And also the ordination of Fathers Barnabas and Georgios:

All videos have been gotten from the website of the Greek Archdiocese of New Zealand, found here, where more news and videos can be seen.

Rev Themi talks about Faith, Works and being Born Again from PK4A Videos on Vimeo.

How did the idea for St. Basil’s Mission come about?

Nick: As I noted on the video on the web site, I was impressed with the area when I drove through to see the farm that was so central to my wife’s growing up. The combination of university and businesses, ethnic and economic diversity in the Bible Belt fascinated me. What I didn’t mention on the video was being surprised to find no Orthodox presence of any jurisdiction within 100 miles in any direction – and mostly much more than that. And what frustrated me when I inquired was the same answer I would hear often: “There’s no one out there.” In other words, no Orthodox people – or any that could be a core to build from.

Joel: Well it was already an idea before I came along. Nick has been talking about his hopes to start a mission in Western Oklahoma since I met him at St. Tikhon’s.

After the second year at St. Tikhon’s, it’s up to the seminarians to find an internship opportunity for the summer. I spent the first few months of the year asking around but hadn’t found anything. After a conversation with Nick one day, I was inspired to join him in his efforts here in Oklahoma.

What are the current and future plans for St. Basil’s Mission?

Nick: For the summer I’m planning to do daily Matins and Vespers, seminars on Tues. and Wed. evening and to be visible in the community and involved with the local food pantry – which is kind of a ministerial hub in this area.

My plan for the future is to finish my M. Div. studies at St. Tikhon’s next year and (God-willing) be ordained next summer and return as a priest to the mission to continue to build on the foundation we’re laying this summer – one person/family at a time.

My long term plans are to work to change (in every and any opportunity I’m given) the un-Apostolic approach to missions that’s part of the Orthodox culture in this country. That is, to wait until a core group arises (or is discovered) and then supply a priest and support. Rather than developing mission teams – with priests at the lead – who will move into an area and establish a mission…and support themselves. In other words, I intend to work and use whatever voice and influence I’m given to have the “no ones” seen as “someones” worth sacrificing for.

Joel: My wife, three kids and I will be here until the middle of July but I know Nick will be here until the end of August to continue the Reader’s services. As far as publicity is concerned, we’ve created a website, business cards, flyers – the usual – to try and get the word out. We’ve also been walking around town in our cassocks, which seems to turn more heads than anything else. Getting attention only carries you so far though. So for the foreseeable future the goal is to lay a foundation of prayer for the mission, to be visible in the community and begin reaching out in whatever way we can. We’ve made several in-roads already.

What sort of support are you getting?

Nick: I have many people praying for the mission and a supervisor in TX that is advising and overseeing our work this summer. A week or so ago one of the monasteries we have a relationship with donated a very important set of liturgical books to the mission. As of about two hours ago we had received no financial support aside from a fellow seminarian tithing to the mission for the summer, but we just received a wonderful, anonymous $1,000 donation in the mail.

I should clarify that we knew going into this we’d receive no financial help, so anything we do get is a great blessing. Joel and Tessi Wilson (who are here for a month) have made the same decision. Joel (as an experienced subdeacon) had his pick of parishes to work in this summer that would have paid him the expected $1,500/mo internship – and very likely much more. Instead he and Tessi have chosen to forego that and work with us in the mission.

Joel: We have many people (and communities) praying for us. There are actually a lot of people who are excited about it because it’s different than the usual approach to missions within the Orthodox Church (as Nick mentioned already). We’ve been told that we’re kind of a test-case and what happens here this summer may have an impact on the future of Orthodox missions in America.

How can people help?

Nick: Pray! first and foremost – pray. Prayers offered at the Eucharist, of course, but also akathists and canons for the people ministering and those who God is preparing to encounter the Church. My strong belief is NOT that people don’t really care about missions and bringing Apostolic Christianity to America but that they are not praying – and therefore are showing that they don’t care.

I am absolutely convinced that the person (or group) that prays a weekly akathist or any supplicatory prayers of the Church for a specific mission will be convicted in whatever way God is calling them to support that work… And that will be as diverse as the needs of the mission and the resources and personality of the person… Everything from traditional financial assistance to help with web design and other technology that is increasingly important.

Joel: Like Nick said, pray. Everyone knows these types of endeavors need funding too though – God has provided at least two donors to this point. If you feel so inclined, we’ll have a “Donate” button set up on the website soon. Oh, and if you know anyone in Oklahoma, tell them about us!

How can we stay abreast of this mission’s efforts?

Nick: With the internet options of web sites and blogs there is simply no reason a mission can’t keep everyone informed on a very, very regular basis unless they don’t know how to do it or don’t have the means to have it done. I’m blessed to have Joel doing this and guiding me through it so I will be posting very regularly.

Of course not all information should be posted and that’s where a “go to” person representing the sending parish or a group of supporters is invaluable – this is what Evangelical Protestant congregations do to great effect. Each congregation or support group has a person who is in close communication with the mission team and keeps them abreast of what is happening. The mission team feels connected and supported (isolation is a huge problem) and the supporters have a very real stake in the work – especially if they are also praying… That’s what I would love to have and what I would love to see other mission teams have in the future.

Joel: Check out our website, www.saintbasil.org and look for us on Facebook as well. We’ll have an email list soon, so subscribe to that when it’s up for effortless updates.

Br Justin, Tim Sparks, Fr Seraphim

Orthodox monasticism in Southern Africa is a fragile plant.

For the last few years there have been one or two people trying to live the monastic life, in one or other of the three “monasteries” in Gauteng (can you call it a monastery when there are no monks?)

Father Nazarius and Father Elias established the Monastery of the Descent of the Holy Spirit at Gerardville in 2000. Then Fr Nazarius died in 2008, and there were no monks there for a couple of years. Deacon Nectarius lived at Hennops Pride for a while, and then at St Nectarius, and then went overseas for a kidney stone operation and hasn’t returned. Fr Seraphim, as far as we know, was the first monk to be tonsured in South Africa, by Patriarch Theodoros, in 2006, but then he was ordained and sent to work in a parish as a parish priest.

At the beginning of this year, however, Fr Seraphim returned to the Monastery of the Descent of the Holy Spirit, and has been joined by Brother Justin, who, though not quite a novice, seems as though he may become one. They have been doing maintenance work on the buildings, which had deteriorated quite a lot, and are trying to make the place more habitable. There are a couple of others living on the property, who are not monastics, but form part of the wider community.

Earlier in the week I took Tim Sparks of Durban to go and spend a few days with them. Though they are not really geared to receive vistitors, certainly not in large numbers, it is possible now for people who are interested in the monastic life to go and spend some time with them, for prayer, work and study.

This month’s priest is Fr. Christos Sarkar (pictured with his family). Fr. Christos serves in India, at St. Thomas Orthodox Church in Arambagh Hooghly.

You can find more pictures of SAMP priests, and other OCMC news, at their blog, here.

Hat Tip: Byzantine, Texas

For a longer version, see RT News.

The Bulgarians also have a tiny chapel decided to St. Ivan Rilski at their base further south which is the first Orthodox structure in Antarctica. More on that at Wikipedia.

The last container, from Greece

The Container has Arrived! – The Agony and the Ecstasy

Posted by Rev Themi on May 28, 2011

The Initial Ambivalent Emotions

When the time for the clearance of a container from overseas draws near the Diocese administration begin to experience sharp and divided ambivalent emotions and a sense of trepidation.

That seems a strange and even bizarre admission. However there are real grounds for our split emotions. First comes the joy of expectations.

Then comes the struggle and anxieties of clearing the container. Followed by a constant effort to keep the goods safe, secure and in the right hands.

The Joy

Whenever a benevolent group of people abroad – such as the missionary minded youth of the St. George Church of Filiron (near Thessalonica); or, an individual philanthropic organization such as Paradise Kids 4 Africa (Australia) take the rouble to organise the sending of a container to our Diocese in Sierra Leone we inevitably and obviously greet the news with great joy and anticipation. We are delighted and thrilled that our Mission will be the recipient of generous donations of essential food supplies, clothing, furniture, medical equipment, school items, kids’ toys, electronic equipment and other goods for distribution to our schools, staff and the needy.

The Anxiety and Anguish

It may sound strange that in the face of the initial joy and jubilation we are overcome in turn by a sober and even harsh pragmatic reality check.

The reason for this anguish is very simple.

In our past consecutive experiences of clearing containers from the port we have found it a lengthy, painful and expensive event where we inevitably become the victims of unscrupulous opportunism. The process in clearing a container from the port is in these regions of the world is a singularly torrid, gruelling and frustrating event.

In short it is a merciless headache.

PK4A has previously sent over 3 containers full of books and gifts from Australia and unless one knows how to manoeuvre through the multi-dimensional labyrinths of bureaucratic red tape and its idiosyncratic demands the container will remain in port accumulating heavy moorage fines everyday for weeks – while the food items begin to rot.

So the aim of the game is to get the container out as soon as possible with minimal financial damage to the Diocese and our generous sponsors. How do we achieve that?

Our New Approach and Success

Drawing on our past experiences and the lessons we have been taught after several previous false starts we have now mastered the art of minimising the time and cost of clearance. We follow a simple but effective rule.

1. Start the process of clearance early through the arrival of the Bill of Lading and a clear list of items within the container.

2. Appoint the most experienced and “port savvy” member of our administration to handle the process. He needs to be a local who understands the subtleties of the local culture. The presence of a foreigner, especially of European descent, would automatically inflate the financial process. We usually send one of our most dedicated staff members King David Kargbo who works assiduously and relentlessly from morning till evening with a single minded passion to release the container with minimum hurdles.

3. Have as much paper work ready well before the container arrives and ensure that all relevant departments and authorities have been consulted.

4. Pay all bills immediately.

A Container from Thessalonica Arrives

Last week a container arrived from the Church of St. George in Filiron (Thessalonica), Greece. They send us two containers per year. This time we cleared it in record time and with minimal costs. Praise God!

It contained tons of rice (the national staple diet of Sierra Leone), sacks of salt, cooking oil, tomato paste, flour, beans, school furniture, clothing items and medical equipment. In cooperation with the Ministry of Social Welfare and especially with the personal interest shown by the Deputy Minister Mrs. Roslyn Sanko concerning the challenges facing the disabled of this country, we have already started distributing the food items to the community of the disabled (polio and amputee victims) which our Diocese houses in Waterloo at the outer perimeter of Freetown (The St. Moses Orthodox Village) as well as to other disabled groups.

The Holy Orthodox Diocese of Sierra Leone and the Disabled

It is important to note that presently there are no social welfare benefits or allowances in Sierra Leone as in Australia for the physically disabled or challenged. (In Sierra Leone the term “disabled” is employed to designate polio and amputee victims). Consequently their survival to a very large extent relies upon their street begging skills and the generosity of local church organisations or Non-Government Organisations.

It is interesting however that in the three short years of our presence in Sierra Leone, we have become the major ecclesiastical partner in the government’s activities for the disabled of this country. Other church organisation have been reluctant to participate in the affairs of the disabled because of the difficulties they have experienced. Let us not forget that there was a lengthy and barbaric civil war here only a few years ago and the disabled were thoroughly caught up in the conflict. Some suffered brutally at the hands of the rebels (e.g. hand and leg amputations). Others in order to survive assisted or even spied for the rebels. This has caused much psychological and social confusion for the disabled community in the post war situation and has left many scars.

We too are experiencing many, many challenges and problems from our Waterloo community, which I will explain in another article. However because of the love and patience of Jesus and our commitment to Him we continue to persist and assist. Others have given up! However we do need your prayers. Without knowing it we have stepped into one of the most challenging, problematic and dangerous humanitarian realms of the region. May Christ help us.

A New Container Soon

We are now expecting, by courtesy of Paradise Kids 4 Africa, a new container and several shipments to arrive in a few weeks from China and the USA. The container contains a load full of education equipment for our schools and college, another shipment of DVD’s for the children and bible studies and a shipment of 3000 Bibles and study books. Thank you PK4A.

We are ready…!

+Rev Themi

Children from Hogar Rafael

The Russian Orphan Opportunity Fund
From Russia, there is an interview with Georgia Williams, a founder and administrator of the Russian Orphan Opportunity Fund, which seeks to assist orphanages and orphans through camps and education, and so on, including those deemed unmanageable or unteachable. (Turns out they are teachable!) In addition to describing their work, Georgia also discusses new partnerships ROOF is hoping to form with Orthodox parishes and people in North America to further the work in Russia. You can find the interview here. It is well worth a listen.

Hogar Rafael Ayau Orthodox Orphanage, Guatemala
Hogar Rafael has become fairly well known in North American Orthodox circles. Here are two more podcasts about the work there.

The first is with Mother Abbess Ines about some new laws governing orphans and adoptions in Guatemala that is making it more difficult for the orphanage to operate, as well as an update on the building of a new orphanage site just outside of Guatemala City, which would be a much better environment for the children. You can listen to that here.

If you feel moved to assist Hogar Rafael with their building project after listening to that first podcast, you can listen to this second one about a new CD released by the Friends of the Hogar. The CD is of the children singing Orthodox hymns (they sing beautifully and apparently know everything by heart), and is being sold as a fundraiser. You can listen to that podcast here, and/or buy a CD here.

Theotokos Greek Orthodox Girl’s Orphanage, India
Lastly, there is an interview with Christina Thanos, who produced a short documentary called Lucky Girls about the Theotokos Greek Orthodox Girl’s Orphanage. She also organized a lenten fundraising campaign for the orphanage. Lent is over, but they are still accepting donations, even of just a few dollars. You can listen to the podcast here, and visit the film’s website, which includes fundraising details, here.

Lucky Girls from Lucky Girls on Vimeo.

Bobby Maddex interviews Patrick Tutella, covering the state of American jails, the spiritual needs, the duties and responsibilities of a chaplain, the work of the Orthodox Christian Prison Ministry, and what is going to happen at their upcoming convocation in Toronto. It is a good podcast to get a general sense of things, and can be listened to here. For a deeper understanding, check out OCPM’s website here.

If you are interested in attending the convocation, I believe it is still possible to attend. It will be from June 28 to July 2 in Toronto, Canada. Please contact OCPM for more details.