OCMC mission teams
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OCMC Mission Teams Update
Posted on Fri Aug 03 2007
NEWS FROM THE ORTHODOX CHRISTIAN MISSION CENTER (OCMC)
Many of this year’s Orthodox Christian Mission Center (OCMC) Mission Teams have already completed their terms of service. So far, eleven Teams have returned from the field. They provided a living Christian witness through their work in health care, construction, teaching, and youth ministry.
The stories that returning Team members have brought back with them reflect the diversity of their experiences. In Kenya, a health care Team saw over 1,000 patients, offering dental care and basic first aid. This Team also diagnosed a variety of conditions including malaria and HIV/AIDS. Michele Corey, a paramedic on the Team, commented, “There is so much work to be done there! The people were so thankful and some were begging us to stay another day and to come back when we could. I’d love to go back, and to go to other locations.”
Other Teams to Kenya built a church for the newly illumined Orthodox Christians of Lodwar. Reflecting on what he learned from his service abroad, George Miller said simply, “Love. It truly conquers all adversity. Apostle Thomas notwithstanding, seeing is believing.” In Tanzania, three Teams also helped build a facility that will serve as a church, school, and clinic for a community in the Bukoba diocese.
In addition to lending their hands to lay the physical foundations of the Church, Orthodox Mission Team members used their words to build spiritual foundations in the Church. In Alaska and South Africa, Teams visited several Orthodox communities to share Christ in talks and seminars that covered a variety of topics. While in South Africa, John Diamantis visited a mission parish in Shoshaguve. He recalls the power of the experience when he states, “Inspired on this day were those who were called to do the inspiring. I hope never to forget the singing upon our arrival or after the liturgy, the dancing, the Eucharist that we all shared in, the love, the joy or the communion with my family in the Soshanguve church.”
The aforementioned teaching Teams ministered to Orthodox Christians of all ages, but in Guatemala and Romania teams primarily spent their time among the youth. In camp settings, these teams were able to share their faith through arts, crafts, and religious education.
Romania also hosted a substance abuse counseling Team that offered support to the ministries of OCMC missionaries Floyd and Ancuþa Frantz.
Please pray for these returning Team members and encourage them to share their experiences. Many more Teams are slated to depart for Africa, Alaska and Eastern Europe later this year. Keep those who have yet to depart in your prayers as well. Your continued support is essential to their service.
Openings still remain on a construction Team that will serve in Cameroon and a health care Team to Ethiopia. To volunteer for one of these Teams, please contact Andrew Lekos by phone at 877-GO-FORTH (463-6784), or by e-mail at
teams@ocmc.org. For more information about OCMC or Orthodox Mission Teams, please visit
www.ocmc.org .
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