Dear missionary friends, rejoice in the Lord! With God’s help we are well. I hope you are all well in His protection. I would like to report a few things from our Orthodox Mission here in Sumatra, Indonesia. From 23 to 26 December 2016 I went down to our community of the Resurrection of the Lord in the village of Siparbue. I stayed there to give them some advice, as their priest Fr. Athanasios has been asleep for 2 years now. So far no other priest has come. So, in order to serve our communities here in Tarutung province, someone has to come down from Medan town, either myself or Fr. Theodosius. On those days, we celebrated some sacred services (Mass, Baptism) and Christmas celebrations. They were very happy because we stayed close to them. We prayed to the Most Merciful God to send them a priest.
The situation in Indonesia is not good, because Muslim fanatics have risen up and want to implement sharia law throughout Indonesia. People do not want them because we have many tribes and religions here. They have made too many attacks, burned churches, bombed Christian properties. If a Christian wants to claim a leadership position, they prevent him in every way. Pray, my brothers and sisters, that Almighty God will keep us safe. We have received your donation of 7,000 euros and we thank you very much. In January we started the construction of the priest’s house. We have planned the baptisms and we have also paid all of Stephen’s tuition for the University. This year, God willing, he will finish his studies and start looking for a job to help his little orphaned brothers and sisters left by Fr. Athanasius. My brothers, another son of Father Stephen, Cosmas, is very keen to become a hagiographer. Archbishop Stylian of Australia invited him to become an iconographer and also a theologian. All expenses there will be covered by the Archdiocese, but in order to enter Australia, he must learn the language and pass the required exams. As you know, we priests here in Indonesia do not receive salaries. So I am not able to send Cosmas to learn the language, so I appeal to your love. In the future we will need a local hagiographer for our mission, so Cosmas is an answer for us. If it is possible, my brothers, help him so that he can learn the language. The cost will be 3,000 euros. That’s our news, my brothers. I hope that the Most Merciful God will enrich you with His riches in the New Year 2017.
π. Chrysostomos Manalu
