Don’t we all wish that Christ will speak to us and say, “Today you will be with me in Paradise.”? (Luke 23:43)
Project Mexico is a taste of Paradise, even though it started from humble beginnings. In 1987, the founders, Greg and Margaret Yova, had few resources, limited experience working with orphans, and virtually no track record of running a multifaceted international Orthodox ministry. But with ample faith and little resources, they accomplished so much. Not having enough money to pay the mortgage, salaries or buy groceries made the ministry’s foundation precarious. And these two young adults laid the foundation for the largest young adult short-term mission organization in the world. From a little seed so much has grown.
I remember when I first arrived at Project Mexico in 1995. I had no intention of committing my life to Christ in third-world conditions, but Jesus had other plans. As a layman, I visited for two weeks, and it turned into three years. After leaving in 1999, attending seminary and running a small church in Arizona for ten years, I returned to Mexico in 2011 with three children and a wife. My bishop blessed me to leave parish life for two years with the intent to return to America. Those two years have turned into 15 years of serving the Church via Project Mexico. Both tours grew from a spark of dedication and were transformed into a tenure of service. God converted a humble leap of faith into close to two decades of laborers. Jesus’ power changes the smallest effort into abundant success.
Recently, one of the boys commented that the St. Innocent Orphanage is a type of paradise. He arrived only eight years old and had barely survived the terrors of Tijuana. He ran away from home because of all the abuse and tried to avoid the Mexican government, knowing how unhealthy the state boys’ shelters are. Eventually, the authorities found him and his brother homeless on the streets. He always had faith that there was going to be something better, which is why he fled his horrible family life. He found something so much better, the St. Innocent Orphanage. Both he and his brother are safe, receiving a good education and feel the love of Jesus every day. Their little faith has been turned into a life of Paradise.
Thousands of young adults from all Orthodox jurisdictions in America have come to Mexico to make a difference and build homes. They believe in Jesus Christ and that has given them the courage to serve in stressful third-world conditions. Their youthful faith has converted this missionary ministry into an ambitious labor that runs the only Orthodox Orphanage in the hemisphere. Possibly these young volunteers are not seminary trained, nor are they international entrepreneurs or graduates of master's programs in anthropology, but they have faith. Faith that is little, young and might seem minuscule has moved mountains. Paradise has been planted. Come and see this piece of paradise for yourself just south of the border in Tijuana.
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