Since the Day of Pentecost, the Church has been following the Great Commission to go into the world and make Disciples of all nations, Baptizing them in the Name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Almost two thousand years later this continues as there are still areas of the world that have yet to hear the name of Jesus Christ and the Good News of the Gospel. Though social media has many, many drawbacks, one positive thing about it is that it can connect different parts of the world. Most of us have seen on TV, or in National Geographic, remote areas in Africa where ancient tribes are still alive and well. But just now, the Church is beginning to bring Orthodoxy and the Gospel to these tribal areas. Orthodox priests, under the direction of Archbishop Neofitos of Kenya (who visited our parish) are venturing out to these areas to do catechist classes in the early stages of starting parishes in these remote lands. These are very, very difficult areas. Food is very scarce as is water. Medical care and education is virtually non existent. And even clothing in these areas is very hard to come by. In the times of the early Church, a big part of the mission of the Apostles was taking care of children and widows. The missions in Kenya follow the same model. St Paisios once said, “True evangelism is when you see a person in pain and you suffer with them. When you see a poor person and you share your crust of bread. Only then do your words have power.” We cannot spread the Truth of the Gospel, which is the Love of Christ, without feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, giving drink to the thirsty, and caring for the sick. It is in these acts of mercy to those who hear about Christ for the first time, that they will experience the Love of Christ. St Maria of Paris tells us, “It is not enough to say words of comfort to a starving person. If you give them a sermon instead of a piece of bread, you mock their suffering and blaspheme the name of Christ. We must become bread for the hungry, just as Christ became bread for us.”.
In response to this need, our parish is starting a new project. There is a remote part of Kenya, called Pokot, which has very little Christian presence and no Orthodox presence at all. There is a young man by the name of Douglas Lopenyo who has recently graduated from the Orthodox Seminary in Nairobi, Kenya. Douglas has essentially become a close friend of our parish at Archangel Michael. Soon he is going to do a video call with our Sunday school kids so that they can see and learn about what we are doing In Pokot. Douglas is a native of Pokot, and he has made it his mission to start an Orthodox community in Pokot. Douglas is one of 12 siblings. His father, who passed away last year, had 3 wives. With his second wife, he had 12 children one of which was Douglas. Of the 12, only 2 went to school at all, Douglas and his one sister. Douglas has had a very difficult life, yet he is very dedicated to the mission in Pokot. Soon he will be ordained a priest. He is doing catechist classes now, and we have started a feeding program at the community he serves. What started as 40 children has now grown to over 150. We are moving also to providing meals to the adults as well who are struggling to find food. And in addition we have provided over 150 pairs of shoes and over 50 pairs of trousers for the adults.
But this is just the BEGINNING! What is needed most of all, like many places in Kenya, is safe, reliable clean water. When the community at Pokot needs water, some one has to carry a heavy barrel over 4 KM to and from a small spring. The solution to this problem is to dig a borehole. The borehole process digs from 450 – 600 feet underground to reach clean water beneath. Once water is found, a solar pumping system is installed with a water tank and suddenly an entire village has access to clean water close by. To the people there, this is nothing short of miraculous. So this is our goal now. To raise $18,000 to dig this borehole.
God often answers prayers through the good works of His people. Let us be the ones through which God answers the prayers of the Pokot people. Unworthy as we are, God can use us to accomplish great things. All we have to do is be active participants in His saving Love. As St. Paisios once said, “God uses those who have a sensitive heart to dry the tears of others”. Let us be the ones who provide the water by which this mission will grow. And from this mission, many more will come. All it needs is for us to offer a little out of our abundance. Through this project you can really help to teach your children and grandchildren about what is really important in this life. The compassion you can build in them by allowing them to participate and experience the real suffering that so many in the world go through is so vital to their spiritual growth. Maybe even consider stepping outside of your comfort zone of saving for retirement. St. John Chrysostom tells us, “Tell me, what profit is there in your gold? Do you bury it in the earth to keep it safe for the future? You are burying your own soul along with it. God did not give you wealth to lock it away, but to distribute it to those in need.”
So in the words of Forest Gump, “That’s all I have to say about that right now”. If anyone is interested in learning more, please let me know. I will be more than extremely happy to explain more details. And beyond this project there is so much more that can be done if you or your family are interested in becoming integral parts of a parish in Kenya. There are people that need to be fed, children who need to be educated, more boreholes that need to be dug, and even entire churches that need to be built. So pray on it. And as I tell the college kids after one of my long letters, if you made it this far I’m really amazed! But really thank you for reading and sticking with me.
In Christ,
Steve Kovalak
Kovalak5@yahoo.com / 216-288-9126
