Dear Friends of Mission,
With God’s help we are well. We had a great time all the 12 holy days of Christmas (i.e., from Christmas to Epiphany Day). Our hearts were full of joy and blessing. I visited our parishes in the villages, and our faithful gave me a warm welcome.
I would like to express my deep gratitude to your Fraternity for your donation of 5,500 euro. Your support helps us meet very important needs and strengthens the Orthodox Mission in the Muslim-majority country of Indonesia. I would also like to thank all the kind-hearted people, men and women, who gave their love and support to our Mission. I distributed the money to our clergymen here, since, as you know, our priests have no salaries to live on.
I am certain you all understand that it is very difficult to carry out missionary work without means. Moving from one village to another requires expenses. Who am I supposed to ask for financial aid? Our local missionary division has no money. I have to stay with them for a few days from time to time. Most certainly, I have to have some money with me for my expenses. How can I invite another person to our team to do missionary work without having something to offer them to eat? In addition, we run the Theological School and every year we have graduates who go to the Protestant Church, which offers good salaries and future prospects. More often than not, a lot of our priests look for another job so they can make a living.
Moreover, our Theological School has plenty of needs to be met as regards the priests, the teaching staff and the rest of the employees, and it is only me who has to care for everything. The works and projects of this Mission are not only responsibility of Father Chrysostomos but of all those involved in Mission in Indonesia. I pray to God Almighty to reward your goodness with His rich blessings. Our best regards from Indonesia to all the pious friends and associates of the Orthodox Missionary Fraternity.
Fr. Chrysostomos Manalu
