Christ the Savior ~ Holy Spirit Orthodox Church; V. Rev. Steven Kostoff, Rector

Orthodox Church in America

| Midwest Diocese

Posted March 5, 2010

Dear Parish Faithful,

I just received this photo from Madre Ivonne of the "nina" we are sponsoring this year at the Hogar - Francesca Maria. She is at the kliros, which is the place that the various appointed children of the Hogar chant and sing during the services. Since Francesca is only seven (her birthday is 7/12), she is there quite early, which means she must be a good reader. This privilege of chanting builds up their self-confidence, the childrens' sense of contributing, and further helps them in their reading ability. It also helps them learn the order of the various services. The winning smile on Francesca's face pretty well captures her personality - she is a lively and good-hearted young girl, especially considering the trauma that she and the other children have experienced at a very tender age.

Also, knowing that she is sponsored is also a huge confidence-builder. Even though it is at a distance, Francesca will now feel wanted and cared about. This is a "good work" - may it be blessed by God!

Fr. Steven

Updated December 13, 2009

Dear Parish Faithful,

By clicking on the angel you will be directed to the Nativity Greetings for 2009 written and sent from the Hogar Rafael Ayau community in Guatemala. I would assume that this greeting was written by Madre Ines. She outlines the past activities for 2009 and the current state of the Hogar, as well as the plans for the new home for the children - San Miguel. She also includes a financial report for 2009, audited by an external firm. Please take the time to read her warm and heartfelt greetings to all who offer support to the "abandoned, abused, and orphaned children" of the Hogar. Our parish has been blessed by God to be a part of that support system for many years now.

As you know, our Nativity Charity Appeal for 2009 is a parish-family project designed so that we may sponsor one of the Hogar children - a ten-year old girl - for one full year. Your commitment to this appeal in the form of a $50.00 donation will feed, clothe, house, and educate that child for five days. When those five days are over, then your fellow-parishioner's donation "kicks in" for the next five days. With enough such donations, we will then reach our goal of $3,650.00 and cover every single day of the upcoming year. May it be blessed!

Fr. Steven

P.S. For those who may be interested, we now have the final dates for a potential Mission Team next summer. The dates are June 16 - 23, 2010. The dates have changed a bit, but these are the definite, final dates. Please contact me for any further information or discussion.

Click the angel for the Nativity message from Madre Ines, the nuns, and the children of the Hogar Rafael Ayau in Guatemala City, Guatemala.

2009 MISSION TEAM SLIDE-SHOW/PRESENTATION

Ola from the Hogar! - 06/08/09

Join us for a grace-filled, in-depth presentation, in words and images, of our 2009 Mission Trip to the Hogar Rafael Ayau in Guatemala!

(106 images)

view slideshow >

IN-DEPTH MISSION TEAM UPDATES POSTED ON OUR BIG IS GOD BLOG!

July 27: "A Part of Their Lives" ~ Reflections on the 2009 Mission Trip, by Anastacia and Alexandra Taylor, on the BIG IS GOD blog!

July 3: 2010 Mission Trip tentatively scheduled for June 9-16

Just received notification from Madre Ivonne that we have been invited to provide a Mission Team for the Hogar from June 9 - 16, 2010. It is certainly early, but something you may want to think about. Madre Ivonne usually asks for a commitment by the early Fall so that she can block that week into her schedule. Please get back with me if you are at least tentatively interested at this point.

Looking ahead: since the Hogar does not have a permanent priest, I have been invited to serve at a special event in the life of their community on the weekend of October 17-18. As of now, I have tentatively agreed, and will inform the parish of traveling details in the future.

June 19:

I wanted to bring up an item of two that would further supplement my summary of our Mission Team trip from yesterday. In terms of "interconnected events," or "meaningful encounters," when we arrived at the Hogar, we were introduced to a long-term missionary by the name of Ben Logan. Ben is from an OCA mission in Nicholasville, KY (Southern Diocese). Ben was a retreat participant last September when Madre Ivonne was here as our guest and retreat leader. As we all were, he was deeply impressed by her presentation of the Hogar... Continued on our Big is God Blog...

June 18:

Having returned from a week at the Hogar San Rafael Ayau in Guatemala City, I would like to offer a summary of this year's Mission Team activities and experiences. Over-all, I can write assuredly that the entire trip was muy excellente. I believe that we maintained a good balance between our work project assignments, and accessibility - and thus fellowship - with the ninos, ninas and senoritas... Continued on our Big is God Blog...

Posted June 17, 2009: MISSION TEAM RETURNS, HOGAR DONATIONS TOP $4000

Our Cincinnati Mission Team 2009 has returned from Guatemala "safe and sound" and is all accounted for, I believe. For this we thank God. I will send out a more detailed report by the end of the week. I did want to briefly mention here, that on the Sunday before we departed for Guatemala, we had another great collection that took us beyond $4,000.00 in raised funds. BIG IS GOD! Again, I will provide more details soon.

Posted June 6, 2009: CHURCH SCHOOL RAISES $440 FOR THE HOGAR:

The Church School sponsored Charity Sundae Sale brought in $440.00 for the Hogar! Thank you for buying a sundae and supporting our Mission Team to Guatemala.

Over-all, our Hogar collection has been tremendous. In addition to many items - including new clothing for all of the older senoritas - we have collected close to $2,500.00! "Awesome," especially when you take the economy into consideration. Yet, there will be one more Sunday for those of you who would also like to make a contribution. We will have the basket by the Cross following the Liturgy.

Posted May 23, 2009: HOGAR MISSION APPEAL UPDATE

Our appeal for sponsorship of the senoritas at the Hogar in Guatemala received a tremendous response already, and thirteen of the fourteen senoritas are now covered for receiving a special gift from our parish faithful! We deeply appreciate the commitment and concern - together with the generosity - of our sponsors. May God bless your efforts. I am hoping that someone will agree to sponsor one last senorita. Please get back with me if you choose to do so.

We will continue to receive monetary donations for the Hogar on the next two Sundays with a basket by the Cross. There is also a list of other items requested by the Hogar in case someone would like to make a donation from that list. That list has been sent out, but please let me know if you would like to see it again.

These developing, expanding and essential ministries to prisoners [via the Kairos Prison Ministry] (MATT. 25:31-46) and to "abandoned, abused and orphaned children" (DEUT. 24:17, 21; JM. 1:27) are a deeply encouraging sign of spiritual maturity within the parish. It is the application of Gospel principles to real-life situations and needs. I hope our parish circle of participants will continue to grow. And may the Lord continue to bless and strengthen our endeavors.

~ Fr. Steven

Posted May 19, 2009: HOGAR COLLECTION HAS SUCCESSFUL BEGINNING:

We had an excellent opening collection yesterday for our donation to the Hogar in Guatemala that our parish Mission Team will deliver in about three weeks time - we will depart for Guatemala on June 8. There is hardly a greater ministry than supporting "abandoned, abused and orphaned children." Please lend your generous support through a monetary donation or by volunteering to purchase some of the items on the "needs list" - mailed out last week, I believe - to be brought to the church for eventual packing. Please see below entry for May 12 for the Hogar "Needs List."

~ Fr Steven

Posted May 12, 2009: UPDATE AND APPEAL FROM PRESVYTERA DEBORAH, MISSION TEAM LEADER:

Dear Parish Faithful,

Christ is Risen!

Our mission team will be assigned a painting work activity and we will need to raise $500 to cover expenses for this, so monetary donations are greatly welcomed (make donations out to Christ the Savior and earmarked for Guatemala).

In addition, the orphanage is in urgent need of the following items:

1) Clothing - Teenage girls
2) Toiletries - Diapers medium & large
3) Dormitories - Plastic Matress Covers (Twin Bed)
4) Kitchen/Refrectory/Nannies - Plastic silverware, Blender, Jelly
Plastic Glasses/Cups
Trash Bags (Medium & Large)

Teen names and sizes are forthcoming. There will be a donation sign in sheet on the table in the fellowship hall and a designated table for donations. Please be sure to sign in with any donations that you bring. Thank you for your prayers and generosity of behalf of these abandoned and orphaned children.

In Christ, Presv. Deborah - Team Leader

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Posted May 1, 2009: MISSION TEAM MEETING, FUNDRAISER, MORE:

From Fr Steven: Monday evening, May 4, we will have an organizational meeting for our Mission Team to the Hogar in Guatemala in June. We are hoping to then begin a month-long project of purchasing needed items for the Hogar, a Church School sponsored fund-raiser, and a general donation fund etc. for those who would like to contribute to the welll-being of the orphanage. Details to follow.

An Ice Cream Sundae sale sponsored and prepared by the Church School in order to raise funds for the Hogar San Rafael Orphanage in Guatemala City, is scheduled for Sunday, May 31 following the Liturgy.

Scroll down for a slideshow covering the Consecration of the new Church at the Lavra Mambre in Guatemala, the monastic "parent" of the Hogar Rafael Ayau orphanage.

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March 27, 2009: 2009 MISSION TRIP DETAILS FINALIZED:

From Fr. Steven ~ We have sent in our final information concerning our Cincinnati Mission Team to Guatemala and the Hogar for June 8-15, 2009. Actually, we have a multiple-parish team, but Cincinnati is where it has been organized and where our team leader is from. It was a bit of a challenge, but we were able to put together a twelve-member team:

Christ the Savior/Holy Spirit - Cincinnati

Fr. Steven Kostoff - team priest
Presvytera Deborah Kostoff - team leader
Anastasia Kostoff
Paul Kostoff
Luke Loboda
Anne, Anastacia and Alexandra Taylor

All Saints of North America Mission (OCA) - Columbus, OH

Anthony Jula
Megan Jula

St. Elias - Sylvania, OH (Antiochian Archdiocese)

Roberta Royhab

St. Paul - Dearborn Heights, MI (OCA/Bulgarian)

Mara Livezey

After Pascha, we are hoping to begin a collection of needed items that the team will take down in June. This will be our first return to the Hogar as an organized team since 2006.

Fr. Steven

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Scroll down to find:

Slide show from the consecration of the Lavra Mambre's new church.
Fr Steven's reflections on our recent Autumn Retreat
Articles on the Retreat by Francis Fowler-Collins
A slide show covering the retreat
A brief history of our involvement with the Hogar
Links to the Hogar's website, and info on how you can donate and help support the Godly work of the nuns.

COMING SOON:

A look back at previous CTS Mission Teams
MP3 Audio Files from Madre Ivonne's talks

We hope to continue to add more features over time to this page, so keep checking back! Remember to scroll down to see all the sections!

Big is GOD!

Ortodoxo Lavra Mambre Church Consecration

The Consecration of the New Church of the Orthodoxo Lavra Mambre

A photo essay from our dear friend Sister Vicki of the Orthodox Monastery of the Transfiguration, Ellwood City PA. Fr Steven was also present for this historic event. We hope to add captions, but wanted to post the slide show in anticipation of our 2009 Mission Team trip to the Hogar. Enjoy! Ola!

(30 images)

view slideshow >

2008 Autumn Retreat - Articles and Reflections

Webmaster's Intro: With so much to share, we decided it best to use the "blog" format (as with Fr Steven's Meditations and our Orthodox Q&A Forum). Below are a few lines from each entry, with direct links to the full article on our new BIG is GOD blog. May it be blessed!

~ ~ ~
NEW! Posted October 16:

Healing Abandoned Children at Hogar Rafael Ayau
Frances Fowler-Collins

It is difficult to raise children well under any circumstances, but it is especially difficult when all the children in question have been abandoned and most have also been abused...

Madre Ivonne and two other Orthodox nuns operate the “Hogar,” or Home, an orphanage that shelters about 100 Guatemalan children of both sexes, ranging in age from infancy to the mid-teens. The nuns’ work with the children is shaped by a coherent theory about how children, including children who desperately need physical, emotional, and spiritual healing, should be brought up. Full article here...

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A Reflection on the Retreat, from Father Steven...

Dear Parish Faithful and Friends in Christ,

To begin: I believe that we had an outstanding retreat. I expected as such, but the retreat clearly exceeded my expectations. This, of course, was primarily due to the preparation and presentations of Madre Ivonne. For ultimately, the success of a retreat is dependent upon the retreat's leader or main speaker. Madre Ivonne not only did not disappoint us, but she also inspired us by revealing to us what a person with strong faith in Christ can accomplish. Full article here...

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Miracles Mark Story of Guatemalan Orphanage
by Francis Fowler-Collins

“Miracle after miracle.” That is how Madre Ivonne Sommerkamp described
her twelve years at the Hogar Rafael Ayau in Guatemala City. Full article here...

~ ~ ~

The Money Trail - Retreat Donations Reach Almost $6K!
From Fr. Steven:

Dear Parish Faithful,

I must begin with a confession: apparently, I am a man of "little faith."
Based upon on the fact that we have had two very extensive fundraising
drives over the course of the last year-and-a-half or so, we did not
make a special collection for the Hogar in anticipation of Madre
Ivonne's visit here. The decision was to allow for all of the money
collected as registration fees/donations for the Retreat to go to the
Hogar. Full article here...

Fr. Steven introduces Madre Ivonne

Large Crowd Attends 2008 Retreat - 09/27/08

Healing in Christ: From Orphans to Children of God

Whether you missed the retreat, or want to relive the experience, these snapshots capture some of the fullness and feel of the day. We hope to post MP3 audio fles of Madre Ivonne's talks here on this page soon, God willing.

(14 images)

view slideshow >

Madre Ivonne ...

All were moved and engaged by her presence...

A full church greets Madre Ivonne.

A DVD,

Powerpoint preso,

and slideshow dramatized the talks.

The church hall was filled for brunch and lunch.

Madre Ivonne greets a family during the break.

Bookstore sales added to the donation to the Hogar.

Madre presents gifts to Fr Steven from the Hogar.

Ever since one of our parishioners at Christ the Savior~Holy Spirit (who is now an Orthodox nun at the Monastery of the Transfiguration in Ellwood City PA) made her first mission trip to the Hogar Rafael Ayau Orphanage in Guatemala some ten or so years ago, our parish has continued to grow in our love for and efforts on behalf of this wonderful oasis of Christ's love. The Hogar is home to some 100 abandoned and orphaned children, rescued in many cases from hopeless lives of poverty and abuse to this nurtering shelter run by the nuns of the Monasterio Ortodoxo Lavra Mambre under the protection of the Antiochian Orthodox Church of Guatemala.

From that first parishioner's journey (as a member of an OCMC team), Christ the Savior has organized or participated in numerous mission trips to the Hogar, and we are currently looking forward to our next mission team effort in June 2009. Please contact Fr. Steven to learn how you can help support or join our mission team.

We invite you to join us in support of and prayers for the Hogar Rafael Ayau, the children, and the nuns, who rely on tangible expressions of God's love to continue their holy work.

BIG is GOD!!!

LINKS:

Official Website of the Hogar Rafael Ayau
Donations to the Hogar