An Orthodox Christian in the Super Bowl!

For those of you who may not know, there will be a devout Orthodox Christian playing in the Super Bowl on Sunday. His name is Troy Polamalu and he is the safety for the Pittsburgh Steelers- you'll recognize him by the long, flowing locks that stick out from his helmet. Oh, and the #43 emblazoned on his jersey. I'll be the first to admit that I'm not a huge sports person, but I love the fact that a successful professional athlete has put himself out there and made a point to let the world know that he has found the one true faith. At www.nfl.com you can find an article entitled "In faith and football, Polamalu is without equal" by Thomas George, Senior Columnist. The article details how on the day of a big game, Polamalu made a trek from Phoenix to Florence, AZ and back in order to meet with his spiritual father and worship at his monastery. Polamalu is quoted as saying "Some people might see that as a lot, but I saw it as a must, an opportunity to see my spiritual father. I go there five to six times a year because that is where he is. This life that I struggle to live, I try to do so in the eyes of my spiritual father." The rest of the article is great too, check it out. You will also see, if you watch the game, that Palamalu crosses himself multiple times throughout a game! In almost every article I've ever read about him, almost every interview I've seen with him, he mentions his faith and his family and how those two things are the most important thing to him. Perhaps he can be an inspiration to our young people! I hope that he can be a shining light to those who have never heard of the Orthodox faith and a shining example for those of us who are Orthodox but may be shy about sharing our beliefs with those around us. Matthew 5:16 states "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your father in heaven". Truly Troy Polamalu is using the gifts he has been given by the Lord to help shine that light before all men. Even if you're rooting for the Cardinals, give a little shout out to #43, and say a little prayer for him and his family.

A Un-timely Wrap up

It's been almost 6 days since I've returned from Kenya . . . almost as soon as I returned, the "American busy-ness" set in (I'm sorry to say). There was something about that simple way of life that was very central to Orthodox living. 

The last few days of our mission were very exciting. On the last day, we woke up early and began teaching the seminarians (education, creating a parish ministry team, the four circles of ministry, personal hygiene and sexual purity) and then the catechists (various workshops ranging from the prosperity gospel, creating Sunday School lessons, Epiphany and Saints). Following the teaching, we had a quick lunch and then off to an orphanage. This orphanage is solely supported by donations -- the teachers teach for free; the administrators don't receive a dime; the director does this in his spare time -- all in the name of Jesus Christ. They sang for us, we sang for them -- we talked, shared stories, and quickly departed. 

We then visited the "Kibera slum" -- the second largest "slum" in the world -- 800,000 people live there. Last year when there was rioting in Kenya -- it began here in Kibera. In the middle os the slum -- we visited Fr. George and his vibrant community -- where they spread the gospel to all. His choir sang for us -- perhaps the greatest choir I have ever heard -- the voices, harmony, etc. -- amazing! Fr. George -- a humble man, never asked us for any money -- only thanked us for blessing him that day with our visit. 

Back to the seminary -- Vespers, dinner and off to the airport. The ride back seemed to go quite quickly -- a time for sleep, reflection and bonding. 

I thank God for this opportunity -- this life changing opportunity. I will be back one day (as I said 15 years ago) -- but next time-- my children will be with me for sure!!! I want them to experience this great blessing!

A few days . . .

I did not write yesterday because we spent the day in our small bus traveling from the Nandi region back to Nairobi. We arrived late, took dinner and went to bed.

This is the second time writing the same entry....I accidentally deleted it.

We rose early the next morning to celebrate the Great Feast of Epiphany. His Eminence took us to the Patriarchal Cathedral of Sts Kosmas and Damian. It is the first Orthodox Church built in Kenya and was built be the Greek Orthodox who were living here. It is serviced by Fr. Innokentios (Innocent), a native Ugandan who studied Theology in Nairobi, Boston and Thessalonika. He also serves as the Academic Dean of the Makarios Seminary.

To our great surprise, an old friend whom I studied with in America, Fr Anastasios (then Elekiah) traveled to be with us, along with other clergy who studied in America (Fr Neophytos, Fr Alexios and Fr Evangelos). Following the Liturgy, we celebrated the Great Blessing of the Waters. His Eminence asked me to preach and I spoke about the transformational powers of the water for all who approach with faith. Following the blessing, we took a picture with all those students (now priests) who studied at Holy Cross, along with Eva (a HC graduate and Metropolis Youth Director-Detroit) and Greg (a current student at HC).

We then walked to the humble hall to spend time with the parishioners. Kyrie Maria (a woman from Greece who married an African Doctor 35+ years ago) made us coffee and tea. We spent time with the parishioners and children of the parish), and traveled back to the Seminary at 3 pm for lunch.

Following lunch, I needed to take Effie (our doctor), Val and Jimmy to purchase medical supplies for the next day's trip to the Orphanage, and the rest of the team went to the school for orphans across the street from the seminary. They had a wonderful time playing and singing with the children. We traveled into a local village to purchase supplies. It was incredibly hot and the pharmacy (chemist shop) was extremely busy. There were bars which separated us from the chemist....and many people.

The next morning, we awoke early and left for the Makarios Children's Home, about a 2 hour ride from Nairobi. This was the first day that His Eminence didn't travel with us. Because it was the Old Calendar Christmas, he visited the Russian Embassy for a celebration. Fr Innokentios traveled with us (he is the Confessor for the Children's Home).

When we arrived at the Makarios Children's Home, we entered the Church where they were celebrating Liturgy for the first day of school. The young children were singing and praising God with their voices. Following the Liturgy, the priest Fr. Kirillos (who greatly resembled the actor Don Cheadle), asked me to say a few words and celebrate a blessing of the waters for the beginning of the school year.

Following the service and assisted by a seminarian David from Congo, we blessed every building (offices, classrooms, kitchen, dormitories) and the goats and sheep. At one point, I turned back and saw Dn. Paul walking hand in hand with 2 young boys (probably 7 years old) in the procession line. Other team members were doing the same as we processed through the humble campus.

We were greeted by the director of the home, Cherry, a long time missionary from America. She has been serving in Africa on and off for 25 years. A few years back she returned from the states to start this orphanage. She began with 15 children and in the past 2 years has taken in an additional 80. Children who were abandoned by their parents and living on the streets, unwanted HIV/Aids children, children whose parents realize they will have a better life at the home- are the make up of these children.

Although not having an immediate family, they have a certain sense of security at the home. They have 3 square meals a day, attend an excellent school, participate in sports and go to Church. They are children who know and live their faith.

After setting up a clinic, we broke the children into 3 different groups by age for teaching. We taught for one hour, broke for lunch (rice and meat) and taught another session.

I taught my session with Eva....we taught them some basics of Orthodoxy, then spent the rest of the time answering questions. There was this one little girl, Faith, who had excellent questions (deep and insightful). She was bashful to ask questions, but after we "broke the ice", couldn't stop asking them.

There was one little boy, Moses, who wanted to be held the entire time. Eva, Christina and Lis had Moses snuggled up to them. He felt so secure in their hands....as if he was with his own mother. Many of the children craved this individual, maternal/paternal attention.

After lunch, a few of us were playing ball with the children. They were eager to participate and play. One boy, Joel (14 years old), really stuck out with me. He had a huge smile from ear to ear....was one of two boys who was leading the singing in Church (James was the other), and was always looking out for the younger boys. One boy, Edwin who was 4 years old, came up to him after he finished lunch and was still hungry....Joel, without hesitation, took a scoop of rice and meat with his hands and put it in his mouth. There was a true sense of brother/sisterhood at the orphanage...it was hard to leave.

The Shirts Off Our Backs

When we departed the village of Kesengei, we were overwhelmed with emotion. There were close to, if not more than, 300 young people who travelled (took the public bus, walked for hours) to attend Liturgy and hear our teaching.
One priest, Fr. Alexios, began walking at 4:30 am to make it in time for Church at 8:30.

The day began with a 2 hour, bumpy drive from Kisumu to Kesengei. We arrived to begin the Liturgy. After greeting the other clergy and vesting, we began the Liturgy. The Church was packed with Kenyans (old and young) who wanted to receive communion. The young children attentively gazed at the altar - in order to catch a glimpse of the altar. They sang joyously and loudly....praising God for their humble lives. Something quite foreign in America. The communion line lasted what seemed like an hour. There was an ordination to the Diaconate and the Priesthood.

Following the Liturgy, the people from the Nandi (the area we were in) region, offered us what they had....their voices and their dance. They praised God for our arrival and sang and danced for more than an hour. At the end, they invited us to dance with them - a sign of our unity and fellowship - and we each were greeted with a hug and kiss from the Presbytera of the community.

Following the dancing, we began our workshops. We taught on the history of the Church, Epiphany, Saints, Living the Faith in our homes and iconography. The people were hungry for the Faith. As I was walking by a room to check that all of our leaders had translators and rooms in the humble school house, the priest (Fr Thomas) grabbed me and said "the papas are waiting for you". The papas were the fathers of the community. I have to admit, I was shocked that these elderly men, from this ancient culture, wanted to learn the Faith.

Unprepared, I taught them on living a spiritual life....one that mirrors love for their families. Hesitantly I told them that they have a sacred and great responsibility....to grow their family in the Faith by their example. And that it wasn't only the Mama's job-but theirs. A bit nervous for their response, they all smiled and agreed....many of them said they were ready for this role.

After over an hour of teaching....we ate lunch (rice and chicken) and I walked over to the Mamas group. There were over 100 of them, listening attentively to Dn Paul teach them the Faith. Half were sitting under a tree and half under the Kenyan sun (needless to say quite hot). The joy of the Mamas was unbelievable....in the middle of the session...they broke out in song (thanksgiving to God).

After the lesson...I walked to check on the clinic and our doctor, Effie (from London). I couldn't believe my eyes....over a hundred Kenyans waiting to be seen. I walked in and quietly observed. Effie and Lis (her helper)....patiently, with Christ-like love, gently spoke to each patient (as they were their closest friend). The two of them remained in the clinic....with a Kenyan Med student and 2 translators, for almost 6 hours. They didn't eat all day but wanted to make sure all of the patients were seen. For me, this was a truly moving experience.

I was summonmed by the Archbishop to assist him in passing out some of the supplies we brought. Before I walked to the front of the line to help....I sat quietly and observed the hundreds of Kenyans pushing their way to the front...to receive something as small as 2 pencils. But those 2 pencils meant the world to them....and it was given by the Church....so it was even more meaningful. Their faces were filled with complete joy as they received their gift.

The Archbishop stopped and it was my turn to pass out the supplies. Greg (from Holy Cross) and Valerie (from WV) passed me supplies one by one. The Makarios Seminarians also assisted in crowd control. I couldn't believe my eyes...hundreds of hands reaching for anything (and everything). Children for 3 crayons and 2 pencils, Mamas for childrens underwear. As I was passing out, I couldn't help but think of all we have back home....and how we are so blessed in America.

For these Kenyans, their greatest joy was not the supplies they received, but listening to our teaching, sharing our stories, being seen by our medical team.

I located an old friend....Abel (now Fr Sergios). I immediately recognized him....he served as our translator 15 years ago. He had with him his son, Theodoros, a smart, adorable 7 year old. He now served as Dn Paul's translator.

After giving away my bible to a deacon, my prayer book to a young girl, some money to some priest's children, my exhaustion began to set in....it was almost 5:30 (over 6 hours of work) and the team was physically, emotionally and spiritually exhausted. We felt sad, joyful, tired....we wanted to give more....it was time to leave.

The Archbishop pulled me aside in a quiet moment, and told me "today, I am proud...proud of the work your team has done...proud that you brought such joy and enthusiasm to my people".
I thanked him for the opportunity and began walking toward the bus with him. With nothing left to give, Dn Paul and I asked the Archbishop if it was appropriate to give 2 clergy shirts off our back....He responded with his thick Cypriot accent, "yes, of course". We gave our shirts to 2 clergy who it would take almost half of their monthly wage to, and boarded the bus.

Orthodoxy and the Local Culture

Today we woke to the chapel bells ringing. There was another Liturgy with an ordination to the diaconate.

Following Liturgy, I was asked to speak to the Catechumens who gather every Saturday at the Seminary for instruction. Dn. Paul, Greg (from Holy Cross) and I lead a one hour training. We spoke about the sacraments, the Tradition of the Church and Epiphany (the feast we will celebrate in a few days). We then spent the rest of the time answering questions from the Africans. The questions were excellent...ranging from confession, why are there no black saints (not true), interpreting scripture, why are some sacraments only received once, and many, many more. We finally stopped when the Metropolitan entered to lead us to the bus for a 6 hour journey to Western Kenya for an ordination, a day of training and catechesis and assisting our doctor in the clinic.

A recurring theme for me is how the Metropolitan has worked so hard to make Orthodoxy relevant to the African people. Amidst their services (during Communion and at the end) are non-Orthodox "traditional, spiritual songs" which are sung by all present. When we visited the Masi, their tribal inflences were so "alive" in the Church (songs, dance, art, etc.).

For Orthodoxy to continue to be the light to all people, it must be a relevant Faith. I can't help but think in America how often the Church is not relevant! Our people do not understand the Faith...the services....the life of the Church. Orthodoxy has always enbraced the culture in which it finds itself and in time, transforms it. We have much to learn from these faithful people.

Visiting the Masi

After participating in a beautiful Liturgy with the Metropolitan, we began our journey to one of the most primitive spots in the world....the Masi.

His Eminence told us that "we will go to a very dusty and hot area". We drove for almost three hours on a road (unlike any I have ever experienced) that was full of ditches and crevasses. The dirt was swirling around us, not allowing us to see through the windows (it was creeping into the bus....so bad it was hard to breath).

As we drove through a barren area (no water or vegetation-besides thorn trees), we arrived at a small village (only a few huts and an Orthodox Church). The young men were dressed in their traditional garb and welcomed the Metropolitan at the entrance of the Church.They sang the petitions and entered the Church.

Once inside, after a brief welcome from the priest, one of our team members offered a catechism on the "Basics of Orthodoxy". Following, we passed out clothes, supplies, games for the children. It was such a joy to see our team members mingling with the children....singing, playing and talking with them.

We were then lead under the tree for shade and a meal. We washed our hands in a basin and were given a plate with some kind of meat, rice and a thin bread (mush like pita bread). We ate with our hands and were welcomed by the oldest male, the "patriarch of the family" to his area. He thanked God for bringing us there...and said it was truly a great blessing". Truly, a humbling experience.

After spending some time talking and sharing, we departed for a long, bumpy, dusty journey for Nairobi (to the Makarios Seminary).

Our Arrival

We arrived into Kenya....and after locating our baggage (almost all of them), we were met by the Dean of the Seminary, Fr. Neophytos. As we drove through slums, we arrived at the seminary, called an Oasis. Driving through the gates, we heard the voices of the African seminarians chanting the Great Doxology.

Their voices reminded me of Angelic sounds emanating from the Church. The Liturgy was one of the most beautiful I have ever participated in.

After unpacking our bags, the supplies that we brought from America, and resting, we attended Vespers.

Following Vespers, we ate with the seminarians (Ugali and Tsoukoumawiki), and they danced and sang for us. A meaningful meal with fellowship... We all joined them in the dance (even the Metropilitan).

Although the beginning of the trip, we feel quite at home with our new friends.