Update: US/Mexico Border Remains Closed

Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the US/Mexico Border remains CLOSED. Because of the risk posed to the children in our care at the Orphanage, our staff, and the local community in Rosarito, we cannot safely host large groups of homebuilders on-site at this time.

There are a number of alternative service trips available at locations across the US and in Puerto Rico.

Please check out the St. Innocent Service Works website: www.stinnocentserviceworks.org/service-trips/

There you can Pick Your Own Location and a Date that Works for You.

We look forward to your service with us. If you have any questions, please reach out to our Volunteer Coordinator, Father Gabriel at frgabriel@sicafoundation.org

215.278.1087

Homebuilding 2020 POSTPONED

While “Building Hope 365” is in our DNA for the first time in 32 years, we won’t be building secure and safe homes for families in Tijuana this summer. 

With due regard for the safety and health of our boys and staff at Project Mexico & St Innocent Orphanage and our surrounding community in Rosarito Mexico, we have CANCELED Summer Homebuilding 2020 because of the global coronavirus pandemic, extended US/Mexico border closure and other circumstances beyond our control. 

This postponement has a critical financial impact on our 100% donor-funded organization. Homebuilding volunteer trips directly contribute to our ministry with over 40% of our annual operating budget. 

We are in a crisis we’ve never experienced even as a modest non-profit and our reliance on your support has never been greater. We've raised the limit and lifted restrictions on fundraising pages to allow you to share your link with your parish, friends and family. Donations can be designated to support the Orphanage or applied to a future trip. Simply log on to  Volunteer.projectmexico.org.

As a homebuilding volunteer or group leader, you can:

• Designate your fundraising donation in support of the boys

• Rollover your trip to 2021 (dates are available on our website)

• Get a Voucher for a future date

• Apply trip fee to a US Domestic Build (You must re-register)

• Hardship Refund Request

In the event you request a refund, you and your group can STILL help support the boys of St Innocent Orphanage with a donation purchase of a one-for-one cloth mask or even painting your own church! See the details below.

In Christ,

Fr. Demetrios (JP) Andrews
Executive Director
Project Mexico & St Innocent Orphanage

Family, Faith and Fellowship During a Pandemic by Faeli Heise

“Glory to Thee for the Faithfulness of Friends” 

This phrase above from the Akathist of Thanksgiving has a double meaning, I suppose. 

1. The faithfulness friends have to each other,

2.  And the faith they are full of. 

Glory to God, for I, have experienced both of these; and when the two come together as one phenomenon, it feels like a miracle and it aids us in our theosis. Our love for God and our love for our friends often blend closer as we learn to always see Christ in someone, despite the frailty and disappointment of human nature. 

 My summer on the ranch was where I first realized the reality of spiritual family. Truth be told, the homebuilding season is physically and emotionally demanding. Intensely so. Without spiritual sustenance and the support of deliberate fellowship, I highly doubt it would be sustainable for any of us. “How do you all not get injured so often?” someone asked me after I explained the nature of the work and some of the shenanigans we got up to. 

“Truly? The grace of God.” This is a very tangible example, but when it comes to spiritual strength, the same thing is true. The people I spent the summer became my personal prayer warriors, my most trusted advisors and confidants, and my best friends. We underwent countless experiences--joyful, heart-rending, exasperating, miraculous, worrisome--and came out the other side just about as close as any group of God-loving weirdos can be. I learned of the power of people who pray together and for each other; who hold space for each other in their hearts; who truly demonstrate how “iron sharpens iron” and how others lead us on our path of salvation. This sense of family is a gift I have carried with me for the last year, but I could not have known how it was to multiply!

Fast forward from last summer to March 15th of this year. The beginning of COVID craziness was even crazier for me: my life turned upside down on a dime and I was left in the lurch and a bit stranded. But when God deems us worthy of those experiences, He does not leave us alone, though we may feel as such! He sent me a lifeline: the unwavering, ever-present support of a small handful of people. They have sat with me in my sorrow, shown me small joys, and most importantly they have prayed with me and for me. Because of all of this, they were also all (figuratively) holding giant, neon signs that said “Turn to God! He is asking you to trust Him with this!” 

This lifeline was conceived on March 18th, mere days after I moved for the 8th time in the last year--this time on two days' notice. Schools had sent students home the week before. Churches had just shut down. I was, to put it informally, a wreck. 

My friend Elise (one of PM’s very own 2019/20 summer interns) called me up. After checking in, sharing my sorrow, and helping me find some solace, our conversation went something like this:

“Faeli, my Spiritual Father has suggested that every day for the next few weeks I pray the Akathist to St. John of Shanghai.”

“Oh, wow. That’s a great idea! Have you done it yet today?” She chuckled. 

“Nope. I need to, though!” I looked at the clock. It was 9:30 pm. 

“Let’s do it together. Right now.” 

“Over the phone? That’s...actually a great idea.”

We did it then and there. And then the next day. And then we quickly realized how this could expand and grow. Everyone was grieving the loss of church attendance. But that didn’t mean that we had to lose our fellowship. In very little time, a WhatsApp group was created, our intern friends notified, a Zoom room designated, and our Akathist group chat was born. But it didn’t stop there. 

 We started with just three nights a week: St. John on Thursday (with Elise and sometimes myself still doing it every day) St Xenia on Friday (that was my request) and the Akathist of Thanksgiving on Saturday. (Anyone who’s been down for homebuilding will know how important that one is.) 

 Every other week or so, we decided to add just one more night. Akathist to the Mother of God on Wednesday. Akathist to St. Innocent on Tuesday. Pick-a-new-Akathist night on Monday. Small Compline on Sunday. We even spent Holy Week together: praying through the book of Psalms, keeping Vigil, and taking on the journey to Pascha as our own small church. 

It soon became clear how important this routine and support system was to us all. Finals were hitting hard this last semester: but often anyone who was cramming into the wee hours of the night would still join to listen to us pray while they worked. My spiritual father passed away on Holy Thursday: I was joined on Zoom to pray a service for him the following day. One of us had a scare when his younger brother was injured in a mountain biking accident, hospitalized, and had surgery: that day, we all prayed the Paraklesis to the Theotokos together.

We’ve been separated from Holy Communion, but we have NOT been separated from communion in Christ with each other. We’re being kept from one another geographically, but we are not being kept apart in prayer and spirit. We have humbly (and informally) done what we can to carry on the life of the church during this time, and if you asked any of us “Why?” the answer would probably be “Because I NEED this!” 

In hardship, pain, and confusion, I struggle so deeply to see the redemption that is brought about in the moment. But He has given me the camaraderie of these people at this time, and it has strengthened me in my love for Him and others. I could never have imagined being where I am now--where we are now--for better or for worse. There is a time to mourn it, but then there is the time to be thankful! This gift of Project Mexico, this gift of spiritual family, has strengthened my faith in Him and others. Truly, I would not trade it for anything. Glory to Thee for the faithfulness of friends,

Glory to Thee, O God, from age to age! 

-Faeli Heise 

A Test of Faith: A Letter from Fr. Nicholas Andruchow

Dear family and friends, 

Christ has risen! Cristo ha resucitado!

I hope you all had a blessed Pascha/Easter. In addition, I hope you all are well during these turbulent times. The Lord calls us to have faith in the storms and the recent crisis around the COVID-19 is truly a calamity to which level the world has rarely seen. Living here south of the border has given us a different perspective.  Presbytera and I are safe and have been mostly keeping close to the Orphanage grounds avoiding contact with people off-site. This has limited our exposure to the virus but has allowed us to grow closer to the community and all the boys. This experience has made it clear that the fast pace of modern society can be exhausting and possibly unnecessary. 

We are in new territory

Whoever would have thought the safest place to spend Holy Week would be at an orphanage in Tijuana, Mexico. We were not only sheltered from the virus but because of our unique situation, we were all strengthened by the ability to worship together. All thirty of us ate together, did morning prayers together, and attended the 14 Holy Week services together. The boys all rose to the occasion because since we did not have the support of the local Orthodox community these young soldiers were expected to chant all the services, clean all the candle stands and serve in the altar up to 3 hours at a time. I am so proud of them. Similar to the rest of the world they have not seen any of their school friends in over a month, they have not had any school sports activities and they all are taking classes on-line. All these changes have created significant more responsibilities for the orphanage staff but the team has made many sacrifices to provide great care for the boys.

A true test of faith

One of the reasons I left my community in Northern Arizona nine years ago was the need to minister to the hundreds of youth who come every summer and build homes for needy families. For obvious reasons, this summer will need to be adjusted due to the realities of the Pandemic. There will still be plenty of construction happening through Project Mexico but compared to recent years this summer will be abridged. This is difficult for two reasons. First, some of the families in hardship will have to wait for relief to receive more stable housing. Second, the surplus income from the homebuilding registrations will be significantly less, therefore, putting substantial pressure funding the Orphanage operations. Proceeds received from people who come to help build homes cover the expenses of the orphanage. When there are fewer people building homes, there is less financial support. We are all doing our part to cut expenses and the Lord is giving us a prime opportunity to grow in faith.

Responding in Joy

The life of an orphan is not easy.  Losing your family at such a young age is a tragedy.  These are boys are accustomed to hardships as well as the St. Innocent Orphanage.  For the past 30 years, young children have had a place to heal and grow up on what we call “The Ranch”.  On these 16 acres, we try to teach them that even though their parents let them down, Christ’s Church will never let them down.  With this knowledge, they have learned to be grateful and happy for the little things they have.  It is not going to be easy here at the orphanage but we will all survive.  As a Church, I ask you all to donate now and help these little ones through their difficult times. Your gift of joy calls on God’s abundant love.

In the Love of Christ,

Fr. Nicholas L. Andruchow

Priest/Associate Director

Project Mexico & St. Innocent Orphanage

Summer Home Building Options

Homebuilding is essential to the operation of our ministry. 

Did you know?

• Homebuilding provides over 30% of our operating budget for our organization

• Homebuilding supports our Orphanage's ability to house, raise and educate our boys

• Homebuilding provides a safe and secure living for 20-25 families every summer for the past 32 years

• Each home gives a family the means to live safely and thrive, educate their children and better their lives

In the event of the following circumstances here are a few options:

Delayed Season: Groups can shift to build weeks later in the summer at a date of your choosing and this includes flexible dates if our weeks on the schedule don’t work for your group

Border Closure: Alternate trips throughout the United States including Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands are available and we have published these on St. Innocent Service Works (www.sisw.managedmissions.com/OurTrips)

Travel: Deploy to a local site for your group to participate in a regional or local ministry closer to home in partnership with our partner orthodox ministries throughout the country

Physical Distancing: Our interns will establish local contacts in your area to assist with local homeless and homebound food delivery and outreach.  (Yes, your group could work at a soup kitchen preparing boxed lunches or delivering meals to those in need, which can be done in social distancing, with contactless delivery as social services are exempted under most stay at home orders.)

Voucher: Volunteer homebuilding trip later in the summer, fall, winter, spring break, or summer 2021.

Summer 2021: Launches May 1, 2020 with priority to rescheduled groups (reapply your group’s fundraising towards summer 2021 deposits and trip payments)

Charitable Donation: Meet your fundraising goals and dedicate it to the orphanage’s sustained operations

Financial Hardship Refund: Case-by-case, please contact Fr. Demetrios

Finally, you are our most generous supporters! Each volunteer contributes as much as our average donor, despite their young age, because of all of the hard work of our group leaders in organizing and fundraising!  We expect over 500 volunteers this summer.  We humbly ask that even if you don’t plan to join us this summer, that you use your group’s fundraising links to continue supporting St. Innocent Orphanage’s continued operations. 

If you and your group members can hold virtual fundraisers, and continue to send out requests for support for our Orphanage, our 500 volunteers can reach more than 5,000 or more people to help us support our ministry and continue our mission even during these trying times.  

Since we can no longer meet in a parish setting you may use the crowdfunding links in your profiles that are dedicated to your group’s trip! You can ask your priest to mention your home building trip fundraiser after liturgy, or during virtual coffee hour, weekly bible study, or a specially scheduled digital presentation by your group to the parish!

We will stay in close communication with you as the summer schedule develops.

Through the prayers of the Most Holy Theotokos and St. Haralambos, we pray that the Lord of the Harvest deliver us from this blight, for truly the harvest is plentiful,

Fr. Demetrios

Executive Director 

Gratitude: A letter from Executive Director, Father Demetrios

Every organization and ministry is an interlocking chain. From supporters to staff to the beneficiaries of our ministry.  Without you we could not have made it through the last 32 years of building homes for families without and providing a home to boys without one. Together, we have weathered many storms, and together we will make it through this one.

In the midst of this crisis, we are blessed to receive three new boys to our orphanage this week. Just as you may have children at home from school; we have moved all of our 17 boys to home and online schooling at the ranch with the aid of our dedicated teachers and tutors. To stay healthy and active we’ve begun training for the St Innocent Run for Hope Charity Half-Marathon and 10K.  

I wanted to take the opportunity to thank you for your continued support as we hunker down for this Lenten journey with the hopes to be reunited together soon. We have identified families who are in an even greater need for homes this summer due to the virus. A house will provide them with safe, affordable, and secure housing that is also treated with our lime wash paint that is a natural antibacterial and antimicrobial!

While none of us know when the shelter-in-place orders and travel restrictions will lift, we will be flexible for our groups and volunteers and continue our mission. We are also working to mobilize you, our many donors, alumni volunteers, and friends to assist one another in your own community through our partner ministries across the country. The harvest is plentiful, and truly we need laborers more than ever in this time to bring in the harvest.  

You can support our ministry and those most vulnerable by praying, volunteering, and getting involved, and most importantly by staying safe and helping to eliminate the continued spread of COVID-19.

We will be in communication as new information becomes clear for this summer, but either way, we at Project Mexico and Saint Innocent Orphanage will continue to be here to support the poor, the widows and the orphaned with your help. I personally thank you for your continued support, and if you are in a position to increase that support now, you will make a significant impact in our ability to continue this great ministry!

Thanks to the recently passed legislation and stimulus, the Charitable Giving Incentive now makes all gifts to non profits tax deductible in 2020 regardless of whether you itemize.  It also raises the giving limit from 60% of AGI to 100% of AGI:  Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act CARES Act (Pub. L. 116-132).

Please consult with a tax professional to determine if your gift will be tax exempt.

Through the prayers of Our Most Holy Theotokos, and the blessings and intercessions of St. Haralambos, we pray for your health and good strength as we approach the Crucifixion and Look towards the Joyous Resurrection of the Lord!

With the Love of Christ,

Fr. Demetrios