Missionary Spotlight - Faeli Heise

Faeli is an OCMC Missionary working at Casa Hogar and St Innocent Orphanage in Tijuana, Mexico. She works as an online school tutor for the 25 boys on the residential property. She is also the co-host of Project Mexico Podcast, Stories of Hope.

PM: Why did you decide to become a full-time missionary, and also specifically work for Project Mexico?

FH: It was a decision that happened very much with God’s prompting...something I stumbled into by His grace. I was a homebuilding intern with PM back in 2019 and I had reapplied to come back in summer 2020. Homebuilding was canceled because of the pandemic, but I was still able to go down to St. Innocent Ranch to help out with all the boys. I was scheduled to leave on the Feast of Dormition, but I ended up offering to stay and continue helping with the boys. I thought perhaps I’d leave after Christmas 2020, but by then I knew that God wanted me here and that I had found somewhere that felt like home. It was during this time that I was connected with OCMC, and I realized that missionary work is the path I’m being led down. I am about to reach my one-year anniversary here in Mexico, and I am so thankful to God for everything He has brought me in that time.

I am equally excited for what’s in the future. 

PM: Describe your role with Project Mexico. What are your responsibilities and contributions to the organization?

FH: The bulk of my time is spent with our 6th-grade group of boys in their online classes--one of those boys is my newly-illumined godson! I assist them throughout the day: keeping them on track, making sure they’re in the right classes, writing down their assignments, and helping them work through the many frustrations that come up throughout the day. Additionally, I’ve helped here and there with various marketing and fundraising projects.

PM: Tell us about how you have grown personally since you came to work for Project Mexico full-time?

FH: I think it’s quite possible I’ve grown more in this last year than any other year of my life. Lord willing, I have grown in patience and flexibility...but my prayer is that I have grown the most in love. My experiences here with the boys have opened my eyes to real love. It’s a love that takes priority over all else and sometimes feels too much to bear. I have a long way to go before I understand it and I can love others selflessly, but I’ve received a taste of it during my time here.

PM: What is a personal talent or interest that would surprise people to learn about you?

FH: I’ve always been fascinated by “old-timey” things. When I’m not bouncing on trampolines with kiddos, running around after ranch dogs, or generally favoring practicality, my personal style is Edwardian-lady-meets-wannabe-hipster. In fact, my godson once saw my church outfit and asked me “Are you from the past?”

Please consider supporting Faeli and her work using the button below.

Missionary Profile: Oliver Fahling

OCMC Missionary – Oliver Fahling

My name is Oliver Fahling. I studied at Mississippi College and played on the soccer team. My previous job was as a lift attendant at Schweitzer Mountain Resort in Sandpoint, Idaho. I enjoy reading about history and philosophy and will be attending law school this Fall, following in my father's footsteps.

Why did you decide to become a full-time missionary, and also specifically work for Project Mexico?

I decided to intern at PM after getting tired of working odd jobs for a few summers to help pay for school. As for deciding to be full-time, it was not much more than saying yes to the opportunity to be the Home Building Coordinator when it presented itself after two summers as an intern.

Describe your role with Project Mexico. What are your responsibilities and contributions to the organization?

My main responsibility is overseeing the construction of homes that are built by volunteers. Most of my work is preparation and takes place before volunteers arrive. This includes interviewing and selecting families, purchasing materials, constructing the wall systems, arranging material deliveries, running off-season work trips, and a few other things. There are also many subsidiary responsibilities that solely exist in the summertime, such as managing summer interns.

Tell us about how you have grown personally since you came to work for Project Mexico full-time?

I don’t get as angry anymore. In dealing with many things at one time and many different personalities all at the same time it is absolutely necessary for one’s mental stability to realize that some things won’t go the way I planned it. And that they might take a little longer than they should. I also realize that I am not always right. So, these revelations have helped me be more patient.

I’ve also noticed that I now love meeting people who land anywhere on the personality spectrum. I suppose I’m learning to appreciate people more as they are.

What is a personal talent or interest that would surprise people to learn about you?

I have a tendency to sweat while I eat, I think it’s genetic.

Missionary Profile: Thomas Ingram

OCMC Missionary - Thomas Ingram

My name is Thomas Ingram. I grew up in Huntington Beach, California. I was baptized Roman Catholic as a baby and had a Catholic education all the way up until college. However, in my early teens, I started attending Protestant mass on Sundays. Because of my Protestant influence, I attended a Quaker University in Oregon. This is also when I encountered Orthodoxy. After my sophomore year, I went on a short-term Protestant mission trip to Romania and Moldova. Our group leader thought it would be important for our team to experience an Orthodox Church service (liturgy) in Romania so as to understand the Romanian culture better. It was the first time I had been to an Orthodox service. I left that liturgy with many questions. When I returned to Oregon, I began attending an Orthodox church in Portland. Two and half years later I was baptized Orthodox. Glory to God!!

Why did you decide to become a full-time missionary, and also specifically work for Project Mexico?

I never saw myself as a missionary when moving down to Project Mexico. When I had gotten the invitation from Project Mexico to live down there to help spearhead their agricultural and beautification desires, I considered it a good opportunity to be a part of an Orthodox organization (which I had been desiring) and to do agricultural work which I enjoy doing. It wasn’t until time went on a little while longer at Project Mexico that I thought, “I guess my work could be technically considered missionary work.” 

What are your responsibilities and contributions to the organization?

My role with Project Mexico is diverse; a standard feature of Christian non-profit organizations. While my main role is centered around the implementation of agricultural projects and the beautification of Project Mexico by such things as planting trees, creating beautiful spaces, and helping spearhead our animal program—my duties also include helping facilitate the maintenance of our vehicles with our local mechanic as well as maintenance of the facilities. I repair broken pipes. Work with local electricians when we are having issues and make sure the Orphanage has clean drinking water. I also fundraise and travel to parishes to support the projects I implement.

How you have grown personally since you came to work for Project Mexico full-time?

I have been stretched in certain areas of my life while living at Project Mexico. I have, probably more than ever before, been starkly confronted with what it means to actually put my trust in God. There have been several challenging situations where the way to move forward was out of my control and/or capability. These situations created the opportunity for me to be humbled and to put my faith and trust in God.

You can make a difference today! Support Thomas’ hard work with a monthly donation for a cup of coffee, burrito or donate for an agriculture project on the ranch.

Project Mexico Gap Year Internship

Project Mexico is happy to announce its first formal year-long internship program.

The program will be held in Eagle River, Alaska and begins September 15, 2019 and will conclude in August 2020 in Mexico. Interns will go to Mexico in early May to prepare for the summer home building season.

The program will be done in conjunction with OCMC and Saint John Orthodox Cathedral, which will provide a loving, supportive church community for the interns during their stay in Alaska. OCMC missionaries Michael and Jennifer Saur are bringing their immersive missionary experience from Project Mexico to Alaska to help set up and run the program.

Learning service development will include work at the Downtown Hope Center in Anchorage in addition to other social service agencies in Anchorage, Eagle River, and Wasilla. Work with the OCA Diocese of Alaska will be done as well as it becomes available.

There will also be opportunities for Alaskan adventures (i.e. snowboarding, skiing, hiking,etc).

Tuition for the program is $15,000. This covers the entire year and includes travel costs, rent, and a living stipend.

Space is limited, so apply immediately!

To Apply:

Contact program overseer Fr. Matthew Howell FrMatthew@ProjectMexico.org.  

Fellowship in Arizona by Pres Maria Margaritas

“I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.”

— Philippians 4:13 

The 7th Annual Arizona Walk for Missions took place Saturday, April 21, 2018, at Kiwanis Park, in Tempe, AZ. This is truly a Pan-Orthodox event. It is run by Pan-Orthodox Christians and supported by Pan-Orthodox clergy. This year’s attendance hosted 58 walkers, participating from eight different parishes from across Arizona.

Proceeds benefit both Project Mexico and OCMC.

This project began seven years ago under the direction of Antonia Adams Clement. Antonia, and a committee of representatives from varying Orthodox Churches, from multiple jurisdictions, representing the entire state of Arizona, came together and through the Orthodox Christian Mission Center Ambassador Program, they discovered that 26 Orthodox Christians from Arizona had served the Church as missionaries abroad.

Through this program the fellowship began sharing their experiences and decided to support Project Mexico through funding tutors for our boys at St. Innocent Orphanage.  Speaking to the Arizona Clergy Council (Antiochian, Coptic, Greek, OCA and Romanian member organizations), each parish selected a representative and the Arizona Walk for Missions was born.

I was excited to represent Project Mexico this year. On the day of the walk, an opening prayer was delivered by His Grace Bishop Daniel (OCA) of Santa Rosa. Clergy in attendance included Fr. David Balmer and Fr. Deacon John Weiss, Sts. Peter and Paul, OCA, Phoenix; Fr. Michael Pallad, St. Haralambos (Greek), Peoria; Fr. Thomas Frisby, Exultation of the Holy Cross, (Romanian), Phoenix; Fr. Andre Paez, St. John the Evangelist, OCA, Tempe; along with Protaisa Laurel Frisby.  Board Member, John Hrapchak represented OCMC. This was truly a beautiful day to share our ministries and participate in Pan-Orthodox fellowship while enjoying a 2.5-mile walk.

Arizona is an amazing place to visit in the spring. We encourage you to participate in next year’s Arizona Walk for Missions! Contact us if you or your community are interested in starting a walk for missions of your own.  A huge Thank You to Antonia Adams Clement, lead coordinator and her committee, for their love and support.