Learning How to Talk by Father Nicholas Andruchow

Learning How to Talk by Fr. Nicholas Andruchow (p

This summer, we are preparing to receive over 700 missionaries who will serve in Tijuana. The continuing courage and zeal that the Orthodox demonstrate from America are not just encouraging but inspiring. All those who come will receive a lesson in life: how good we have it in America and how God is calling us to share the goods we have. 

This summer’s Homebuilding theme is “Learning from on high”. We are challenging all the summer participants to look up to God and be taught. Jesus is the ultimate “Maestro” (Maestro is word for teacher in Spanish) and through the sacrifice of helping the suffering at the border, we are all enlightened.

Beginning to Pray

Bishop Anthony Bloom writes in his book “Beginning to Pray” that we all need to be aware that God does not always talk back we when cry out to Him. Despite this fact, we all still need to talk to God. Therefore, ask Him for help. Tell Him you are grateful for what you have. Tell Him you are sorry for the mistakes you have made. This is where we must start. Learn to talk to God! 

Finish every day with a conversation with Jesus. Here on the 16-acre ranch where you will stay when building a home for a family in need, you will have 15 minutes of quiet time with God each morning. Here, you will look up to the heavens and the Lord will teach you, and the unexpected will happen. He will bless you with a fresh perspective of what is really important, which is our relationship with Him.

The End Result

Ultimately, we want our relationship with Jesus to grow. I recently read that we should desire to want to spend all our time with God. We should get excited about talking about Him and when we think of Him, we should be filled with joy and excitement. Recently I became a grandfather. It is a truly blessing and it gave me a wider perspective of how I should love Jesus. I love talking about my grandson, when I think about him, I get excited and I can’t wait to see him again. 

This is how it should be with Jesus. So let us be proactive and look to the heavens to learn how to love God. We invite you to come to Mexico and the lessons from on high will open your eyes and you will speak sweet words to the One we love, the Lord Jesus.

In the Spirit of Light by Father Demetrios Swanson

In the Spirit of Light by Fr. Demetrio Swanson

There is a story about a visitor to Mt. Athos who came across a monk building a large stone wall. As the visitor observed the monk, he began to doubt that the wall could ever be finished. He said this to the monk. The monk replied that it mattered not in the least if he ever finished, because someone after him could do it. More importantly, he said, God had allowed him to labor in this part and it was his blessing to do that. The rest was up to God. It is God’s. 

I was expressing to someone recently the strong feeling that “things are not as they should be”. This is that same awe at the immensity of a task like that stone wall that cannot be finished. We might also experience this feeling toward the growing darkness in the world around us. Maybe we feel that everything is falling apart and we cannot keep the pieces up. What can we do? 

St. Porphyrios says: “Forget the darkness. Leave it alone. Fill yourself with Light, and the darkness loses its very existence. Water the Good and the evil withers from neglect.”

St. Seraphim of Sarov says, “Acquire the Spirit of Peace and thousands around you will be saved.”

So, what can we do? Focus on doing what we are supposed to do today, right now, and leave the rest up to God. It’s His. Focus on our current task, the simple things we are supposed to do moment by moment, and leave the rest up to God. I love the Greek saying, “Exei O Theos,” or, “God has it.”

This is the way of the saints, the way of that monk on Mt. Athos building the wall. 

There is a priest I heard about who would end every day with the prayer: “My Lord, I have done everything I can for Your Church today. But it is Your Church, and I’m going to bed.” I modify this slightly and usually end my day saying, “My Christ, in my weakness I have done everything I can for Your Church today. But it is Your Church, and I’m going to bed.” 

What does all this mean? It is all Christ’s. We do our part, we do what we are supposed to day by day and then we see the miracles of God, the perfect working of all things, our humble labors being transformed. Our nothing, our many “zeros” of effort turn into millions when God places a “one” in front of all the seeming “nothing” we have done. That is from St. Paisios. 

This orphanage is God’s. This chapel is God’s. This new temple we are building in Rosarito is God’s. This “ranch” community and neighborhood is God’s. This building of homes is God’s.

It is all His. 

As the resident priest I encourage all of us to make a good effort to do our tasks given us each day, and then let it go. Finish our tasks, our battle each day, and take refuge in the Lord of the tasks. The Lord of everything. 

Who loves us.

Opportunities in Youth Ministry TELOS

Our friends at the TELOS Project are looking for young, service-minded individuals to join the 2025 Cohort.

The Telos Project partners with parishes across the country to inspire and fuel young adult engagement in parish life. Telos offers coaching, education, and design thinking to help your parish develop ministry with and for young adults.

Parishes who work with Telos have seen:

• A growing community of young adults supporting each other

• Relationships developed across generations

• Increased presence of young adults in worship and other parish ministries

• Spiritual growth of young adults

• An increase of young adults taking on leadership roles in the parish

Childlike Love for Christ by Julia Paresenios

Artist Rendering

My name is Julia Paresenios, I am a caregiver at the Casa Cuna and OCMC Missionary. Over the past several months at Casa Cuna, our infant orphanage, I’ve witnessed firsthand the energy, challenges, and endless tasks that come with life on the ranch. With two orphanages, a homebuilding program, and a growing parish, it feels like a million things happen every day.

Yet, in the midst of it all, Casa Cuna remains a place of love, laughter, and transformation.

Every child who comes through our doors, whether for a few days or a few months, presents an opportunity to share Christ’s light—and to see it reflected in their innocent, joyful faces. Some struggle to adjust, while others embrace their new routine quickly, but each one teaches us something about patience, love, and faith.

These little ones bring joy to the entire ranch, whether it’s through a simple walk, a Sunday Liturgy, or even their fleeting obsessions (like a three-day love affair with bananas). But caring for them requires many hands and open hearts.

We need you.

We need faithful Orthodox Christians to commit to six months, one year, or two years to love these orphaned babies.  Whether you're soothing a fussy baby, helping with diaper changes, or simply offering a warm presence, your time and care will make an incredible difference.

If you feel called to serve, please join us. Come witness the beauty of Christ’s love in the smallest among us. Reach out today and become part of this life-changing mission!

If you or anyone you know is interested in becoming a Casa Cuna San Felipe caregiver, please contact Presbytera Merilynn.

*As a caregiver for Casa Cuna San Felipe, you will be expected to live and work in Mexico for three (3) to six (6) months and up to two years alongside your fellow caregivers. Caregivers are responsible for raising their own funds through our partner missionary organizations.

Moving Toward the Good God by Father Demetrios Swanson

Artist Rendering

When watching a movie or reading a book I have always taught my children to say, “he is really acting badly” instead of “he is a bad guy” when we come across those characters. Solzhenitsyn famously said that the line between good and evil does not run through groups of people but rather through the middle of each human heart. So that “bad guy” in the movie is battling with the line in his heart. The battle is not decided. And there is something else too. 

Miraculously we have been quoted $600,000 USD to completely build a beautiful church and fellowship area. Through the prayers of the Theotokos, we have raised more $400,000 to start the first phase of construction. With an additional $200,000 we can fully complete the project and establish a Mexican Orthodox church for the first time. Consider sharing your treasure with us, and your heart, because “where your treasure is, there your heart will be also (Matthew 6:21)”. “Where your treasure is, there your heart will  be also.” –Matthew 6:21 Scan the QR code to donate or go to projectmexico.org/ temple 

When the three magi presented gifts to Christ, they offered gold for a king, frankincense for a god, and myrrh for the dead. This is the ancient understanding and meaning of the three gifts. The priest, like one of the magi, often circles the church during services offering that same frankincense to the people. Frankincense is for gods. So why do we cense the people? Because they are made in the image of God, they are made in the image of our good God and are in turn worthy of a gift offered to gods. 

We also have this element in us called the likeness, which is our free will. That free will moves at another level in us toward and away from that good God. So, we are good, made in the image of a good God, a beautiful God and in our free will we battle with that line in our heart as we work on our salvation, our sanctification. 

But the good image is ever-present. In my individual conversations with the boys of the orphanage, I often end a chat by telling them, “You’re a good kid”, “eres un buen joven.” Because they are. This is something so important for each of us to remember about ourselves. We are all good at that deepest level and striving to realize that goodness in our hearts, in our lives. This means we are worthy of love, no matter what. Another activity I do with the boys of the orphanage is practice loving ourselves by saying, “[my name], I love you” and try to really mean it. No matter our struggles, we are good. And we are trying to be good. We are loved. And worthy of love.   

“Behold, I have inscribed you on the palms of My hands; Your walls are continually before Me.” –Isaiah 49:16 

This changes everything. 

Behind the Scenes with Project Mexico Intern Anna Jackson

The most rewarding part of being a homebuilding intern are the bonds of fellowship forged during the homebuilding season.

Every week, teenagers and young adults who have come to build a house leave the Project Mexico Ranch expressing how much they want to be interns the following summer. These young volunteers express this desire despite seeing us interns stressed, tired, and stretched to the limit. We work alongside them, leading and laughing, but we also struggle.

This is not to say that the build weeks are bad for the interns, merely that the weeks are mentally and physically difficult. But these challenges are why many of us choose to come at all, to serve those in need. There is a burden of responsibility – both for the work we do and for the people we serve – that, while incredibly fulfilling, weighs heavily upon the mind and body. This is the most beautiful aspect of being a Project Mexico homebuilding intern. Something else I love even more occurs on the off days of the build weeks.

During builds weeks, interns are divided into teams of four or five. The volunteers never see the group of twenty or so nearly inseparable friends. We work for hours and hours together, learning each other’s strengths and improving; every morning and every evening, we pray together; when work is done, we gather in one house or another – everything is done in fellowship. These are all people who have come, by the grace of God, to serve the families we build for, our volunteers, and one another. This is truly the best part of being an intern at Project Mexico – to be surrounded by these shining icons of Christ.

Newlywed Life as Volunteers in Mexico: Growing in Faith, Love, and Service at St. Innocent Orphanage

My wife, Evangeline and I have lived in Mexico for a year now, serving as volunteers at St. Innocent Orphanage and Project Mexico. Living on the ranch as newlyweds has been a humbling experience, from navigating our new life together in such an involved community to learning to reset our priorities to put Christ and our marriage first. What a journey full of joy, leaps of faith, struggle, and trusting blindly it has been. And glory be to God, the journey continues!

Seeing our marriage and each other grow through our work is the most incredible experience. Evangeline has had challenging experiences in her work with the infants and toddlers at Casa Cuna San Felipe and has become a more grateful, patient, and loving person. I continue to learn and grow in my everyday interactions with the niños and thank God for this opportunity to give back to the place that has given me so much.

Growing up as an orphan, it can be difficult to grasp what a healthy and loving relationship between a husband and wife looks like. Our hope for our marriage is to be an example for the boys and those around us. As Evangeline continues in her work with the babies and I continue in mine with the boys, together we strive to minister to this community that is doing God’s work by opening our home to all who need it, praying for our marriage to be a blessing to those around us, and asking God to use this time in our lives to teach us the meaning of sacrificial love.

It is truly beautiful to pursue the challenge of carrying out God’s will alongside each other in our first months of marriage and to struggle with choosing to trust God again and again. We are so incredibly thankful to this ministry for bringing us together, giving us this special chapter of our lives, and helping us draw closer to our faith through striving to serve as Christ served. 

In Christ,

Alejandro and Evangeline Zendejas

Alejandro Zendejas is a former resident of St. Innocent Orphanage and has since graduated from Hellenic College in Brookline, MA. Alejandro and Evangeline have dedicated their first years of marriage to this ministry.

Stories of Hope with Melina of Casa Hogar

From the Desk of Stories of Hope with host, Julia Kasten

I’m happy to introduce Melina Martinez, who is a crucial part of the work that gets accomplished on Project Mexico’s 16-acre ranch in Baja California. She is part of leadership, and the second hand to Guillermo (Director of the Orphanage Programs). Melina helps Guillermo raise the boys, organizes the children’s doctor’s appointments, and makes sure that holidays are celebrated in full joy. From the Desk of Stories of Hope, I sat down with Melina to discuss how she is able to see the image of God in her everyday work.

Stories of Hope (SoH): What does the phrase, ¨The Image of God¨ mean to you?”

Melina: For me, the ¨Image of God¨ is every child and adult, every person that is at the ranch. Because God manifests through every life. So, for me, to think in the image of God is to think about my brother, or to think about whoever is in front of, or around me.

SoH: You’re working every day with difficult children and challenging situations. Is it hard to remember God, and life in Christ, when you’re worried about all the little things, like paperwork and mealtimes?

Melina: I use the phrase “Lord have mercy” a lot in my day. Or I use the person in front of me to say for example, “Lord have mercy on Julia.” I also go to church, but it is hard because my relationship with God doesn’t feel so good right now. Sometimes it’s easier to just not go to church, or very difficult to focus my thoughts. I know that these things [church and prayer] are the answer, and I am teaching this to the children, but sometimes it’s a struggle to do it myself.

SoH: How does working with the boys of Casa Hogar affect you?

Melina: I like to think that God is with all of us, through the good and bad moments. It is a great work in me, and I am grateful, primarily to God, that he brought me here and gave me an opportunity to work for this institution. I feel that returning to work here is a way to be able to show my gratitude and thanks to God, and be able to return a very little part of the many blessings that I have been given. Everyday can be a battle, but because I feel grateful, I am able to be happy in my work.

SoH: How do you approach caring for others?

Melina: I like to think, if you have love, give love, even if people say don’t. If you have compassion, give compassion to whoever you can. It’s not me, God put me in this place. God can move us to his path. Many times during work, the young kids will get angry, frustrated and difficult. We have to have compassion on them, and understand that it’s not them, but what they represent. So, I ask, how can I take care of God through the person that is right in front of me?

Our annual matching grant is in full swing. We are grateful to our generous grant sponsors for pledging $100,000 (at the time of this writing) and between now and December 31st, 2024 you can double your gift!

A Letter from the Chairman, Dennis Awad

Dear Friends and Suporters,

Our new infant orphanage, Casa Cuna San Felipe was dedicated on June 28 with over 270 supporters and volunteers who gathered together at our 16-acre ranch in Northern Baja. Fifteen priests lead the gathered guests and homebuilding volunteers in singing hymns of glory. Everyone sensed that a once in a lifetime moment was about to happen. The cutting of the ribbon to enter this special place was done and a refuge for God’s children was born.

At Casa Cuna I watched as the volunteers carefully mounted pictures and icons 2 and 3 feet from the ground so our little ones could see the images when they walked into their little chapel that was made for them. Our homebuilding program welcomed over 600 volunteers from all over the world, including an Orthodox family from Thailand. These dedicated volunteers built 28 homes for those in need. I saw the volunteers as they worked tirelessly constructing a home for a family in the local community. The new inhabitants of these safe and secure homes wept in joy and gratitude when the keys to their new homes were turned over to them.

Our mission to provide hope was being fulfilled by these young adults, parents and senior citizen mentors as they toiled in the hot sun. Our ministry changes the lives of those that are in need while the love of working in community together draws us closer to God. As the chairman of the board of trustees, I see the image of God in his

people who work here at Project Mexico. I also recognize those who selflessly give of their time and talents to serve others. This remarkable ministry is made possible by your generous financial support and we are thankful that you are our brothers and sisters in Christ.

With Gratitude,

Dennis Awad, Chairman

Our annual matching grant is in full swing. We are grateful to our generous grant sponsors for pledging $100,000 (at the time of this writing) and between now and December 31st, 2024 you can double your gift!

God's Image Gives Life

Blessed Country

We all need to be reminded that God has blessed our country, therefore let us share our blessings with those in need. Hence the Orthodox community in the United States, from all jurisdictions, travel to Mexico to bring relief to families who are plagued by third-world conditions. This is no easy task, but we are up for the challenge.

During the 2024 Homebuilding season, we built 28 homes with over 600 missionaries. Humanity is created to rise above the tragedy of this world. In Psalm 82, which we chant every Holy Saturday, the Lord shouts out to us that we are gods therefore do not die as mere mortal men (Ps. 82:6-7). We are made in the image of God (Gen. 1:26) and are different than all of creation. This difference allows us to preform inconceivable feats, overcoming the most dire of obstacles. This image of God in us is the reason for Project Mexico’s success and continues to fuel its progress throughout every moment.

For over a decade, my family and I lived in Mexico at the St. Innocent Orphanage caring for the boys day-to-day. Waking up at 5:00 am for morning prayers was draining but the larger challenge was to persevere as the children struggled through the trauma of being abandoned. The streets of Tijuana is no place to call home. Violence, prostitution, drug cartels and abuse are the sad reality of inner-city life. Thank God the Orphanage exists to provide a safe place where these boys can grow and experience the joys of life.

As the Executive Director, I now have the responsibility of leading Project Mexico so that all facets of this pan-Orthodox organization can be successful in the eyes of God. The life-giving inspiration that provides the energy to continue shines through the children’s example. Seeing God in the love, perseverance, hope, joy, and patience of these little ones is not only encouraging but transformational. God’s Image is undeniably present in the boys, and now in the little infant girls too, at the St. Innocent Orphanage and San Felipe Casa Cuna. Let us all see this image and, no matter the challenge, rise to do amazing things in Jesus Christ.

Our annual matching grant is in full swing. We are grateful to our generous grant sponsors for pledging $100,000 (at the time of this writing) and between now and December 31st, 2024 you can double your gift!