The creation of Missions of Love and Hope, a (501c3 charity) began after I, Theodoros Karamatskos, was invited by Archbishop Nikiforos to visit the Republic of Congo, to help and see the needs of the indigenous people of the Congo. I spent three weeks with Him. His invitation sparked my interest in missionary work, and I later connected with the Orthodox Christian Mission Center (OCMC) and participated in short term mission trips to Guatemala and Kenya. My wife, Eleni and I participated in a two-week mission trip to Nuevo Concepcion, Guatemala, where we worked to rehab a building, and create a medical clinic. We both found missionary work very exciting and personally rewarding.
OCMC later hosted a fundraiser for His Eminence Makarios of all Kenya.
Shortly after, OCMC contacted Eleni, as a teacher, to consider a mission trip to Kenya to work with the Primary School children in Nairobi, Kenya. That was the start of our four trips to Nairobi.
Eleni worked with the children, while I did various construction jobs at several parishes.
We both, through our different vision, saw many needs of the Orthodox Christians in Kenya as we visited various parishes.
Eleni organized a fundraiser for the purchase of 652 pairs of the “Shoes That Grow” for the children at St. Clement Primary School, the children of the St. John Chrysostom Parish, and various other parishes.
I, on the other hand, built nine baptismal fonts and two chicken coops.
Fundraising was done to purchase eight portable projectors, three portable sound systems, and five egg incubators. We have also brought with us 30 priest vestments, 20 acolyte robes, and various ecclesiastical items, such as, 20 sensors, 30 Holy Communion sets, small icons, and ecclesiastical books all generously donated by churches and individual donors. Our project of assembling 260 4’x2’ icons was accomplished by Elayne Goldman, Eleni Karamatskos, a crew of seminarians, workers of the Archdiocese, and myself. This project was completed over three trips to Kenya.
The Orthodox Faith is growing rapidly throughout Kenya. Our last trip was to assemble 164 icons for 22 new churches.
We have created a family in Kenya, and now have developed a relationship with Monk Priest Fr Theologos of the Holy Mountain, Mt. Athos. He recently built and consecrated two Orthodox Churches, and is now working on a Church in the Congo, Kananga. The construction of the Sacred Temple in Congo is our current project that we are working to support. Attached is a letter from Fr. Theologos in both Greek and English to describe the project. Along with the description you will find with blueprints of the new church “African Saints”.
There is such tremendous growth of Orthodoxy throughout the world that help is needed worldwide.
We pray that you will consider sharing and participating in the “Missions of Love and Hope” and help our less fortunate brothers and sisters in Christ.
With your support, we are able to bring essential items to these projects and assist to meet some of the basic needs, as well as help share love and hope with our Orthodox brothers and sisters in Christ.
We thank you for your support and pray that together we can make a difference.