Orthodox Service Leadership Program - Summer 2020 (Mexico)

Thanks to George and Judy and the Marcus Foundation for their generous grant, the Service Leadership Intern Program was a great success at Project Mexico. This video documents the months of work and service conducted by the dedicated Interns at Project Mexico. The Interns provided critical support for the boys of St Innocent Orphanage during the mandatory lockdown, assisted staff and counselors and made a lasting connection to Orthodox service. On behalf of Project Mexico and St Innocent Service Works we'd like to thank George and Judy Marcus for making this summer's internship program possible. We'd also like to thank our incredible interns for their patience, resilience and flexibility.

Video by Luke Andruchow

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

UPDATE: Life at the Border

I wanted to take a moment to share a little peek into our life here south of the boarder.  My wife—or presbytera in Greek circles or kuria in Antiochian circles or matushka in Slavonic circles—and I have completed seven years living at the St. Innocent Orphanage.  Yes, it has been an adjustment, especially for my presbytera who was raised in a traditional Greek family—an experience very different than life in Tijuana. 

In our years here we have had many new experiences that come with living in a third world country and in a foreign culture.  One of these experiences was the immigration of thousands of Latin Americans traveling through Mexico hoping to find asylum in the United States. It definitely did not go as well as most of them were hoping but I would like to share some of the realities we have seen being on the ground.

Recent statistics tell us that the vast majority of the migrants have chosen to seek Mexican work visas or returned to their home countries. According to the Associate Press (see link below) of the 6,000 migrants in the caravan 1,300 people have returned to their home countries, 2,900 have received Mexican humanitarian visas that permit them to work in Mexico, and 1,300 migrants have been detained. The temporary shelters in Tijuana have been closed and migrants have integrated into the community, living in permanent housing accommodations.

At the height of the Migrant Caravan event, the city of Tijuana had several pockets of migrants waiting in tents looking for guidance for the next step.  Because of the hundreds of displaced that were in these temporary camps, the local municipalities were burdened to say the least.  Despite the sheer numbers, Mexican authorities handled the situation well and at no time did it become a national crisis for the country. 

Yes, the border was closed for several hours coming into America, but everyone forgets to mention that there was another border crossing that was kept open less than 20 miles to the East.  At no time did any of the missionaries feel “trapped” or in danger.  We are grateful that the situation has calmed and that those individuals and families are finding stability.

So people always ask me, “Is it safe to travel to Tijuana?” or “Will I be able to get back into the United States?” 

The answer to both these questions is, “Yes.” 

As an Orthodox priest, husband and father, and the Associate Director of Project Mexico, I would not be living here with my family if it wasn’t safe or we couldn’t travel freely.  And, I definitely would not bring hundreds of youth to the ranch every summer unless I could ensure their safety. 

We understand the fear people have.

How the nature of media can exacerbate and fuel those fears. But I encourage all us who have been called to help the families, orphans and widows to come and live the gospel.  Let us not be controlled by people’s biased opinions or false perceptions, rather, let us be guided by strength and love to courageously give and change the lives of those who are truly in need.

Thank you for your support of the ministry and please if you have any question you can contact me on my cellular phone which works perfectly fine in Mexico.

In Christ,

Fr. Nicholas L. Andruchow

Priest

Project Mexico & St. Innocent Orphanage

fnicholas@projectmexico.org

cell. 619-309-8745

Spagat, E. (2019, January 16). Last year's Central American caravan dwindles, new one forms. Retrieved from https://www.apnews.com/be98c131631d49f0943e1f7ac6a4993b

Migrant Caravan

We wanted to take this opportunity to update our supporters on the migrant caravan that arrived in Tijuana this fall. The caravan consists of people seeking asylum in the U.S. from violence and famine in Central America. This is not the first group of migrants that have arrived in Tijuana. Tijuana has many Haitians, El Salvadorians, South Americans, and Columbians who have settled in Tijuana over the past forty years.  

Mexican authorities and local charities in Tijuana have years of experience and ability in aiding and managing groups of migrants at the US/Mexico border. In fact, most of the fast-paced growth in the city is from migrants who cannot get across the border. Instead, they stay and thrive. 

The migrant caravan consists of political asylum seekers from south and central America. Many are fleeing gang and narcotics-related violence from major cities like Tegucicalpa, Honduras or from rural areas plagued by drought. Thousands have been sheltered at the Benito Juarez Sports Complex and State authorities are busy organizing the camp while limiting disruption for Tijuana residents and businesses. 

A nearby Catholic Charity’s soup kitchen helps feed and supply them. Nuns from the Catholic Charities use volunteers year-round to feed the homeless near the San Ysidro border crossing. At Saint Innocent Orphanage we dedicate the week leading up to Christmas making and distributing tamales at the border while singing Christmas Carols. Last year, our Interns spent their off-time as volunteers at the Nun’s Kitchen.  

“On Sunday the 25th of November my family and I were planning to go to San Diego. As we reached the crossing, frustrated migrants rushed the border. For less than 15 minutes, there was a half-hearted attempt to cross a very hardened border crossing. Mexican police and American Border Patrol agents had been preparing for weeks for this occasion. The entire event was resolved in minutes. Since then, everything has returned to normal. More programs are offered to migrants to assimilate into Tijuana.

Mexican work weeks are often six days of twelve-hour shifts. Thousands of visa holders also cross the border every day to work in America and return at night. There is a well-organized commute system of walking lanes, public transit, and ride sharing. At Project Mexico, I cross four-to-six times a week. 

The migrant caravan revealed to me the immense beauty of the professionals and volunteers in Tijuana who have dedicated their lives and money in the alms giving ministries. This is why people come to Project Mexico. - Mike Saur OCMC Seminarian

The migrant caravan revealed to me the immense beauty of the professionals and volunteers in Tijuana who have dedicated their lives and money in the alms giving ministries. This is why people come to Project Mexico. 

Many charities in Tijuana are showing how to deal with the situation like the migrant caravan with love and compassion. Charities have provided lodging, clothing and food. Many migrants have taken offers of employment. The way the authorities managed and dealt with the situation limited the disruption to a single episode.” - Mike Saur – OCMC Seminarian Intern

Project Mexico hosts 5 OCMC interns and their families, several US staff, including Fr. Nicholas, Pres. Merilynn, and their families live in Mexico. We regularly cross the border numerous times each week and experience little to no interruptions in our operations. In fact, the ongoing plight of the refugees will likely increase the need for our services of building homes and providing support to orphans over the foreseeable future as they await their asylum claims to be heard over the next several years.

The people of Tijuana and Mexico are resilient. We pray this immigration crisis can find a timely workable resolution. 

May the Lord touch your hearts and bless all of you.

If you’d like to make a difference today, consider pledging your support for our Annual Matching Grant Challenge by clicking the button below.

Mexico Update

On Sunday, California Border Patrol closed the crossing at San Ysidro for 3 hours. The Central-American asylum seekers were protesting the lack of resources, slow processing of their asylum requests and the rapidly deteriorating conditions of their makeshift shelter. Most are families who have traveled far to escape violence in their home countries.

First, I want to let everyone know that we are fine in Tijuana. It’s not impacting our operations. If anything, it provides us another opportunity (along with our fellow non-profits) to help our neighbors in Tijuana. Yes, having several thousand extra “temporary” residents has complicated things. The people of Tijuana and Mexico are very resilient and we pray this immigration crisis can find a timely workable resolution. 

Please keep us all in your prayers but for the most part it is life as usual.

And life is plenty busy. Thanksgiving was filled with blessings having family and friends celebrate the day. We had several of the older boys come and enjoy the feast with us. The largest change at the orphanage is the two new boys who arrived and became a part of the community. They arrived last Tuesday and are adjusting to their new home. Please keep them in your prayers. 

Once again, it is Giving Tuesday! A group of supporters have committed funds to our Matching Grant Program. Today is an excellent opportunity to put our thankfulness into action and give. 

A gift of $50, $100, $1,000 or even more can make a big difference for us here in Tijuana to continue God’s work. 

Please consider giving and help us to continue sharing the hope of Christ through His Church just over border. 

May the Lord touch your hearts and bless all of you.

In Christ,

Fr. Nicholas Andruchow

Priest/Associate Director

Project Mexico & St. Innocent Orphanage

Growing Up Project Mexico [VIDEO]

Alex was accepted to Hellenic College and began his journey recently.

Alex is a great inspiration for how supporting our School Buddies program can improve and change a life.

Check out this video shot and edited by John Touloupis.

We celebrate and honor Alex as he embarks on a new journey in life as a student at Hellenic College. Project Mexico is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization that performs works of mercy in the name of Jesus Christ, building homes for the poor in Mexico and by providing education and shelter for orphaned boys through St.

School is just around the corner for our boys!

Please consider supporting their future through our School Buddies program.

Recurring or one-time donations can be made at 👉🏽http://weblink.donorperfect.com/schoolbuddy

Help Make Our Annual Family Trip a Success!

We're So Close!

We need to raise $4,000 for our annual family trip. These funds will help offset the costs of food, lodging and transportation for the boys and staff. 

We are filled with joy and laughter when we are connected. Rest and recreation lifts our spirits. Our family trip is right around the corner and we've got a few things we could use your help with. 

It's easy! 

There are two ways you can help!

• Make a Direct Donation 
• Purchase an Item for the Trip Through Amazon

And now with Project Mexico's Amazon Smile account, .5% of your purchases will help support our efforts year round.

With your help, we can continue to grow and thrive!