Saint James' Kids: Update from James and Daphne Hargrave

Tuesday, September 25, 2012

Update from James and Daphne Hargrave

Dear friends,

Furaha na amani! Joy and peace!

Greetings today from Daphne's hometown of Abbotsford, British Columbia. After much traveling, we are finally at rest here until departing for Tanzania God willing on Monday, October 9th.

Almost at rest. Tomorrow, I plan to drive across the border to visit Prophet Elijah Orthodox Church in Ellensburg, Washington. Daphne's passport is at the Tanzanian High Commission in Ottawa for her visa, so I'll make this final trip to the US alone. I'm looking forward to learning from the missionary efforts of this parish.

In the past months we have been on the road between Abbotsford and my home in Gainesville, Florida visiting family and friends, attending weddings, speaking at parishes, and completing our training at the Orthodox Christian Mission Center in St Augustine, Florida.

It's been a whirlwind. The two of us have been traveling together since May. It has been beautiful and good to witness the faith and holy work of churches throughout North America, and we have been encouraged by your example as well as your prayers and financial support.

Marriage is the best thing ever. Everything is new again. Although I've served for two years as an OCMC Missionary in Tanzania, I can honestly say that Daphne and I are going as new missionaries. Everything will be transformed- relationships, habits, work schedules, the way we do business. My friends, local family, colleagues and fellow missionaries are eager to meet Daphne as they welcome us to begin our lives together as a missionary family. We're excited to go.

Upon return to Africa, I expect to continue service to the Holy Archdiocese of Mwanza and Western Tanzania helping clergy develop youth ministry as well as working on communications, translation, and other regular tasks at the offices of His Eminence, Metropolitan JERONYMOS. Daphne's first assignment will be Swahili language study in preparation to work with the Church in developing health care outreach strategies. We have both been asked to continue hosting short-term OCMC Teams, which work together with the Finnish Orthodox Mission to teach and provide medical services.

Thank you for walking with us in prayer and fellowship with the Holy Trinity. Please continue to pray for us. In order for us to return to Tanzania in three weeks, we do need to have full financial support. Most of our financial needs are covered by parishes, families and individuals giving as they are able- monthly pledges from $10 to $50 to $100 or more. If you would like to make a pledge of financial support, you can make out a check to the Orthodox Christian Mission Center with "M: Hargrave" in the memo line and send it to OCMC, 220 Mason Manatee Way, St Augustine, FL, 32086, USA. You can call (904) 829-5132 and ask for the finance department. Or you can go to http://jhargrave.ocmc.org and click "Support Missionary."

Most important, the presence of your prayers is felt strongly in our lives. Thank you. Thank you also for your example and faithful witness to the glory of God. We are sent by you and because of you.

By your prayers in Christ,

James and Daphne Hargrave