Uganda - Gulu

Car Accident

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,

We would like to express our deep gratitude to all of you in Greece who support our work in various ways in the distant African country of Uganda.

To me as a Bishop and to my priests, the work we do is a sacred duty; for it is a sacred duty to rest the souls that are thirsty to seek Christ and learn about Him, as it is a sacred duty to relieve them of pain, hunger and thirst.

In His earthly presence, Christ did not limit himself to preaching, but also offered healing to people. He healed helpless people from their illnesses; He healed the crowds that ran to listen to him and took care of them by feeding them both spiritually and materially; He healed them from the demons that torment people and push them into dreadful passions. So it is a sacred duty for us to be fellow companions of all these people who come to our missionary divisions and parishes, hoping to find a plate of food, an item of clothing, and most importantly, a medicine that will relieve their pain.

Along with selected partners, we have started working on a very important project, that of creating a polyclinic. Do not even think that it is being made according to the specifications, standards and means that you have in Greece or in Europe, but with the basic medical means and equipment that can really relieve the pain. We would very much like to have better healthcare equipment, as well as better-equipped medical laboratories, but this is impossible. Not that they do not exist in our country, but they are so expensive that there is no possibility for us to dare cross the threshold of a medical center and ask for it. As a result, the lack of an aspirin can cause a man’s death; the lack of a vaccine can lead our children to paralysis, or even death. How helpless we are, indeed!

As a Bishop, what can I say to the desperate mother who comes to me with the sick child in her arms and begs me to help her cure her child? Whichever door we knock on, what we receive is only promises. Fortunately, there are some fellow humans who practice love in Christ. They are not just spectators of our problems. Along with their prayers, they offer from the little they have and save lives. I will not forget an incident on a visit to Greece. As I was passing through a busy street in Athens, a beggar (!) gave me a small amount, barely enough to buy a bagel, but with this amount I was able to get two vaccines to save the lives of two little children.

We are concerned about the evangelization of people’s souls, but we are just as concerned about the physical health of all our fellow human beings, whether they are members of the Orthodox Church or not. From the moment we live together and we are all children of God, the issue of health concerns us all.

A vaccine, a pill, is absolutely necessary, especially for young children so that they can manage to grow up, and if they do grow up, not have their parents’ illnesses. Suffice it to say that the money some people spend in order to satisfy their hobby, is more than enough to eradicate deadly diseases.

Visit to a makeshift church

Today, my country as well is plagued by this new pandemic, and the need for help is even bigger. The fear and terror that prevails is evident in everyone’s eyes. What they can only do is pray not to be the next victims, themselves or their families.

Dear brothers and sisters, we can all save one soul. Our struggle is sacrificial and our concern unsleeping. We may be unknown to many of our benefactors, but the common Chalice unites us and by commemorating their names, we become known to them. By benefiting a man on earth, we benefit their Angel in heaven. Through the poor children’s big surprised eyes begging for help, it is God Himself looking at us. Let us not disappoint anyone. Let us not allow global indifference to become individual indifference. We can all at some point in our lives be in a position that we would not want to be; what do we do then? So let us first raise our eyes to heaven and ask for help from our Father above, and then let us look around to see this Father’s children who are our brothers, and then we will truly feel that we are not only members of an earthly society, but also of a heavenly one.

† Sylvester of Gulu

Left Without a Car

I am writing to you with deep gratitude for your constant love and support to our poor Diocese regarding the missionary work of our Lord.

As a result of the tragic road accident that we had on our way to St. Nectarios parish in Palaro north of the city of Gulu after the celebration of Pentecost at St. Basil’s Church, we praise our Lord for protecting us and helping us get out of the car alive. However, the vehicle was badly deformed after its overturning due to the poor condition of the roads connected to most of our centers in Northern Uganda. Apart from our own injuries, which, thank God, were not very serious, the damage to the car was so great that it jeopardized our entire mission.

Still under medical care for a while but feeling much better already, I cannot help thinking that our efforts to continue with our tasks are in absolute perplexity, as it may be extremely difficult- if not impossible- for us to have access to our remote and scattered Mission Centers.

Due to the poor financial condition of our New Diocese, we could not afford to buy a new means of transportation. Thus, since a vehicle is absolutely necessary for our mission, the only solution to our problem is to get the car repaired, which is definitely more economical than buying a new one. After thorough research and advice from certified mechanics, we were given a detailed repair invoice. At this point, we humbly ask for your assistance in order to be able to continue our mission.

† Sylvester of Gulu