preparing to become priests once they finish their studies. We have a small house where we host them for their studies, but we cannot provide them with any other support. If possible, help them.
- With the money sent to us by your Brotherhood, we bought a motorcycle for our graduate student Eleftherios, who teaches in many Sunday schools and travels long distances. He is married and, to cover his family’s expenses, he works in the fields. Pray that God will strengthen them.
- Our house is full of blessings! We have many children who stay with us as if they were our own. In total there are now 16 people. We have a kitchen large enough to serve their needs. In the mornings our house is empty because everyone is leaving for their schools and universities. As I once read, if you want to earn something in the short term, plant corn; if you want to earn something for 10 years, plant trees; but if you want to earn something for 50 years, invest in education and send the children to school. That is why we never stop having many children around us and educating them at our own expense, to ensure the future of the Orthodox Church. In this context, we thank you for the 4,000 euros you sent us to cover their tuition fees.
That, my brothers, is our news. I hope the Lord Jesus Christ will bless you with His riches.
π. Chrysostomos Manalu
