The Global Orthodox Witness in Tanzania - Orthodox Christian ...

issionarIESOCMC MissionariesMissionary UpdatesAlbaniaRIGHT: Christina Semon(seen here with fellowmissionary Ancuta Frantz),serves in Moldova. Her primaryfocus is helping initiatesustainable youth programsand ministries.MongoliaRIGHT: James and DaphneHargrave welcomed their firstchild, son Peter Henry, onMarch 17, 2013, in Uganda.Upon return to Tanzania,they will be continuing theirministry.AlbaniaOCMC Field Leader and 15-yearmissionary veteran Nathan Hoppeand his wife Gabriela continue in theirmission to help further develop andstrengthen the Church in Albania,including directing the Central Children’sOffice and University student ministry inLEFT: Nathan Hoppe andhis wife Gabriela helpdevelop and strengthen theChurch in Albania, directingthe Central Children’s Officeand University student ministry.Here, Nathan teachesclass at the TheologicalAcademy.MoldovaLEFT: The Monk Job (left),seen here with Fr. AlekseiTrubach, has secured hisstudent visa in Mongolia,which he will be using tolearn the language at aprivate school near thechurch in Ulaanbaatar aspart of his initial assignmentas long-term missionary.Tanzaniaaddition to Nathan’s ongoing teachingat the Theological Academy. Gabrielajust received her Master’s Degree inchildren’s and family ministry fromBethel Seminary. Through this program,she has been able to conduct in-depthacademic study of many aspects ofministry to children and families in whichshe and Nathan are so involved andwhich will be beneficial to their ongoingwork there.The focus on families is becomingincreasingly vital to sharing the faith inAlbania. Through the venue of specialevents and activities for children, entirefamilies are being invited to and engagedin these outreaches of the Church. In responseto efforts like these, many womenhave also been attending regular women’sgroups meetings that Gabriela leads.In February, the Hoppes also participatedin International Marriage Week inAlbania. They conducted interviews anddistributed 40,000 copies of a brochurecontaining stories and information aboutthe value of marriage.This Pascha, Anastasia PamelaBarksdale will begin her 6th year as amissionary in Albania, teaching ChristianEducation at the Resurrection ofChrist Theological Academy in Durres,offering campus ministry Bible studiesand various lectures, seminars, andtraining, as well as continuing to workwith Archbishop Anastasios at theArchdiocese of Tirana. Many of Anastasia’sChristian Education students havebegun to return to their villages to offercatechism classes and day camps whilethey are still in school. The ChristianEducation Resource Center that she beganthree years ago has expanded fromfive to 12 sites and reaches out to 260children.Georgia Bendo, in her 9th year as amissionary, continues teaching Englishat the Church's Logos University andProtagonist School. She also leads alarge catechism group of middle schoolchildren at the school. The Farah Foundationgrant which she acquired thisyear is strengthening the English andCatechism programs. She plans to closethe year by taking 40 of the children ona pilgrimage to the icon museum andchurches of Berati. In November herhusband, Deacon Anastasi, was honoredto become the Archdeacon for HisBeatitude. Their children, Vasili and Evdoxia,are both well and excitedly awaitinga new baby sibling in July! Severalnew missionary families are preparingto deploy to Albania this year, so pleasekeep them in your prayers.18OCMC MISSION MAGAZINE • WWW.OCMC.ORG