This summer, 25 young adults will leave the comforts of their homes to travel to Tijuana, Mexico, where they will reside on the grounds of St Innocent Orphanage. They will assist over 600 visiting volunteers from the United States in constructing modest homes that will transform the lives of families forever.
These young adults are embarking on an adventure to discover the true meaning of life, and their lives will be transformed forever. They will leave behind their secular lifestyles, characterized by anxiety and depression, in which they believe that life revolves around superficial measures such as physical appearance, financial success, and excessive drinking. They have come to view casual relationships as the norm, focusing on "what they do" rather than "who they are" as individuals.
Once these young adults cross the border into Mexico, they will come to realize that life must encompass more than their current experiences. They will begin to ask themselves, "If I truly call myself an Orthodox Christian; how does God fit into the meaning of my life?"
These young adults will embark on a transformative journey to shed the burdens of a secular lifestyle while living closely together in a country marked by poverty and corruption. They will engage with orphaned infants and boys, serve alongside over 600 volunteers, and, most importantly, immerse themselves in the sacramental life of the Church, seeking God's guidance and support. As they release the weight of their secular lifestyle, our merciful Lord will begin to bestow upon them the virtues of love, forgiveness, patience, faithfulness, kindness, and long-suffering—qualities that are becoming increasingly rare in our world.
They will come to realize that their previous way of life was a facade and that the true meaning of life is to walk side by side with God. By living a virtuous, God-fearing life filled with hope for something better, they will prepare themselves for eternal life with God when their time on this earth comes to an end.
I have listed the 25 young adults who will be serving this summer, along with their respective states. Please keep them and the ministry of Project Mexico in your prayers.
William Filanowski -CO
Mark Stamoulis – MA
Wyatt West – CA
James Clohessy – IL
Gabe Braskett - AZ
Andoni Zervoglos – MA
Zechariah Collins – CA
Samuel Jenkins – PA
Chalker Griffin – FL
Franco Vitz – CA
Petru Cojocaru – MA
James Furman – NY
Caleb Petker - Canada
Anna Jackson – CA
Julia Sheridan – LA
Zelda Gilbert – NJ
Yana Brinegar – NM
Isabella Zamora – TX
Iona West – CA
Jasmine Hunter – TX
Zoe Kasten – CO
Hattie Sparks – IN
Jean Zaur – PA
Lucille Stobbe – Canada
Raya Christiansen - AZ