Bobby Maddex interviews Fr. Nicholas Andruchow, the newly appointed Executive Director of Project Mexico. Together they discuss the ministries of Project Mexico and St. Innocent Orphanage, as well as the bold and exciting vision Fr. Nicholas has for future expansion.
The Gift of Service by Emmalia Godshall
Service is helping those in need—at least, that’s what it appears to be. Even this shallow definition instantly invokes images of devoted volunteers working long hours for people who may not be able to afford food, housing, and other essential services. Many enter volunteer work assuming they are the ones giving. While often true on a material level, the gifts given by those who allow others to serve them are incomparable.
Service is a symbiotic relationship. It takes incredible strength to ask for help in hardship and actively strive to better your future. Once help has been offered, those being served open their hearts and demonstrate grace. They must assume strangers have positive intentions despite the possibility of being belittled intentionally or out of ignorance. Many chose to share their smiles, struggles, and hospitality; they share their humanity. These examples are only a few of the many blessings which we receive when we serve others.
While true for all situations requiring compassion, service work presents many opportunities to learn and grow. True service, not simply volunteering, requires self-awareness and education on the complex societal and historical barriers to livelihood. We become better people when we serve. We learn to love and treat our neighbors as ourselves.
I also have a selfish reason for serving—I see myself in the neighbors I will be serving at St. Basil’s academy. This summer, I will be an intern at St. Basil’s Academy. Their mission is to provide a loving environment, education, and protection for children and orphans in need. The community and mission St. Basil's serves resonates deeply with me. I feel compelled and blessed to be able to serve with them.
I was born in China, but the one child-policy dictated that I could not stay with my birth family. I was adopted and welcomed into a family that gave me my best friends: my two older sisters who were also adopted from China. I am so grateful to be the person I am today, but I recognize that it is only through God’s intercession and the unconditional acts of love which I received. During the formative first 18 months of my life prior to being adopted, my future was uncertain.
Service is not only a blessing — it is a necessity. As St. John Chrysostom said, we can find “salvation” from those in need. If we can find love and salvation in service, service is truly the greatest gift and our inevitable calling.
Emmalia is interning at St. Basil's Academy in New York. St. Basil's is a national non-profit philanthropic center of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America which provides a loving Christian environment and a home for orphans, children of chronically ill or destitute parents and children from broken homes. The Academy's mission is to facilitate shelter, protection, love, and education in youth so they grow up to be healthy, wholesome, well-rounded Orthodox Christians, as well as productive members of society with vision and hope.
Hope Rising in Detroit by Niko Deffigos
When I told people that I would be serving as a missionary in Detroit, Michigan this summer, I received a nearly unanimous response: a look of confusion and uncertainty followed by a mixture of, “Why would you go there”, “Isn’t it dangerous” and “Don’t get shot.” To be frank, my perception of Detroit was very similar. I tried to approach my service with an open mind, but I harbored doubts about both the safety of the work and the impact that a couple college students could have in solving the deep-rooted issues the communities of Detroit experiences.
I have only begun to scratch the surface of this city and the mission we have been called here to do after the first week.
On the east side of Detroit, there is a street called Alter Road. Alter Road separates Detroit from Grosse Pointe. Grosse Pointe is a picturesque Midwest suburb. Well-manicured parks and quaint well-kept brick homes line the streets, unthreatening and inviting. When you cross Alter Road heading west into Detroit, the beautiful parks are replaced with abandoned lots, garbage dumps, and dilapidated homes near collapse.
The difference between the two places, separated by one single street, is like stepping from one world into another. The suddenness with which you can transition from one side to the other is unnerving. There are numerous reasons for this drastic disparity, one of the most prominent is race related. Decades ago, the city of Grosse Pointe placed physical barriers along certain roads that intersected Alter Road, and forced one-way streets, so that it was difficult to enter Grosse Pointe for people living on the Detroit side.
These barriers separated white from black, suburb from neighborhood, and wealthy from poor. The last of the barriers were removed in 2014. And even though the physical barriers are gone, the effects of the barriers and what they represent are impossible to ignore.
Alter Road is an important landmark in beginning to grasp the generational trauma of this city. No human or assemblage of humans, has the capacity to heal this city on their own. No politician, legislation, or social justice movement is capable of healing this city alone. New politicians with new policies have come and gone and nothing has worked. Neighborhood outreach organizations drop in and dry out just as frequently as it rains here in Detroit (which is nearly every day as I’ve learned). Despite their good intentions, they struggle to achieve peace in Detroit.
For us as missionaries it can be overwhelming to face this challenge where many have failed. I want more than anything to help people heal, but oftentimes I feel that on my own, I am wholly incapable of reaching them. I find beauty in that, as Orthodox Christians we are called to allow God to work through us to serve those thirsting for His grace and love. In this way, Christ provides us the strength we need to properly serve. The knowledge that He is by our side in our effort to help His people provides immense encouragement. St. Paul writes,
“If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ” (1 Peter 4:11).
Christ provides us with hope even in the darkest of circumstances, and with His strength we can reach peace in the communities that have been abused and neglected. The Detroiters I have met are wonderful, kind, and generous. Many have been born into difficult circumstances, but they continue to exude a joy and exuberance for life that is a clear sign of God’s presence within each of them. The work we have been doing in service of Detroit has been both humbling and enlightening.
In our short time here we have cleaned up abandoned houses, sorted and organized donations to the FOCUS Detroit Outreach Center—so that people in the community can come grab what they need, whether it be canned foods, sweaters and hygiene items. There is a garden we have been tending with the hopes of harvesting fresh fruit and vegetables to distribute to the neighborhood. These are small and simple forms of outreach to the community, and through them we are hoping to weave God’s love into the fabric of the community.
Detroit is a beautiful city, one of the greatest metropolises in America. Although Detroit has struggled through decades of decline and neglect, it remains vibrant and steadfast. God has not abandoned Detroit, and neither will I.
I ask for your prayers that us interns at FOCUS Detroit may humbly give ourselves to God and that He may work through us to reach those who desperately need what only He can provide: hope.
Stationed in Detroit, MI with our partners at FOCUS, Niko Deffigos is a Media Intern for summer 2021. You can directly support him and our ministry work by clicking the support button below.
Leading and Learning with Generosity by Eliza Corder
When I was eighteen years old, I thru-hiked the Appalachian Trail. That adventure changed me in innumerable ways, but the most meaningful—and the most long-lasting—is my outlook on giving.
Hospitality takes on a new meaning when you are, to use a biblical term, a sojourner. For months I walked from town to town, carrying my pack on my shoulders. Unfortunately, that pack couldn’t hold everything I needed. It couldn’t contain medical care, showers, heating, laundry machines, or my transportation to grocery stores and post offices that were far off the trail. Though I had planned as best I could to meet these needs for myself, it did not change the fact that as a foot traveler with only 30 pounds of possessions, my life was inherently vulnerable to forces larger than myself. Anything from a freak thunderstorm to an unexpected road closure could undo days and weeks of careful planning.
It was from this position of profound vulnerability that I learned the meaning of generosity. Unlooked for and unsought, locals from everywhere along the trail (often referred to as “trail angels”) stepped up to take care of me and my fellow hikers. I cannot possibly recount the thousand tiny kindnesses they showed me. And likewise, I cannot explain to you how profoundly even the simplest acts of hospitality impacted me.
After one particularly bad morning, a group of trail angels took me under their wing. They gave me directions, fed me, got me to the post office where I needed to go, and introduced me to another trail angel who cooked a hot meal for me and a few other hikers. Although these all sound like small things, to me they meant the world.
I say all this not to elaborate on my own adventures, but to illuminate this truth: the impact of kindness that seems small to us, who have more than we need, can be unfathomable to someone in want.
When I returned home to my former cushy lifestyle, I couldn’t shake the memories. After taking a brief job working with refugees, I realized that many people even in my own neighborhood are more vulnerable than I ever was on the trail. I felt a responsibility to give back, to care for my brothers and sisters just as so many people had cared for me, and to obey Christ’s injunction to be mindful of the widows and orphans.
All that brings me to the present day. My aim is to unite my desire to serve with my Orthodox faith. In service to that plan, I am interning with St Innocent Service Works, which has stationed me at a FOCUS (Fellowship of Orthodox Christians United to Serve) location in Cleveland, OH called St. Herman’s House. Fittingly, St. Herman’s works with the homeless population, feeding them and providing housing.
Christ asks us to love our neighbor, to feed, clothe, and shelter them: I humbly ask for your prayers and support as I and all my fellow interns attempt to do just that. Organizations like Project Mexico, St Innocent Service Works and FOCUS exist because of the generous support of donors and even if you’re unable to give of your time, you can also play a critical role in caring for the poor and spreading the light of Christ.
Last year was hard.
This year is new and different.
I know that with creativity and perseverance we can continue to grow, thrive, and serve.
Let’s make a difference together.
You can directly support my mission work at the button below.
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 2021 and the Future of Service
Christ is Risen!
I hope you all had a glorious Holy Week and Pascha!
Thanks to our faithful friends and fabulous fundraisers, our first-annual Push-ups for Hope Campaign raised over $18,000 for St Innocent School! If you missed the Livestream, you can watch it here on YouTube (scroll forward to the 8:00 min mark). It was hosted by Luke Andruchow and Faeli Heise and we smashed through our goal of 1000 push-ups in an hour!
We realize the Project Mexico experience is unique. Nacho nights at the Tiendita. Spending time in communion with our fellow Orthodox Christians, praying and working together and getting to know the boys in our care. There are elements of the experience that will forever remain unique to our 16-acre ranch in Rosarito, Mexico.
Like many, COVID-19 has altered the way we operate our ministry. The US/Mexico border remains closed to non-essential personnel. 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.
While we pray for the potential of limited late summer trips to the ranch and to build for a select number of families in Rosarito, we must continue our critical work this summer. Through service and works of mercy by our dedicated interns and volunteers, we honor our commitment to our boys at St Innocent Orphanage, the food and resource-deprived and the unhoused. We must continue to fulfill our mission even in the midst of these challenges.
This year is an opportunity for our ministry to aid those affected by the crisis of the past year. It also presents an opportunity to our volunteers to make a positive difference and most importantly, for you to live out your faith by putting the gospel into action and redeem these unusual times.
For the last year, we've strived to create the best possible experience inspired by our 33 years of homebuilding. We are blessed to offer our unique spiritual programming you've come to expect in Mexico at a number of locations across the United States, including in Boston, New York, Ohio, Michigan, Minnesota, Colorado, Texas, Florida, California and in Puerto Rico.
Additionally, by serving this summer at one of our new sites, you are directly supporting the Orphanage. Our homebuilding trips provide 40% of our annual budget for the operation of the St Innocent Orphanage and School.
We have 30 interns who have been training all Winter and Spring to serve throughout these locations from June - August. They will support your volunteer trips with our unique service-learning program. We have selected service opportunities in community outreach, humanitarian housing, and disaster recovery that you and your group can participate in close and far from home. Our programming is adapted for each location to guide each volunteer in how to Serve Christ in the Other no matter where we serve.
In Christ,
Fr. Demetrios (JP) Andrews
Executive Director
Project Mexico and St Innocent Service Works
Crazy Faith: Building Hope in Tonga
My name is Michael Jones. I am an Orthodox Christian living with my wife and four children in Eagle River, Alaska. After listening to a podcast about the extraordinary missionary efforts of the Holy Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of New Zealand, I felt a strong calling from our Lord to reach out and see how my family and I might be able to assist in their holy work. Because I am a building contractor, the Archdiocese invited me to assist in completing a temple that has been started in the Kingdom of Tonga.
My hope is that you will be inspired to support and participate in the missionary labors of our Holy Orthodox Church in some way – whether by supporting this project or another missionary ministry that speaks to your heart. As our Lord said, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few” (Matt. 9:13).
On January 31, 2020 I emailed Fr. Paul Patitsas, the priest whose interview on Ancient Faith Radio inspired me to reach out to the Archdiocese of New Zealand. My momentum on this project had stalled out somewhat since my first trip in April 2019, and he strongly encouraged me to get a small group together and go to Tonga while the team from Greece was still working on the Church of St. George.
I thought it was a crazy idea. The timing couldn’t have been worse for me. My business is growing, but I’ve had to make some structural changes recently, and as a result money has been tight. We have four small children. Our time and money is extremely limited. Nevertheless, Fr. Paul continued to encourage me, saying it would be really valuable to connect with Ilias and the other men from Greece who have made so much progress on the church during the last four months. With their help we could learn some tricks to navigate the obstacles of working in that remote, developing island nation, plus get an idea of what projects remained to complete the Church of St. George with the hopes of bringing other teams back to finish the project.
Considering his request, I told Fr. Paul, literally, that this idea was crazy. His response moved me, because I know his own life is an example of this: “The church in Tonga would never have been started if the people involved hadn’t been a little bit crazy.” He calls it “crazy faith” – that willingness to step out on faith in response to a whisper from the Holy Spirit. Even if you can’t see the whole picture, you take the leap, put your hope and trust in God, and let Him direct the work.
After a lot of prayer and wrestling with our own hesitations, my wife Meghan & I decided that I should go for 1 week. As soon as we made the decision all our worries disappeared. Meghan & I both felt at peace about the trip. We put it in God’s hands – if He wanted us to go, He would provide the means for the trip to happen. And it happened!
My first task was to assemble a team – primarily skilled carpenters who could get some work done even in the short amount of time we had. The first person I asked was Myles Kelly, who had committed to going on my second trip to Tonga while I was still on my first visit 10 months ago. He has been very supportive and helped me keep up the inspiration about this project, even when I was feeling overwhelmed. Once he gave the “thumbs up” to go, I knew we would be able to make it work.
I contacted two friends who own construction businesses in Colorado, Peter Lynch and David Young, and they both were immediately on board. Unfortunately, Peter wasn’t able to make it this time around, but David found support from his parish and put his work projects aside to join us in Tonga.
We needed someone to handle logistics – purchasing, arranging meals, running errands, etc. – so I contacted Ryan Smith, who had just arrived to join the Project Mexico missionary internship program we are hosting here at St. John’s in Eagle River. I hadn’t actually spoken with him yet, but I figured if he had committed this part of his life to learning about missionary work he’d probably be the right kind of person for the trip. He turned out to be a great addition to our team. Plus, his participation led to the addition of a 5th member who also fit in perfectly – the Executive Director of Project Mexico, Fr. Demetrios Andrews.
When Fr. Demetrios heard that Ryan was invited to go work on a church building project in Tonga his immediate response was: “I want to go!” He called me and explained that he is working to reposition Project Mexico and St Innocent Service Works as an Orthodox youth service leadership initiative and expand building projects – both homes & churches – anywhere in the world where there is a need. This trip was an opportunity for him to jump right into an active church construction project and begin developing a framework for future construction-focused missionary trips. As you’ll discover as you read this blog series, Fr. Demetrios sees the big picture of any situation immediately, and before you blink he’s got plans in motion to get things accomplished that most of us never would have imagined possible.
Thanks be to God, with the support of Fr. Demetrios and the infrastructure of Project Mexico and St Innocent Service Works, I believe now more than ever that this church-building in Tonga will be completed, and other similar projects in Fiji & Samoa may finally get the support they need to be realized.
Stay up-to-date with Michael’s mission work at https://orthodoxyfortonga.com/