Save the Temple of the Holy Virgin Mary, Santo Domingo, Ecuador! El Templo de Santa Maria Vírgen! Help these struggling families keep their place of worship in their neighborhood

These beloved Ecuadorian families of this Malankara Orthodox mission in Ecuador are stuck with a bill they cannot afford in order to keep their temple as a place of worship. They have to soon try to purchase the property (about $14,000 USD, but they can pay in installments starting at $5,000 if they can do it within a couple weeks). They constructed the building, but have been renting the land for some time. The owner of the land does not belong to the mission and was himself in default. Now the government has appraised this specific property for $14,000 and will sell it if it is not paid off in a very short time. This mission serves many very poor families, even next door to it, and around this very poor neighborhood. It will be very difficult for them to be able to find, afford, or build another temple for many years to come. Can you please help them keep their temple so that these families can still be served in the same struggling neighborhood, and serve others as Christ would? Any gift may help. Even if we don't raise enough to keep the temple, all proceeds and any extra will be sent to aid the poor families of this mission in Santo Domingo. I visited and served these families in late July and August 2024 and was so moved by their gentle and generous souls, when they themselves have so little. Please help if you can.

Christ's love and joy!

Fr. George Hatcher, St. Gregorios Orthodox Christian Church, Spokane WA