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

On my list of top twenty Teammemories is an experience from one ofthe first Teams to Albania after the fall ofcommunism – when a high distrust forreligion, missionaries and mission workwas prevalent. Our van was stopped at apolice checkpoint and a Team membernonchalantly tossed a plum pit out the vanwindow. That innocent plum pit struckthe cheek of the officer who was checkingthe registration and driver’s papers. Thelittle plum pit delayed the team’s arrival totheir evening destination while the officerregained his composure by scrutinizingeveryone’s passport and visa and takinggreat liberty in making everyone wait inthe hot summer sun. As minutes mergedwith hours the Team’s emotions rangedfrom anger to compliance and then toresentment. Later that evening, as the Teamwas debriefing we discussed the importanceof accepting things that we can’t change. Byaccepting and working within the existingsituation to present Christ, we are remindedthat He is rarely seen in the eyes of angryand resentful people and we are His handsand His feet, His love and His outstretchedarms to His people.Another experience that has made it tomy top twenty list is from a more recentTeam’s first day in Tanzania. This Team’shost, His Eminence Jeronymos, had beenone of my students over 25 years ago andwished to accompany our road wearyRIGHT : Presbytera Renee Ritsi served as TeamLeader in Tanzania on the 2012 healthcare team.Team Leaders help the other team members to actwith compassion and allow challenges they faceto become spiritual lessons. BELOW: On the 2012Tanzania healthcare team, team members arrived ata local parish, where bamboo rooms had been builtoutside the church for team members to administerhealthcare—an example of beautiful hospitality bytheir hosts.travelers from the airport to where theTeam would be staying, on the other sideof the country. The 12 hour drive wouldhave, in itself, been a bit of a challenge, butthe plane arrived late - very late. Instead ofstarting our journey right away, we were firsttreated to a wonderful lunch with a numberof speeches and then to a tour of the cityand a stop to see the new cathedral that wasunder construction. Then we had to make afew stops to pick up more people, load about50 boxes of medicines, and offer some wellhydrated Team Members relief. Instead ofgetting to our sleeping quarters by dinner,it was around 4 a.m. As we processed theblur of events that was our first day, wecould have focused on the lack of sleepor organization that seemed evident, butinstead an important lesson about a proudand hospitable host was in the making.As we piled out of the van just a fewhours later at the parish of St. Fanourios,we were overwhelmed by a packed church.We had driven through sparsely populatedcountryside and doubted if there would bemany people at the first clinic. A numberof Team members hadn’t slept that night asthey packaged medicines, and we were allexhausted. As we drove up to the Churchwe saw an amazing sight. Crude bamboorooms had been erected along the side ofthe Church. Fresh cut grass covered the dirtand rocks. Colorful cloths and palm leavesdivided the waiting rooms from the doctor’soffice. The pharmacy room was bright andsunny, with walls that only came up halfway from the ground. The morning beganinside of the Church with a short prayerservice, a number of speeches expressinggratitude and a service to bless oil. Thenthe Team and our translators were anointedand we rushed to complete setting up theclinics so we could begin to see the longlines of people who were standing in lineto be anointed. That first day, and everysubsequent day, we did our best to imitatethe humble yet gracious actions our hostsshowed us as the lines of patients seemedto never end.Often, I am asked difficult questionsby Team Members. For example, why,when so many people are hungry orwithout basic education, are finances usedto build permanent Church structuresin mission countries? Drawing upon themissiological principles of our Church, aTeam Leader can help the team transformthis question into a stepping stone for adeeper spiritual understanding of missions.Across generations and cultures, when theOrthodox Church spreads to a new region,it is common for the faithful to build afitting place in which to worship God, andfrom which the fullness of the sacramentaland spiritual life of the Church is dispersed.We understand that as OrthodoxChristians, a building is not necessarybecause we ourselves are the living templeof God, but when a church is built it is away for ourselves and others to observethat our God is ‘He who was, who is andwho is to come’ and He lives on this earth,with us and that this building is built as anoutpouring of our love and respect for Him.As a Team Leader, we are challenged tobring the best out in each individual andto help encourage a deeper understandingof the mission behind the service. Ourexperience in a cross cultural setting,knowledge of missions and being a pastorallistener are a few key ingredients that helpsTeam Members “do it all in the Name of theLord, giving thanks to Him”.If you feel called to serve as a missionteam leader, please contact Teams DirectorAndrew Lekos by phone at 1-877-GO-FORTH, or by e-mail at teams@ocmc.org.OCMC MISSION MAGAZINE • SPRING 201321