Love one another as I have loved you
How YOU can help the
Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church
South American Mission
Your contributions can be a direct blessing to feed the hungry, repair housing, provide a regular place of worship, support monastics, Spanish and Portuguese resources for prayer and learning in the LRD app, and possibly a Spanish and Portuguese speaking seminary or at least seminary resources for the future ministries there, God willing.
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You can learn Spanish and Portuguese, offer to come on mission trips, help teach English classes online, perhaps consider starting or extending a business into Ecuador and Brazil that would provide a living wage, ethical standards, and raise up the peoples lives, as well as their faith through your kind and responsible employment, etc.
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You can send money through Zelle using the email dswamissions@gmail.com, that directly goes to use for the South American mission work. You can also send a check made out to: Diocese of Southwest America, using a memo for: South American Missions. You can also mail that check to the following address, where Fr. George Hatcher manages the account: 4804 E Sumac Drive. Spokane, WA 9922
Ecuador
Pictured on each side of our beloved Bishop Thomas Mar Ivanios, are our new priests, Fr. Crisóstomo (named after St. John Chrysostom) and Fr. Baradeo (named after St. Yakoub Bordoyo/Burdono). Deacon Isaias is also pictured to the right. These three men love God and His Holy Orthodox Church so much and have been studying the Holy Faith as well as the Malankara rite and are so thankful to serve in our beloved Church.
We have 2 small communities there, in Quito, the capital city called San Tomas Apostol (St. Thomas Apostle), and in Santo Domingo, Sagrada Familia (Sacred Family). Ecuador was first visited by our beloved Abraham Mar Stephanos a few years ago, along with our beloved brother and missionary, Sujit George. Mar Stephanos then contacted Mar Nicolovos, and with Mar Ivanios, the three bishops have guided the missionary decisions and presented the mission to the Holy Synod for some time.
The needs in Ecuador are felt financially and medically as well as spiritually. There is a lot of poverty and job insecurity, even more so in Santo Domingo than in Quito, but it is felt throughout the country. Even people who have higher educational degrees suffer with unpredictable professional situations and bad wages, a little to no medical benefits. We have several members who have chronic health issues. Most of our families there do not own a single car for the family, whereas in the United States, most of our families have at least 2 cars in the family, more when teens receive driver’s licenses.
Brazil
We are in dialogue with about 8 clergy in Brazil in several cities. These priests come from different backgrounds, some of them from non-canonical backgrounds that prevent them from the fullness of unity in the Holy Orthodox Church. Some of them were brought into such groups without knowing until later, and sought out a mother-church so that they could be completely grafted on and connected to the Apostolic sees. The Malankara Orthodox Synod of Bishops will decide how things proceed and what is needed for each situation, but for now there are many communities with priests who wish to join our jurisdiction, and many poor families who could use support toward food and possible housing repairs, etc.
In Brazil there are a few who would also like to live out a monastic life, so the need for a monastery may be in the near future.
Donations are very appreciated to help them maintain and purchase the place of worship in Santo Domingo, as well as find and afford a regular place of worship in Quito. This regular place of worship also adds to visibility for the mission and increased ability to serve the people as well.
We are hoping to finally provide dental and medical help in the future mission trips, as well as continue to strengthen the people spiritually through our Holy Traditions, and increase the witness of Holy Orthodoxy in Ecuador.