On August 2, we were blessed by the arrival of a 14-person construction team sent by the OCMC (Orthodox Christian Mission Center). They will be with us until August 16. A very talented and experienced group of people, they are undertaking the construction of a new dormitory building for our … [Read more...]
Way Up High
July 23, 2013 by · Leave a Comment
Somewhere over the rainbow, way up high, There's a land that I heard of, once in a lullaby. In the memorable words of song lyricist, Yip Harburg (music by Harold Arlen), Fr. John and I find ourselves living "over the rainbow." The location of our Guatemalan seminary and sewing center is … [Read more...]
Announcement
July 23, 2013 by · 1 Comment
Fr. John and I are back in Guatemala. Our work and technical difficulties have prevented us from posting messages on our blog and we apologize for our long hiatus. Some of you may not be familiar with the wonderful Orthodox periodical, Road to Emmaus, which is published quarterly, under the … [Read more...]
UPCOMING EVENT
April 13, 2013 by · 1 Comment
We are currently back in the U.S.A. in our hometown of Pittsburgh, PA. Just as Joseph was obliged to travel to Bethlehem with Mary, we have returned to give unto Uncle Sam what is Uncle Sam's (i.e. pay our taxes). But even more important than that, we look forward to spending a joyous Pascha with … [Read more...]
Impressive!
March 2, 2013 by · 9 Comments
At the risk of appearing sinfully proud, I would like to inform you, Dear Readers, that I have achieved the status of "Impressive" here in Nueva Concepcion. This took a little longer in Guatemala than it did during my missionary tenure in Africa. In Bukoba, Tanzania, where Fr. John and I spent 6 … [Read more...]
Clothing the Male Anatomy
February 19, 2013 by · 3 Comments
While my husband, Fr. John, expends his energy raising the spiritual and theological stature of the priests here in Guatemala, it has become my destiny, as an ecclesiastical seamstress, to be concerned with their physical attributes. My students and I have measured the length and girth of every … [Read more...]
Guatemala Bound
February 2, 2013 by · 1 Comment
It's not easy to say goodbye to 11 adorable grandchildren, knowing that they will have grown and changed in so many ways before we see them again. It's not easy to be far away from our 4 children and their partners who are also our closest allies. A long separation from family, friends, and the … [Read more...]
Misfortune/Miracle
January 3, 2013 by · 3 Comments
Misfortune/Miracle by Alexandra Chakos In the dictionary, the words misfortune and miracle, by virtue of their spelling, are not very far apart. Is it possible that, even in reality, a misfortune and a miracle can be closely linked events? I proffer that in some cases, they can be one and the … [Read more...]
PORTRAIT OF A CATECHIST: THE FOOT SOLDIERS OF CHRIST
October 4, 2012 by · 2 Comments
PORTRAIT OF A CATECHIST: FOOT SOLDIERS OF CHRIST Father John Chakos The newly emergent Guatemalan Orthodox Church under the omophorion of Metropolitan Athenagoras faces many challenges, not the least of which is the low number of canonically ordained priests--eight to be exact--who serve the … [Read more...]
Home Again!
October 4, 2012 by · Leave a Comment
I apologize, Dear Readers, for having neglected you for so many weeks. We returned to our Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania home at the beginning of September. The time flew by as we re-aquainted ourselves with family and friends and rejoiced in the birth of our 11th grandchild. While our life in the U.S. … [Read more...]
