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Facing new challenges and opportunities
with courage and creativity.
This is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.
John 17:3
Dear Fr. Harry,
Preparing this update has been more challenging than normal. Each one of you who partner with us through prayer and financial support are vital members of our ministry team so keeping you informed about the work we are doing is very important. We are very grateful for you. At the same time because so much of our work is in close personal relationships with people it is not appropriate for us to share about these things publicly. We share about events and programs but we cannot tell people's personal stories because they belong to them and not to us. Doing this would objectify people making them appear as the objects of "ministry." Often support for ministries is garnered by appealing to people's emotions through stories and pictures. We are so grateful for all of you whose commitment to partnering with us in Albania is based on a much deeper level of commitment in obedience to Christ's command to make disciples of all nations. In this time of Covid 19 restrictions we are able to do fewer events and activities although in many ways we are working harder than ever seeking to find ways to minister effectively in this new context. It is thus harder for us to share what we are doing with you. Thank you for your prayers and your faithful financial support.

Two life milestones in August.


After four years of work Nathan completed his Doctor of Ministry degree at St. Vladimir's seminary. The title of his final project was Fostering Local Eucharistic Communities in Albania and beyond. We are very grateful that Nathan had the opportunity to do this in-depth study on the subject. We are also grateful that he is finished and is able to dedicate all his time to the work of ministry again. In addition to all Nathan has learned through his studies, having this credential is a major asset in his work as a professor at Logos University. Thank you for your support through this process.

Our second major milestone was having Covid 19 together as a family. Nathan was the first to begin symptoms of the virus followed by Gabriela and Daniel. We are very grateful that we had relatively minor symptoms and have fully recovered. Each of us was sick in bed with a fever for a few days but we were able to gradually return to normal life after that. We experienced serious fatigue and brain fog for about a month. We are very grateful to have passed Covid with so little difficulty relatively speaking and we hope that this has given us at least some long-term immunity.

Physically distant but spiritually close

organizing Sunday school with Covid 19 restrictions

Though we used online platforms to continue Christian education in the spring and summer due to Covid 19 restrictions, nothing can replace genuine in person time. We were therefore eager to begin in person Sunday school this fall as restrictions were lifted and children were returning to school. Our challenge was to find a way to maintain physical distancing to meet government guidelines and still create an environment that would be attractive and fun for children where they could learn and grow together. We developed a plan to create individual spaces for each child with a foam mat, a pillow and a plastic container with everything they need for crafts and games during the Sunday school hour. Daniel (pictured above) was a big help in the process of developing this idea and doing the shopping for the necessary equipment. We are always grateful for our van that makes transportation of large amounts of materials and equipment easy.
Knowing Jesus
Knowing Jesus is the theme that we have selected for the Central Children's Office during this academic year. We will seek to grow together in knowing Jesus throughout the year. One of the craft projects that the children will be doing is making this three dimensional map to help them understand the land where Jesus lived.
Make a tax-deductible donation to support the ministry of the Hoppe's in Albania
Please remember to designate for Nathan and Gabriela Hoppe
Podcasts

2019 San Diego Parish Life Conference

Bible study with father Evan
About the first half of the hour is an interview with Nathan.

Please pray


+ For Archbishop Anastasios, that he would have good health, wisdom and vision as he continues to provide inspired leadership for the Orthodox Church of Albania.
+For the developing parish families at St. Prokopi, St. Gjerasimos and the Resurrection of Christ Cathedral that the love of God would be evident in these communities and that many would be called to salvation.
+ For Katherine as she continues her junior year at Wheaton College. We are grateful that she is able to do in person classes. Please pray that she will have wisdom to know God's leading as she makes decisions for the future.
+ For Tristan that he would be successful at his job and that he would grow in maturity and in his Christian life as he adapts to life after college.
+ For our ministry team in Albania, that they would be filled with zeal, faith and love as they seek to proclaim the gospel and foster transformation for children and their families. Especially, pray for those in leadership roles that they would have wisdom and courage as they learn to lead.
+ Please give thanks for our dear friend Theodora who has finished chemotherapy and is now cancer free. Please pray that she would continue to regain her health and be protected from Corona virus.
+ For us as we seek to navigate the new ministry context that has emerged. Pray that we will have special wisdom as we seek to lead and plan.
+ For Nathan as he takes on new responsibilities at Logos University in teaching and preparing for the accreditation process.
 
Sunday school with physical distance looks a little different. The adults have moved from a small downstairs room where we were all packed together on top of one another to the very large space pictured above. We have spread people out and encourage mask wearing to create as safe an environment as possible. We also do health checks including recording temperatures for Sunday school participants of all ages. We have been gratified to have strong attendance in the parents group.
The children have enjoyed the new arrangements where they are physically distant from one another but each person has their own foam mat, pillow and materials. We have tried to create an environment that encourages them to naturally keep physical distance. So far attendance in children Sunday school has been lower than we would like. This was okay at the beginning as we developed new organization and procedures, but please pray that parents would come back to church and bring their children to Sunday school. Please also pray for our staff that they would be enthusiastic and diligent in their work, and most of all, that they would be seeking to know Jesus more as they lead the children towards Him.
Gabriela has continued to produce a weekly online catechism lesson for children. She is doing this in collaboration with the Orthodox radio station and the children's magazine. The Central Children's Office has also been asked to produce content for the children's magazine each month. Gabriela, working together with other staff members, has been working hard to develop materials for the magazine that complement the online lessons. You can watch this week's lesson here. Gabriela talks about five gifts which Jesus has given us to know him better. Each one of these is represented by an object wrapped up in the gift boxes she will open. The gifts are: time to be with Jesus, a place set aside for meeting with him, the icons which help us to experience his presence, the prayers of the saints throughout history that help us to speak to him, and the Holy Scriptures through which He speaks to us. We encourage children and adults to build a deeper relationship with Jesus using these five gifts.
The city of Tirana continues to grow and change rapidly. In this view from the balcony of our home we can see three new buildings under construction each of which is over twenty stories tall. In addition to these, there are at least ten other major buildings under construction or newly completed within ten minutes walk of our apartment. Paradoxically, as building and other development continue at breakneck speed people in Albania are increasingly discouraged and hopeless. Though anticorruption campaigns continue, there is a universal conviction that everything in the society is profoundly corrupted. People leave Albania at every opportunity. Almost everyone who can find a way to leave does. Dozens of those who have been active in the Orthodox youth or attended seminary have emigrated. The only real hope for Albania is the transformation through new life in Jesus. Please pray that we would be effective in sharing the light of the gospel and helping more people to come to know Jesus in a new way this year.
Since we could not do our regular camping programs this summer we looked for ways to do some smaller group outdoor activities that would be allowed under current restrictions. As a result we discovered some new places. One hidden gem is the canyon of Holta in the mountains about 1 1/2 hours south of us. This is a very narrow gorge with a stream running through it. In some places it is possible to touch both walls of the canyon at the same time. We had a wonderful adventure hiking through the canyon with friends. We look forward to visiting it again next summer. Hiking the canyon is definitely a summer activity as the stream is very cold in the air flowing down through the canyon is also cool even on the hottest days.

Contact and support information

Tax-deductible gifts in support of the Hoppe's ministry in Albania can be made through the Orthodox Christian Mission Center (OCMC). Please clearly designate all gifts for the Hoppe family.

OCMC address:
220 Mason Manatee Way, St. Augustine, FL 32086


Field address:
Nathan & Gabriela Hoppe
Rrg. e Kavajes 151
Tirane
Albania

Nathan cell phone: +355-698524045
Gabriela cell phone:+355-698524047
e-mail address: nghoppe@gmail.com
Skype address: nvhoppe


 
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Nathan Hoppe · Rrg. e Kavajes 151 · Tirana - · Albania

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